Equestrian Safari in BOTSWANA : THE TULI SAFARI

BOTSWANA TULI SAFARI
INDICATIVE ITINERARIES *

TULI 1 SAFARI :

Day 1: Arrival. Air transfers from Johannesburg Lanseria Airport. From Johannesburg airport, you first have a road transfer to Lanseria airport (about 45 minutes), then travel by light aircraft (1h30 flight) from Lanseria airport. The meeting for the transfer is at 11:15, the flight departs at 12:30 pm. Meet your guide at the border. Short transfer to the reception area overlooking the Limpopo river, in time for a light lunch. Enjoy an introductory ride to check you are suited to your horse, before embarking on your first ride out to our Two Mashatus Camp. This will be your first opportunity to experience the beauty of the Mashatu Game Reserve and view the wildlife on horseback. Mashatu Game Reserve is home to the largest herd of wild free-roaming elephants on private land in Africa, and, although not a guarantee, it is almost assured that there will be great viewing of these incredible creatures. As evening falls at Two Mashatu Camp, relax in the cool of the thatched rondavel lounge and dining areas, before enjoying a three-course dinner and getting to know your fellow adventurers for the next seven days.
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Two Mashatus Camp

Day 2: Two Mashatus to Tree Camp. Sunrise, the dawn chorus and tea or coffee which is brought to your tent, sounds the start of your first day. After breakfast, it’s time to mount and depart from the dense woodland that hugs the Limpopo River, and head towards the rocky hills that delineate the edges of the great river valley. As the ride traverses the heartland of Mashatu, you will encounter plentiful game: plains game, many giraffe and herd of elephants. Having meandered across the hills with vast views back towards South Africa, the ride arrives at Tree Camp in time for lunch. Overlooking the Majale river, it is possible to watch the wildlife from above, coming down to drink at the river. That afternoon choose a ride or enjoy your first bush walk exploring the area along the West of the Matabole River returning to Tree Camp for sundowners.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Overnight at Tree Camp

Day 3: Tree Camp to the Kgotla. The safari passes through the center of Mashatu to the ancient rock formations synonymous with the Limpopo Valley. Giant Baobab trees continue to scatter the landscape as they have for centuries and ancient elephant trails make for wonderful tracks for long canters through open bush veld. Whilst riding alongside the banks of the Motloutse River, discover the old Leadwood ‘Kgotla’ (or enclosure used for the traditional law court of a Botswana village). This open-air enclosure forms the perfect, secure camp for the night. Back at the Kgotla, dinner is enjoyed around a large log fire. The night is spent with a ceiling of stars and Africa’s nighttime melody to sing you to sleep; a veraciously rare experience which is just about as far away from city life and the modern world as anyone can imagine.

Day 4: Ride around The Kgotla. The sandstone formations, including the famed Solomon’s Wall, one of the numerous dolorite dykes in the area, are explored on horseback. Some of the oldest civilizations in southern Africa settled in this valley. Archaeological evidence in the area includes middle and late stone age tools, rock art and the legendary Mapungubwe Dynasty. Mapungubwe means “Place of the Jackal” in the Venda language and this dynasty existed around 1220 AD. The Mapungubwe topography itself is ancient and timeless, and combined with marvelous wildlife sightings, it makes for an incredible riding experience. This afternoon enjoy a short drive to the Mmamagwa Hills. For the most visually stunning and ethereal sundowner, we visit the Mmamagwa Hills. A short climb up the sandstone ridge, brings us to the site of the Mmamagwa Ruins, which is of a similar period to Mapungubwe (13th century). To date these ruins have not been excavated and have been left alone. It is conceivable that similar treasures to those found at Mapungubwe (for example the golden rhino) could be buried here. After a short climb, enjoy sundowners beneath a beautiful baobab tree with a breath-taking view of the area.  
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at The Kgotla

Day 5: The Kgotla to Tree Camp. Wind up Elephant Valley along ancient trails stamped into the soil by centuries of migrating elephants, before heading north towards upper reaches of the Majale River. This area is peppered with enormous baobab trees and is one of the more remote areas of the reserve. After an exhilarating ride through this timeless countryside, enjoy a relaxing lunch at Tree Camp. An afternoon ride, a bush walk or, subject to availability, a game drive to enjoy the central area of the reserve.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Tree Camp.

Day 6: Tree Camp to Two Mashatus. Today’s riding promises great game viewing from horseback as we explore the Pitsane River Valley. Drinking holes, dug by elephants along the course of the Pitsane, attract thirsty herds of game. An area, where history has it, there was a skirmish during the Boer war which destroyed Bryce’s Store, an old British supply post. There was a stagecoach line, called Zeederberg’s, that ran from the towns of the Transvaal in South Africa to the newly forged settlements of Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. Those coaches crossed the broad Limpopo and followed the Pitsane River into Zimbabwe. The ride returns to the Two Mashatu Camp in time for lunch and a cooling swim in the pool. A guided bush walk to one of the nearby koppies for sundowners is the afternoon excursion.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Two Mashatus Camp.

Day 7: Pitsane River Valley Ride. Our ride today meanders its way through the beautiful plains between the Majale and Pitsane rivers, with abundant game and spectacular views into the Limpopo River Valley. En route, we explore the remains of an old Boer War fort on a rocky outcrop, followed by a ride down into the cooler wetland area where plentiful game enjoy the lush grasses. In the summer months, rain and water dependent, it can be possible to enjoy cantering through the shallows of the Limpopo River. There is time to relax in camp, before either an afternoon ride or bush walk for your last African sundowner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Two Mashatus Camp.

Day 8: Departure. Your last ride in the Limpopo valley is a great opportunity to snap one last picture of elephants and a long and winding canter through the scattered Mustard bush with your guides. Arriving back at the stables with plenty time to enjoy a hot shower and a tasty brunch you get to say farewell to safari companions and newfound friends, it’s time for your onward journey. Meals included: Brunch

Non-Riding Activities:
For those who do not ride a horse, we now have the exciting option of joining the safari on a bicycle. Cycle out each day on one of our Mountain bikes, with our mountain bike guides, before regrouping with the horse riders in your group for meals and sundowners.

* Indicative itinerary

TULI 2 SAFARI :

Day 1: First Encounters - Ride into Tree Camp.
The Tuli 2 starts with a flight from OR Tambo Airport in South Africa to Limpopo Valley Airfield in the Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana.  Guests are received at the Horizon Horseback Mashatu stables where they will enjoy a light lunch on the banks of the Limpopo River, receive a safety briefing and meet their horses. Horizon takes great care to match horse to rider based on a guest’s riding experience and ability.  However, before embarking on the safari, each guest will be given a simple riding test in order to ensure that they are suitably balanced in the saddle and are able to direct their horse in an independent manner.  It is crucially important for the safety and enjoyment of the whole group that riders wishing to book the Tuli 2 are at least intermediate riders.  While the journey is not an endurance test, it does involve long hours in the saddle and, with the possibility of close encounters with elephant and the big cats, riders need to be able to gently and confidently control their mounts. At Horizon Horseback Mashatu, the herd is quite uniform, consisting of well schooled, forward going but calm horses.  They are mostly Boerperd, a South African breed particularly suited to this type of work. The route on this afternoon is from the Stables to Tree Camp, a ride of about 2 hours.  It rises from the Limpopo River floodplains, with good opportunities for those first exciting encounters with elephant, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest.  The route, following ancient elephant paths, winds upwards towards the centre of the Reserve and the upper reaches of the Majali River where the extraordinary Tree Camp awaits.

Day 2: Valley of the Elephants – Tree Camp to Kgotla.
Waking in Tree Camp is a magical experience.  One feels fully immersed in nature, surrounded by birdsong, and alive to the new day as the early morning light filters through the majestic tree’s leaves.  After a quick breakfast, riders set off on the journey’s first long ride – up onto the edge of the mini escarpment and then down, through the Valley of the Elephants and on towards the distant sandstone citadels guarding the Limpopo and Motloutse Rivers. The first part of the journey is not to be hurried, as the horses wind along well worn elephant paths, past giant baobabs and the occasional shallow watering pan.  Soon, however, the country opens up and the horses can start to stretch their legs along soft ground leading to the headwaters of a stream flowing off the ridge and down towards the Limpopo.  This is prime elephant country and the guides are always on the lookout, using all their sharpened senses.  Once the path leaves the river, the terrain is once again more open and the pace faster.  A second river is then joined, which leads directly down to the veterinary control gate on the main road through Mashatu Game Reserve.   The route then follows the road for a short while before heading across sandy ground towards the intriguing Sacred Rock massif.  Here the mopane vegetation is short and it is safe to ride quite fast across the plain.  Large herds of zebra, wildebeest and impala habit this area.  The guides plot their route using individual mashatu, leadwood and apple-leaf trees as their markers.  Soon riders reach the old leadwood enclosure (used in the past as a traditional law court of a Botswana village) known as  ‘The Kgotla’.  This open-air enclosure forms the perfect, secure camp for the night.  The camp is not far from the banks of the Motloutse River and, with high concentrations of game living along the river’s fertile floodplain, the area is home to large prides of lion and clans of hyena.  The sounds of these predators at night provide enduring memories ! In the afternoon, we search for the area’s resident lion on a game drive and draw the day’s adventures to a close with sundowners at the ancient “Amphitheatre” rocks. Whilst big cat sightings from horseback occasionally happen, Horizon Horseback follows a ride away policy.  The best opportunities to approach lion, cheetah, leopard and spotted hyena occur whilst on game drives where the vehicle acts as a natural hide and is largely ignored by the predators. Back at the Kgotla, dinner is enjoyed around a large log fire. The night is spent with a ceiling of stars and Africa’s night-time melody to sing you to sleep; a veraciously rare experience which is just about as far away from city life and the modern world as anyone can imagine.

Day 3: Sandstone Cathedrals – Exploring the Motloutse.
The riding this day is more relaxed and tailored to the group, since a different camp does not need to be reached by nightfall.  A particularly interesting route to follow is first along the Motloutse River, stopping at well known elephant drinking holes to watch the herds come and go before winding down towards the impressive Solomon’s Wall, a tall dolomite dyke which was breached by the river in ancient times.  This is the favourite haunt of troops of baboon, which are always fascinating to watch.  The trail then follows the banks of the river, flanked by giant mashatu and leadwood trees, towards the mighty Limpopo.  This area is renowned for its dramatic sandstone rock formations, steeped in colour and home to eland, klipspringer and kudu. Some of the oldest civilizations in southern Africa settled in this valley. Archaeological evidence in the area includes middle and late stone age tools, rock art and the legendary Mapungubwe Dynasty.  Mapungubwe means “Place of the Jackal” in the Venda language and this dynasty existed around 1220 AD. The Mapungubwe topography itself is ancient and timeless and, combined with marvelous wildlife sightings, makes for an incredible riding experience. The game drive in the afternoon takes guests to the foot of the impressive Mamagwa massif, a free standing formation which was used by British troops as a defensive position against incursions from the Transvaal Boers at the end of the 19th century.  Sundowners are traditionally taken at the far western edge of the massif, with endless views over the wilderness landscape whilst watching the sun slowly slip over the horizon.  The drive back to Kgotla in the dark provides more excellent opportunities to spot lion, leopard and hyena.

Day 4: River Trails – Kgotla to Tree Camp.
On this day the journey turns northeast and follows a series of river trails on the way back to the centre of the reserve.  Life in this arid environment is always concentrated near water, and the ride promises sightings of elephant, zebra, giraffe and wildebeest.  The route crosses the watershed  and then winds along ancient paths adjacent to a stream flowing north towards the Majali River.  At these elevated heights, the sweeping views to the north reveal the true wilderness character of Mashatu Game Reserve.  Baobab trees scatter the landscape as they have for centuries, and remarkably two of these giants are found growing directly in the stream itself.  This provides an excellent spot for both horses and riders to stop for a rest and a drink.  The remainder of the day’s riding is a mixture of elephant trail trekking and canters across relatively open mopane veld.  The final stretch is along the Majali River itself, past rocky pools, cliff faces and ribbons of green grass.  Encounters with baboon, kudu, klipspringers and crocodile are likely.  Tree Camp is finally reached after 4-5 hours of riding. That afternoon guests leave their horses to a well earned rest and will go either on a guided bush walk or, subject to availability, a game drive with Mashatu Main Camp guides.  This opportunity, while provided at an extra cost, should not be missed as the near guaranteed sightings of lion and leopard, and sometimes of cheetah, are legendary.  The guides are very knowledgeable about the structure and whereabouts of the various prides and individuals, and failure to find them is very rare indeed.

Day 5: Deep into the Wilderness – Upriver along the Majali 
The day’s riding explores an area of the Northern Tuli which is hardly visited by humans.  The route at first follows a stream to its source before arcing to the west on high ground and then descending to the upper reaches of the Majali River.  It then follows the river all the way back to Tree Camp.  This is a relaxed ride during which guests become immersed in the wilderness.  There are good opportunities to see elephant, giraffe, zebra, eland and kudu, but it is the sense of being completely away from manmade features that is so compelling on this ride. In the afternoon, there will either be a bush walk or, if it did not happen the previous day, a possible game drive with Mashatu Game Reserve (once again subject to availability).

Day 6: World’s View – Tree Camp to Two Mashatus.
With an early departure from Tree Camp, this ride offers sweeping views to the east and south, bathed in early morning light, as it traverses along the edge of a ridge near the centre of the reserve.  The path then descends to a game rich area along the Majali River.  The deep river pools are the favourite haunt of baboon and impala.  Sooner or later the great herds of elephant come past for their daily drink, to play in the water and enjoy a dust bath
The final part of the ride is first across open plains with some fast canters, and then through cool riverine vegetation along the approaches to Two Mashatus Camp. This is the original Tuli Trail camp and is beautifully situated nestled amongst giant mashatu and apple leaf trees close to the banks of the Limpopo River.  This area typically boasts the highest density of elephants in the reserve, who sometimes roam through the camp in a gentle yet determined way.  It is also excellent for lion and leopard as well as baboon, bushbuck and waterbuck.   Guests sleep in a frame spacious safari tents with en suite facilities.  After four to five hours in the saddle, this is the perfect place to relax.  On hot days the swimming pool at Two Mashatus is particularly welcoming.

Day 7: Open Plains – Upriver along the Pitsane River.
This the last full day on Mashatu Game Reserve and the riding explores the game rich area along the Majali and Pitsani Rivers.  In the north there are open plains .  Overall the riding is relaxed, with the guides responding to the herds whilst keeping their eyes peeled for the big cats.  In the afternoon there is the option of a bush walk or a shorter ride, maybe to the banks of the Limpopo River where elephants are often seen crossing.

Day 8: Limpopo Farewell – Two Mashatus to the Stables.
The final ride of the Tuli 2 safari is back to the Stables, following the Limpopo River upstream.  The route passes game rich habitat, including a hyena den and a large wetland which can be home to large flocks of waterfowl.  Other notable sightings include Kori Bustard, the largest flying birds in Africa, bat eared foxes and ostrich. Once at the Stables it time for a shower and meal on the banks of the great river, and then a short journey to the Limpopo Valley Airfield for the flight to Johannesburg in South Africa.

Non-Riding Activities:
For those who do not ride a horse, we now have the exciting option of joining the safari on a bicycle. Cycle out each day on one of our Mountain bikes, with our mountain bike guides, before regrouping with the horse riders in your group for meals and sundowners.

* Indicative itinerary