Big Five Horse Safari in South Africa

You will be met from Hoedspruit Airport (pick up from Johannesburg O.R Tambo can be arranged – 5 hour transfer time) and transferred to you first lodge. You will be welcomed with sandwiches and afternoon tea or coffee. Once settled, you will be taken through a safety briefing and run through your next 8 days.

Once briefed, mount up and head out for your first ride to get to know your horse, explore the area surrounding camp and unwind from your journey. As you absorb the peace of the African bush, you might even have your first game sightings such as giraffe or zebra. Enjoy your first sundowner of the holiday whilst you look out across the landscape and the distant Drakensberg Mountains, before sitting down to a scrumptious 3 course dinner, accompanied by hand-picked South African wines.

Settle down in your accommodation for the next 3 nights; an old style safari tent with en suite bathrooms, mounted on a platform above the Makhutswe River at the Wait A Little main camp.

Wake up on your first glorious African morning to the sound of someone bringing you a hot tea or coffee to your tent. Timings vary as to the time of year but you will usually be in the saddle 3-4 hours in the morning and roughly 2 hours in the afternoon.

Your first thrilling morning ride complete, return for a well-earned lunch of homemade quiches, pizzas or pancakes, freshly homemade bread, different types of salads and greens, meats and cheeses. Beautifully satisfied, find a shady spot for a siesta, relax by the pool or read in the small library.

Refuel with afternoon tea and coffee before setting out for your next adventure. Ride to a wonderful sundowner spot, where you will raise your glass to a glorious African sunset. Return once more to camp for dinner.

Jumping out of bed, eager for the days adventures, ride out for another fantastic morning ride exploring the African bush. Return for yet another delicious lunch, and perhaps even a massage (!), before swapping saddle for vehicle in the afternoon and driving out in search of game. Stop for sundowners along the way. Once the sun has sunk, enjoy an exciting night game drive back to camp, keeping your eyes peeled for those animals harder to see by day.

Wake to the dawn chorus and a steaming cup of tea, enjoy camp breakfast and another wonderful morning ride. Return once more, for what will now be a greatly anticipated, homemade lunch.

After a siesta, you will pack your bags, which will be transferred by vehicle to the next destination whilst you set out on horseback. As you head south, you will pass the twin rock formations of Lion and Leopard Hill keeping keen eyes peeled for any movement! Follow the long sandy roads which invites for some faster riding and long canters, sometimes accompanied by giraffe, zebra or wildebeest who want to join in the fun.

Tonight, your fly camp is set high on Beacon Rock – a dramatic rock formation which boasts spectacular views of the Lowveld escarpment. Scramble to the top and enjoy the 360 vista over the whole reserve, whilst the sinking sun sets the sky alight with colours and dips behind the Drakensberg Escarpment.

Spend a night to remember around the campfire, surrounded by your horses and listening to the night calls of the hyena or jackals, as you sit under the stars. Delicious steak or chops will be cooked in true African style, over the open fire, giving it that wonderful braai flavour.

Stepping out of your tent as the sunrise lights the sky, the fire will be revived and you will have steaming coffee or tea to accompany your bush breakfast. Once satisfied, set out for the longest ride of the trip, entering the Makalali Private Game Reserve which is dominated by vast plains calling out to be cantered across – sometimes accompanied by game!

As you feast your eyes on these large plains of Africa, make your way to XiDulu camp, where you will spend your next two nights. XiDulu is nestled on the edge of a picturesque dam which is home to a resident pod of hippos. The lake-side deck and the viewing platform are great places to relax and watch game. Although if you are feeling particularly indulgent then why not game view whilst wallowing in the infinity pool.

That afternoon set off for a game drive with Philip, who is a fountain of knowledge about the bush and wildlife, and who will help track any signs left by big cats that day. Stop for a G&T at sunset, before the drive continues into the night and hopefully some of the nocturnal wildlife shows its face – such as bushbabies, owls, maybe even a leopard!

Dinner will be served at the water’s edge, in the glow of the fire place, and under those spectacular stars.

This morning enjoy some speedy riding cutting through the veldt at a canter, twisting and turning around the trees and marveling as your surefooted horse carries you nimbly through the undergrowth. Catch your breath at the top of the hill and absorb the miles and miles of unspoiled Africa that stretch out before you.

The afternoon is filled by another brilliant game drive in that wonderful afternoon light.

After a light breakfast you will head back to the Wait A Little camp from day 1. Along the way, keep your now well trained eyes, peeled for elephant, lion, rhino, giraffe and anything else you might come across. Over lunch reminisce about stories from the week, and that evening, enjoy a final sundowner out on the open plains. The last night’s supper never disappoints; it will always be something scrumptious and special, such as game fillets like kudu or eland served on pasta with a sherry sauce.

Mount up for one final and thrilling ride, often picking up the pace to cover some ground before returning. After bidding a sad farewell to your trusted steed, indulge in one final delicious breakfast, before the transfer service whisks you away to the Airport.