Wildlife and Waves – Tuli Horse Safari and Wild Coast

The adventure begins! Board your 2-hour flight from Johannesburg East London Airport. You’ll be met at the airport for your road transfer to Kei Mouth. Driving through the old Transkei, it’s like travelling back in time to a simpler era. Settle into the charming guesthouse and change back into your riding clothes before enjoying a light lunch. Head to the stables to meet your new steed and set out on a trail to get to know each other. A relaxed, friendly evening meal awaits you back at the guesthouse along with a good night’s sleep. Overnight at Kei Mouth Guest Lodge.

After a light breakfast, it is back up to the paddocks and another day in the saddle.  After a short ride down to the Kei River, you’ll load your horse onto the ferry and cross the river. Ride over the rocky headlands and then throw caution to the wind as you gallop over the long stretches of endless beach.  Your guide will show you the secret waterfalls and hidden valleys where you will have a picnic lunch with the horses tethered nearby. Then it’s off to Trennerys or Wavecrest Hotel, both quaint, authentic hotels that give guests a real taste of traditional South African holiday life.  Here you can stretch your legs on the beach or unwind with a beer by the pool before enjoying a great dinner.

You will awake to the sound of the sea, and the solitude of being somewhere on the edge of Africa. The timing of the day’s riding will be dependent on the tides as you cross rivers, climb hills, and speed along beaches. Enjoy a thrilling 4 hours in the saddle heading inland or along the deserted coastline. You’ll have the afternoon at leisure to relax, hike, swim or take on some of the Wild Coast’s other adventure activities such as hiking, fishing, swimming or kayaking.

Today is a full day’s ride, exploring further inland and stopping for a pub lunch en-route. Then hit the beaches at low tide for some exhilarating canters in the afternoon before arriving back in Kei Mouth. Your last night of trail is spent, once again, at Kei Mouth Lodge, where you will be treated with a typical South African Braai; finishing off a week of unforgettable riding with the warm hospitality that the Wild Coast is known for.

Depending on your flight time, you will have a lazy breakfast and a last gallop across Morgan Bay or ride up to see the cliffs. Saying goodbye to the Wild Coast, you will be driven back to East London Airport for your flight to Johannesburg.  Arriving in the evening, we recommend staying in one of the hotels near the airport and most of them have complimentary shuttles.

Make your way back to Johannesburg Airport, where you’ll meet your fellow adventurers and driver at the International Arrivals terminal. Hop into a small bus for the short road transfer to Lanseria Airport. Then the true adventure begins with a short, scenic flight to Limpopo Valley Airfield. Here you will be met by your friendly guide and taken to the stables. Enjoying an alfresco lunch in the shade of the trees – you will feel like you’ve entered a horse lovers’ paradise!

After lunch, head down to the stables to be introduced to your new four-legged adventure companion. You’ll have time to get acquainted and see that you are comfortable with your horse and the tack before embarking on your first ride out to Two Mashatus Camp. This will be your first opportunity to experience the beauty of the Mashatu Game Reserve and view the wildlife on horseback. As you ride along the trails created by the animals, you’ll feel truly immersed in Africa. Cold drinks and warm showers await you at camp. As evening falls at Two Mashatu Camp, relax in the cool of the thatched lounge and dining areas, before enjoying a three-course dinner, listening to the sounds of the African bush.

You’ll be woken up around sunrise with a soft knock and tea or coffee which is brought to your tent. After breakfast, it’s time to mount and depart from the dense woodland that hugs the Limpopo River, and head towards the rocky hills and wide-open plains. Your guide will tell you about animals you may encounter including giraffe, zebra, antelope, and huge herd of elephants. As the terrain changes and the pace quickens, enjoy the adrenaline rush of riding through this wilderness.

You’ll arrive at Tree Camp in time for a delicious lunch. Treehouses are not just for kids, this hideout, overlooking the Majale river, gives you the chance to watch wildlife from above. In the afternoon, enjoy an afternoon ride, or bushwalk to explore the area along the West of the Matabole River returning to Tree Camp for sundowners. Spend the night tucked up in your treehouse, listening to the sounds of jackals calling in the distance and the night owls flying overhead.

Watch the sunrise from above the trees then saddle up for another day of adventure. Your horse safari passes through the center of the reserve to the ancient rock formations synonymous. On the trail, you’ll see giant Baobab trees scattered across the landscape.  Ancient elephant trails make for wonderful tracks for long canters through the open bushveld and often zebra or giraffe might join the herd. Whilst riding alongside the banks of the Motloutse River, you’ll come across 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 a night spent under the stars.

In the afternoon, you’ll set off on a game drive vehicle in search of the area’s resident lions, hyenas, and elusive leopards. Celebrate your day’s adventure with sundowners at the ancient “Amphitheatre” rocks with some of the best views of Africa. Back at the Kgotla, dinner is cooked on the large open fire and you’ll enjoy an evening enjoying incredible food and endless conversations. The night is spent with a ceiling of stars and Africa’s night-time melody to sing you to sleep; a rare experience which is just about as far away from city life and the modern world as anyone can imagine.

Another dawn beckons as you enjoy coffee and fresh bread baked on the coals of last night’s fire. Ride through the famed sandstone formations and learn about Southern Africa’s oldest civilizations.  The incredible landscape is ancient and timeless and combined with marvelous wildlife sightings, it makes for an incredible riding experience. This afternoon, hop in a game drive vehicle for a short drive to the Mmamagwa Hills where you’ll have a short climb to the top. Here, you’ll be rewarded with the most awe-inspiring sundowners with views that stretch all the way to South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Following a light and early breakfast, set out on horseback through the Mopane bush in search of elephants. Home to the largest herd of wild free-roaming elephants on private land in Africa, it is almost assured that there will be great viewing of these incredible creatures! Ride through Elephant Valley along ancient trails stamped into the soil by centuries of migrating elephants. Head north towards the upper reaches of the Majale River whose banks are crowned with enormous baobab trees. After an exhilarating ride through this timeless countryside, enjoy a relaxing lunch back at Tree Camp. This afternoon the group has a choice of an afternoon ride, guided bush walk, or an exciting game drive in search of big cats.

Today’s riding promises some of the best game viewing from horseback as you explore the Pitsane River Valley. The elephants have dug drinking holes in the course of the riverbed, attracting thirsty herds of game. Here your guide will tell you about the history of this area, including the skirmishes during the Boer War and the stagecoaches that took explorers of old from South Africa and into Botswana.  After an exciting morning’s ride, you’ll get back to Two Mashatu Camp in time for lunch and a refreshing swim in the pool. You’ll have a guided bush walk to one of the nearby koppies for sundowner drinks before falling asleep in your tent.

Set off through scenic plains between the Majale and Pitsane rivers, with abundant game and spectacular views into the Limpopo River Valley. Explore the old fort and then ride down to the cooler wetland area for a splashy canter in the Summer months. The wetland areas attract a vast number of animals and birds that you might not have ticked off your safari checklist yet. There is time to relax in camp with a book or swim, before either a slower afternoon ride or bushwalk. Spend your last night in Botswana around the campfire chatting to your forever friends that you’ve made in the bush before falling asleep in your tent.

The last ride in the Limpopo Valley is a great opportunity to take one last picture of elephants and enjoy a long and winding canter through the scattered Mustard bush with your guides. Arriving back at the stables and reception mid-morning, there is plenty of time for a hot shower and a tasty brunch, before saying a sad farewell to your safari companions, newfound friends, and incredible horses. You’ll have a last glimpse of the bush from the air as you fly back to Lanseria Airport, followed by a short drive back to OR Tambo International Airport.  Then it’s time to wave farewell to Africa as you board your flight back home (or further afield!) Book your departure flight after 20h00 to avoid missing your flight if there are any delays.