Day 1: Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to our reception area by thestables. After a light lunch it’s time to head off to meet your horse for the week. You will embark on a short introductory ride to make sure that you and your horse are well suited and then ride out to camp, where supper will be served in the Llala palm dining room of the Two MashatusCamp
Day 2:The day begins at sunrise with tea or coffee brought to your tent, followed by a light breakfast. Mount up and head off from the dense woodland along the Limpopo River towards the shallow rocky hills that mark the edges of the great river valley. Your destination for night two is Majale River Camp, a rustic series of cabins atop the steep banks of the Majale River. Here in the heart of the Mashatu area the game is plentiful. The Tuli area is home to one of the largest herds of free roaming Elephant south of the Zambezi and you are almost assured of great viewing of these incredible creatures. After lunch and a siesta you will take a gentle ride in the cool of the afternoon to explore the Kanda area. Dinner is prepared over an open fire and enjoyed in the thatched lapa overlooking the river.
Day 3: An early wake up call heralds a new day and breakfast is served around the log fire pit. Today, your journey takes you through the heart of Mashatu to the ancient rock formations synonymous with the Limpopo valley. Giant Baobabs silently surveying the landas they have for centuries, ancientelephant trails stamped into the soil and wonderfully long canters around the open scrub. This ride brings you to the banks of the Motloutse River and amongst dense old Mashatu trees a Leadwood Boma that we call “Kgotla” after the old tribal court that was once held in its enclosure. The open-air traditional African enclosure gives perfect security to nights spent under the stars and a unique experience of the African bush up close and personal. The afternoon activity on day three is a guided walk to the “Amphitheatre”, an ancient and awesome rock formation. Your walk concludes with traditional sundowners looking out over the Motloutse River. Back at “The Kgotla” dinner is enjoyed around a large log fire. The night is spent in the comfort of your bed set within the boma but with a ceiling provided by the southern skies, a blanket of stars to send you to sleep, a truly unique experience and just about as far away as you can get from city life and the modern world.
Day 4: Is a choice of either a morning and afternoon ride exploring the amazing sandstone formations including the famed Solomon’s Wall. Some of the oldestcivilisationsin southern Africa had their settlements in this valley, their kings safely nestled in royal kraals at the tops of these flat topped hills.The Mapungubwe topographyisancientandtimeless,andcombinedwithgreat wildlife sightings,itiscertainlyan incredibleridingexperience.Or the group may prefer a long morning ride and an afternoon excursion to the nearby village of Lentswe Le Moriti and the basket weavers followed by a trip totheMmamagwahills. Attheendofashorteasyclimband beneath abeautiful Baobab youarerewardedwithabreathtakingview oftheTuli area with South Africa to the south, Zimbabwe to the north and Botswana around you, this is a sundownerdrinkyouwillrememberformanyyearstocome.
Day 5: An early rise and hearty breakfast is a good start for our journey winding your way through the Mopane bush, with the chance of sighting elephant, you will make your way back to the center of the reserve where a night of absolute luxury awaits at MashatuMain Camp. For the client who is accustomed to luxury, this camp will meet every expectation. The suites lie along the camp’s perimeter and are designed to allow absolute privacy and a communion with the bush and its inhabitants. To ease your aches we use the afternoon for a game drive that takes us deep into the reserve in search of the big cats the area is renowned for including leopard, cheetah andlion.
Day 6:Todays riding promises great game viewing from horseback as we explore the Pitsane river valley. The Pitsane has a spring high in the hills which provides regular drinking holes along its course to draw thirsty herds of game. An area where history has it there was a skirmish during the Boer war and Bryce’sstore, an old supply post was destroyed. There was once a stage coach line called Zeederbergs that ran from the cities 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 crossing into Zimbabwe at our next night’scamp, at the Mashatu TentedCamp.That afternoon we ride to a year round waterhole where there is a good chance of seeing elephants who often come for their afternoon bathing.
Day 7:Our ride today meanders its way through the beautiful plains between the Mojali and Pitsane Rivers. Abundant with game and with spectacular views into the Limpopo River valley we work our way back to our base camp, Two Mashatus. With the feel of a returning traveler you will be greeted with a cool drink around the pool and treated to a homecoming lunch in the Lala palm lapa. That afternoon we ride to one of the nearby koppies for a pre sundown drink. As the final day draws to a close you may take to your tent for a peaceful and dreamy last night in the bush.
Day 8. 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 of time to enjoy a hot shower and a tasty brunch you get to say farewells to safari companions and newfound friends, it’s time for your onward journey.
