Unique adventures on horseback, exploring the banks of the legendary Limpopo River. You ride through the Mashatu Game Reserve, famous for its elephant population but also home to a wide variety of other mammals, birds and reptiles.

The Mashatu Game Reserve is in the Tuli Block, in the southeast corner of Botswana - a little known area offering some of the most exciting game viewing in Africa. It is particularly famous for its great herds of elephant, currently estimated to total over 1,200. Along the river courses which flow into the Limpopo River, huge riverine trees provide shade for eland, impala, wildebeest, kudu, waterbuck, giraffe and zebra, whilst at night the bat eared fox and African wild cat search for prey. The large impala population means there are many leopard in the area, as well as cheetah and wild dog. The Tuli Block also hosts over 350 bird species.

The exceptionally well-schooled horses have been carefully chosen from various breeds. These bush-wise horses include Boerperd, Shire Thoroughbred crosses, Appaloosas and Friesian crosses. They range in size from 15hh to 17hh. You ride in comfortable English saddles or stock saddles. Limpopo Valley prides itself on having supple, obedient horses that will make your safari memorable.

The riding varies from exploratory and informative walks through the bush and in the riverbeds (dry or wet) to many short and long canters. You will also likely be jumping ditches, steep river banks and logs knocked over by elephants. You could spend up to six or seven hours a day in the saddle, with plenty of breaks.

For those who sometimes prefer a solid roof over their heads, the Limpopo Lodge Safari runs on certain weeks between February and November.

This more luxurious trail ride takes you between five different lodges and camps giving you the opportunity to explore the different aspects of the Mashatu and neighbouring reserves. Ride out early in the mornings and in the afternoons game drives and bush walks are organised. Accommodation is in three lodges (with swimming pools), a comfortable farmhouse and the semi-permanent camp at Two Mashatus.

Two Mashatus is not enclosed and a real treat will be to see game in and around camp.

Non-riders are very welcome on the Limpopo Lodge safari. Non-riders have tailor-made itineraries that allow guests to see the bush from a different perspective with game drives, bush walks and bush cycle rides, all with their own guide.