BIG 5 SAFARI - SOUTH AFRICA

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The "Big 5" is what everyone dreams of seeing on an African Safari. Lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. For experienced riders here is an exclusive safari which gives you the chance to see all these and experience Africa as our forefathers did - from the back of bush wise Boerperd horses. A must for anyone serious about game viewing. One difference is a greater level of comfort and safety available today. Luxurious safari tents are perched on wooden platforms overlooking the Makhutswe River, with hot and cold shower and a toilet with a view to remember! Gourmet meals are prepared over an open fire daily. There is a swimming pool to relax around at midday. A qualified and armed ranger who is the owner of the operations accompanies you in exploring the 31000 hectare private reserve on this wonderful horse riding holiday.

Trip length 2010: 8 days riding/7 nights 2011: 8 days riding/7 night & 6 days riding/5 nights Ride price detailed prices price promise 2010: double pp £2,099/€2,525/$3,239 2011: double pp £2,239/€2,695/$3,455 Departure dates Saturday to Saturday dates throughout the year (please enquire) Approximate riding time per day Usually 4 - 7 hours/day Riding ability required Must be riding fit and able to control a horse at all paces. Min age 12. Group size 2010 & 2011: 3-7 2011: Big 5 Camp Safari: 4-5 Meeting point (getting there) Hoedspruit or Phalaborwa Airport, South Africa Transfer 2010: £80 per person return from Hoedspruit and £100 per person return from Phalaborwa. 2011: £80 per person return from Hoedspruit and £120 per person return from Phalaborwa. Flight guide London - Hoedspruit return from £550 - £850. See below for flight info. Single supplement detailed prices No supplement if willing to share. Otherwise: 2010: £1,049/€1,265/$1,619 2011: £1,119/€1,349/$1,729

SAMPLE ITINERARY - BIG 5 SAFARI

The Big 5 Safari is one of the few places in the world where you can see wildlife in its natural environment from the back of a horse. On this riding holiday, good riding skills are essential. This itinerary is an example, not a guarantee.

Day 1
You will be picked up at either Hoedspruit or Phalaborwa airport by the transfer service. On arrival a light lunch or afternoon tea and coffee awaits you. Philip, your guide, will introduce you to the safety procedures before going on your first safari. This orientation ride takes you through the area surrounding the camp as you unwind from your journey and forget yourself in the peace of the African bush. This is your chance to become accustomed to our horses and riding style. We might even see the first giraffe or zebra. Sundowners, looking out towards the Drakensberg mountains, are a perfect prelude to the generous 3 course dinner, accompanied by hand picked South African wines, which awaits you in our dining area. Furnished with antique African art. The first night, with all its fantastic sounds and noises, is probably the most exciting one. Accommodation for these first two nights is in luxury safari tents with en-suite bathrooms, mounted on platforms above the Makhutswe River.

Day 2
We wake you with tea or coffee in the morning. After a light, continental breakfast we are ready to mount our horses and go on safari. The weather will create our day. But usually we ride for 3-4 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the afternoon. After we return from our morning ride a big lunch awaits us with homemade quiches, pizzas or pancakes, freshly baked bread and lots of green salads, meats and cheeses. After lunch the hardest time of the day has arrived, siesta. You can spend your well deserved rest in your room, or at the swimming pool or may be you would like to improve your knowledge about Africa by reading one of our books provided in our library. Afternoon tea and coffee strengthen us for our next adventure. Our afternoon ride ends at a beautiful sundowner spot where drink in hand we enjoy an often colourful sunset!

Day 3
Another exciting day awaits you. The morning is similar to the one on day 2, but today we will go on an exciting drive to our buffalo project in the afternoon. Gerti will take you to the furthest northern corner of the reserve, all along the
Makuthswe River to hopefully find the beautiful beast. Over lunchtime you are welcome to have a relaxing massage by our therapist. There is a well prepared massage sala where everything is there for your comfort. Today is also the chance to acquire some of our merchandise material. From fleeces, fleecy jackets and sweatshirts to shirts, T-shirts, golf tops, hats, beanies to beads there is a beautiful and fashionable selection of safari outfits available.

Day 4
In the afternoon we pack our bags, leaving for another camp, staying away for all in all three nights. The luggage will be brought by vehicle, whilst you set off on horseback. Riding south, passing with baited breath between the twin rock
formations of Lion and Leopard Hill. The gently undulating roads in this area lend themselves to long easy canters. Giraffe, Zebras or wildebeest may pick up the pace and run by your side, elegantly maneuvering through the veldt. Beacon Rock, our fly camp, is situated at a giant rock formation from where you can overlook the whole Lowveld escarpment. A quick scramble up to the top rewards you with a spectacular panorama over the whole reserve and the perfect vantage point to witness a blood red sun fall behind the looming Drakensberg Escarpment. Under the stars, around a campfire, surrounded by our horses, we spend the night. Listening to the call of the hyenas or jackals, which might visit us in the night. Steaks or chops, cooked over the open fire, with snakebites, baked potatoes and salads are the perfect fayre to help us into a deep sleep tonight.

Day 5
Waking to the rich colours of the sunrise we revive the fire for coffee and breakfast before embarking on our longest ride. Entering the Makalali Game Reserve, dominated by huge open planes, where you might find yourself cantering next to giraffes, zebras or wildebeest. Spectacular views, over big distances show you the way to Phiva our camp for the night. This camp is truly spectacular. Built and designed by Silvio Rech, one of Africa’s most famous architects, this camp seems to have grown out of the African Bush. Silvio’s inspiration came from the colors of Africa; red like the soil, white like the bones, brown like the branches, orange and grey like the rocks. Clay, reed, wood, skulls and lots of other natural resources provided the materials to build this unique camp. As with all the Makalali camps, accommodation is in private chalets, each equipped with en-suite bathrooms, outdoor showers and private salas for
your relaxation. The afternoon siesta is followed by a game drive. An open top Landrover will follow the directions of your native tracker as he reads the signs left by the big cats during the day. After a long, slow Gin, watching the sunset, the drive continues into the night, where, with luck, some of the nocturnal wildlife will show its face. Bushbabies, owls, maybe even a leopard, may complete your day’s excitement. Dinners are served either at the edge of a big dam, in the dining area or outside under the stars in a torch lit booma. Makalali’s chefs are famous for their cuisine with a mixture of European and East African flavours.

Day 6
Today we go exploring, cutting through the veldt at a canter, twisting and turning around the trees “what Philip calls bushwhacking” and your surefooted horse carries you nimbly through the undergrowth, changing direction as you guide his course, having just as much fun as you. Here and there a tree, felled by an elephant, provides an irresistible jump. Or perhaps the eland, or kudu, seeing us pass, fall in front of us to show us the best path. At the top of the hill you pause for thought, as mile after mile of unspoiled Africa stretches away before you. Served on banana leaves, have fresh salads, meats and cheeses for lunch on  Makalali’s veranda, whilst you watch nyala, waterbuck, kudu or other little animals roaming the river systems. Refreshed after a well deserved siesta, we ride to a nearby dam, where Hippos live during the heat of the day. Let them entertain you, playing in the water, rolling and laughing. With luck, a crocodile will be relaxing on a sandbank, enjoying the warm evening sun.

Day 7
A long ride lies ahead of us, leaving the Makalali camp Phiva behind us, riding back to Wait A Little. What will we see on our way? This is always open to the wildlife, tracks of elephant, lion, rhino, and giraffe determine Philips path. At home the team eagerly awaits your exciting tales whilst we enjoy another one of Ana’s fantastic lunches. The last sundowner on Wait A Little's open plain will be sad, but beautiful, impressive and absolutely unique. The African fever might have caught you as well and the good bye can be hard. For your farewell dinner Gerti chooses something special - perhaps game fillets like kudu or eland served on pasta with sherry sauce.

Day 8
An early wake up will get us on the horses quickly, so we can enjoy a short, sporty ride to finish your horse riding holiday before the transfer service brings you to the airport.

NOTES - BIG 5 SAFARI

The Big 5 Safari consists of a 7 night mobile safari; 4 nights in base camp, 1 night in a fly camp and 2 nights at the Makalali camp Phiva.

Please note there is also one single room available at no extra charge according to availability.

2010: Private transfers are available from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to the Big 5 Safari - prices below;
1 person - £350 each way
2 people - £180 per person each way
3 people - £130 per person each way
4 people + - £90 per person each way

2011:
1 person - £370 each way
2 people - £190 per person each way
3 people - £140 per person each way
4 people + - £95 per person each way

The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
Tariff is fully inclusive of all meals, accommodation & bedding, teas & coffees, soft drinks, beers and house wines (apart from at the Makalali Camp), taxes, experienced safari guides, horses & tack, back up vehicle, one game drive and laundry service at base camp.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Excludes telephone calls, selected wines, spirits and champagne and all drinks at the Makalali Camp, transport to and from safari, entrance fee to the Makalali Reserve (R130 paypable on site), additional game drives, staff gratuities and aromatherapy. Alternative dates can be requested and safaris tailor made.

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