Tuli, madly, deeply – Horse riding in Botswana

Equine Adventures has late availability on a 10-day horse riding safari in the Mashatu Game Reserve, one of Botswana’s wildest and most beautiful regions. The tour departs Botswana 23rd November 2008. The Mashatu Reserve is part of the Tuli Block, which lies in the southeastern tip of Botswana. Known as 'The Land of the Giants', the Tuli Block is home to great herds of elephants, at least 800 inhabit Mashatu Reserve alone. In addition to elephants, there is a plethora of plains game as well as numerous cats, including leopards, lions, cheetahs, African wildcat and serval.

The plains are dotted with magnificent Baobab trees and huge sandstone outcrops, whilst Mashatu and Fever trees line the banks of Rudyard Kipling’s great grey-green, greasy Limpopo. For the duration of the holiday, guests are based at Two Mashutus Camp, set in a stunning location next to the Limpopo River.

The first day at camp is all about getting acquainted with equine companions during an introductory ride, then later, enjoying sundowners at the Stable Bar whilst watching horses rolling in the setting sun, followed by a delicious dinner served in the beautiful Lala Palm Rondavel. The next few days are spent exploring the surrounding terrain on horseback, riding over high basalt ridges, along age-old elephant tracks criss-crossing vast open plains and beside riverbanks, stopping to lunch under the shady canopy of an old Mashatu tree.

The Mashatu Reserve is perfect for horse riding; the good going, natural ditches and logs to jump provide a fast and exhilarating ride. Encounters with elephants provide an adrenalin pumping experience and may require fast evasive action, so riders need to be confident in the saddle.

The holiday costs £1575 p/p including transfers from Pont Drift, accommodation, all meals and drinks at camp and all riding. Flights are not included but can be arranged through Equine Adventures.

For more information and bookings, log on to Equineadventures.co.uk.