Horseback Riding in South Africa
BUSHVELD RANCH |
Horses at liberty
Rounding up a calf
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An unrivalled range of riding activities in the hospitable and relaxed atmosphere of one of the region’s oldest farms. The flexible daily itinerary can include outrides across the bushveld to view wildlife, mustering cattle, swimming horses in the lake, trying your hand at polo or western games. There is even a course for riders experienced in cross country.
Guests are organized into small groups, so that riders of all abilities enjoy a suitable pace.
Born Wild 2-Day Safari: This side-trip provides extensive game viewing across the Melkrivier. This area boasts white rhino, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, ostrich and a host of antelope such as kudu, waterbuck, gemsbuck, nyala, klipspringer, impala and red hartebeest. Brown hyena, porcupine, anteaters and caracal are also occasionally seen.
On these trips, meals are served from the camp fire and accommodations are in thatched huts (sleeping up to three people), each with en-suite facilities.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | SAMPLE ITINERARY: Arrive at the Johannesburg international Airport and transfer to the Bushveld Ranch Reserve (approximately 2 1/2 hours) in time for lunch. That afternoon you enjoy an introductory ride in the game reserve, with sundowners served at one of the hippo dams. Dinner is a 3 course evening meal at the lodge. |
| Day 2: | A morning of mustering cattle. The Ranch is one of South Africa’s top stud Bonsmara farms with more than 1500 head of cattle. The herd needs to move regularly to new pastures. You have the opportunity to participate in this exciting activity. This can be followed by a cooling swim with your horse.
Following lunch, relax in the heat of the day by the pool or take a siesta.
Afternoon tea is followed by a blazing ride across several farms on miles of clear sandy tracks. |
| Day 3: | An introduction to Polocrosse. You will soon be enamored of this invigorating sport. After lunch you may want to tag along on one of our bi-weekly shopping trips into the local town of Vaalwater, for some retail therapy bush style. After afternoon tea you may choose to enjoy another outride or take a lesson in flatwork or dressage. |
| Day 4: | After breakfast we embark on a two-day wilderness safari, which we call the Born Wild Safari, to search for game on a neighboring reserve. Arriving at the tranquil stone and thatched bush camp in time for lunch, followed with a siesta by the pool and afternoon tea. Ride out in the afternoon for sundowners at a breathtaking lookout spot, possibly encountering white rhino, hartebeest or zebra along the way. |
| Day 5: | Light breakfast and then off to explore the reserve and its wildlife, resting at the river mid-morning for a refreshing swim. After an early afternoon tea, we ride back to the ranch, arriving in time for supper. |
| Day 6: | After many hours in the saddle on the safari trail, you may opt to take a break and enjoy an outing and game drive at a local reserve, in the hope of close encounters with lion, elephant or buffalo. After another indulgent afternoon tea at the ranch, enjoy an outride or test your skills over the challenging cross-country fences. |
| Day 7: | For yet another challenge you can try your hand at cattle cutting. After bringing a herd in from pasture, you can take turns moving one cow away from the group, an activity that puts you and your horse against the herd instinct of cattle. Return to the lodge for lunch and a siesta or a chance to tour the ranch with owner and larger-than-life character Charles Baber. Followed by an afternoon ride tracking giraffe or zebra, or learning the signs of the wild and medicinal values of the native bushes and trees. Alternatively those of you who have been bitten by the bug can try another session of polocrosse. |
| Day 8: | Finish off your holiday with a last ride of your choice, and depart after lunch. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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Splashing through the river bottom
Rhino in the bush
Bringing in the horses
Trekking saddle
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB airport) |
| Riding Ability | Advanced Strong Intermediate Intermediate Novice Beginner |
| Group Size | Minimum-1 Maximum-10 |
| Pace | to suit rider |
| Tack | McClellan (English trekking) |
| Horses | mostly Boerperd, some Thoroughbred and Anglo Arab |
| Weight Limit | 225 lbs |
| 2010 Dates | Year round, flexible schedule |
| 2010 Price | High season: $310 / night March & April and July thru Jan 9
Low season: $255 / night Jan 10 thru Feb and May & June |
| Transfers | $115 per person each way |
| Additional Information | Born Wild Mini-Safari: $165 |
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