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Safari South-Africa & BotswanaSafari South-Africa & Botswana
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A 10-day adventure by Norah Read more
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  • TravelerSafari South-Africa & Botswana

    Day 1 - Antelopes & Zebras

    July 12, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    After arrival, lunch and tea time, it was already time for our first safari by horse. Today we would take it slow, just so we could get to know the horses and riding style along with the group. I was surprised how smooth everything went, the horses and full group (10 people!) were all at a very good level and coherent speed. We did mostly walk and trotting, but many canters as well to enjoy our first savanna rides. And there they were: our first animals to admire in the savanna: antelopes, zebras, ostriches and aardvarks.

    1) The antelopes were quite frequently present in this Matlapeng valley, however they stay impressive to watch at. We saw both Impalas and Kudus, both known antelopes with the beautiful antlers for the males. The Impala is the most common antelope in the bush, which are way smaller as compared to Kudus.

    2) Of course, the zebras couldn’t miss out, so we encountered several small herds of zebras, quietly grazing without any disturbance of our horses. We could observe them from very close by, as horses are very quiet and peaceful animals themselves. It was almost as if we were blending in the wildlife. Amazing! Olwen told us you see the difference between male and female by the size of the belly and the stripe under the tail: females have a bigger belly and black stripe under the tail, whilst males have smaller bellies and white stripe under the tail.

    3) Next, we also saw some ostriches. They were passing by and funnily picking the ground. These animals keep amazing me, they look so weird yet some form of elegance with the feather package and small neck and legs. They can run very fast and be dangerous so we couldn’t get too close.

    4) Finally, he big deep holes in the ground are made by aardvarks, also called “earth engineers” in Afrikaans because of their brilliant digging and making of underground halls. Even though aardvarks damage roads and fences, they are regarded as important ecosystem engineers. The aardvarks create structures which may hide food resources and provide refuge for other species from predators, climatic extremes and fires.    Read more

  • TravelerSafari South-Africa & Botswana

    Evening at the pool

    July 12, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    After we returned back to the lodge, a refreshing picnic box was awaiting us at the pool with several drinks. We were enjoying a wonderful Cyder Beer or Grapefruit Juice next to the pool, enjoying each other’s stories along with a beautiful sunset. Just breath-taking!

    As soon as the sun set, you feel temperature dropping down immediately towards 8 degree. Time to get a warm shower and put on some warm clothes for dinner. Bryan did again an amazing job cooking 3-course menu, along with some African red and white wines. Finally, we ended the day in beauty with beers or hot tea along the fireplace. What a start!!    Read more

  • TravelerSafari South-Africa & Botswana

    Day 2 - Good morning South-Africa

    July 13, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Good morning lovely South-Africa! We were woken up by Bryan the chef with some fresh hot tea on our bed. He opened the doors and allowed the sunlight to come in. As the sun rises only at 7.30am in winter, the day was still waking up itself along with the animals. We could already hear the snoring of our horses nearby, they were ready for the ride! So, after breakfast with freshly baked croissants, we started of the morning ride on Day 2.

    First stop was the main camp of Horizon, so that Richard and Aisling could switch to another horse. As our firs ride was an introduction ride, any rider could give feedback about this horse and switch if needed. Horizon herds 94 horses (!) in total, so choice enough to switch to another horse. They use horses only 20 days per month, because of the exhausting trail so that’s why they have so many.

    On our way to the Horizon camp, we saw the African Sea Eagle. It’s a big beautiful eagle with a white head.

    When arriving at the camp, the border collie dog was welcoming us with his branch in its mouth. We had a quick toilet stop, but I couldn’t resist to check out the swimming pool with this amazing view on the lake with hippos (once in a while). This place is absolute paradise! Camp Davidson belongs to the same owners (group of 4 South-African shareholders), both very luxurious camps, yet one with nature.    Read more

  • TravelerSafari South-Africa & Botswana

    Morning Ride - Giraffes

    July 13, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    So Today our major priority was to look for the giraffes. Long-necked animals in a low-bushed area how hard can it be? Well I can tell you, it sure isn’t an easy cookie to trace down these animals. With their spotted skin, they blend in perfectly with the trees and graciously hide themselves. Luckily bless god, we found them at the end of our morning ride just returning back to the camp. Just as we were about to give up hope for (after 3h of searching) we spotted the animals just next to the entering gate of our lodge’s domain. Wow what an experience!!

    We saw 3 giraffes, a male with his 2 females. In the whole domain there’s 5 giraffes in total: just 1 male and 4 females, so the male has to split him up into groups of 2 because the ladies don’t like each other that much. So once in a while he just switches camp and enjoys his female company. As the male is still very protective over them, he can get quite aggressive so we couldn’t approach them too close. Luckily, we went close enough to get beautiful pictures and views on these gracious and elegant animals.

    They feed on leaves of trees (that’s why for obvious reasons their long neck), with main preference for the Victoria Tree. Apparently, the juice of this tree was used as abortus medium back in the ancient times. Today local people still drink it as tea, but in small amounts because it can get poisonous. This way everything gets recycled in the savanna: the grass by antelopes and zebras, old or sick animals by hyenas and high-up trees by giraffes. So blessed to see these animals, felt so unreal. As if we were walking in the zoo, on the back of a random horse. Just wow.

    Along the way we also passed some ostriches again, zebras, impalas and kudus. In one scene there was even zebras together with just 1 impala, because they wanted to take care of him. He had wandered off the group, so now he found comfort with another animal species. Beautiful how nature collaborates and survives this way.    Read more

  • TravelerSafari South-Africa & Botswana

    Afternoon ride - Hyenas

    July 13, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    After lunch, it was time to grab the horses for a new ride. I love watching them rest all together in the sand stable, they look so peaceful. For the afternoon ride, Olwen told us we wouldn’t see many animals but have some good canter (galop). We were heading to the hyena whole with some climbs and rocky parts included in the journey. But first it was time for lunch outside, after we released the horses in their open stable. Lunch time is usually from 11.30am followed by a 2h siesta until 3pm. Feels really good to have a little nap, or simple relax in the sun at the pool. At 3pm, we gathered for tea time again and left for horse riding at 3.30pm. Here we go!

    When arriving close by the hyena whole, we had to descent our horses and tangle them to trees. This way we could climb down the rocks and examine the hyena whole. Olwen told us previous guests had already been lucky seeing them sunbath on top of the rocks and the crawl back in the whole, however we didn’t see them as they ran too quickly back into their whole.

    Apparently, a family of hyenas is residing here, with mum, dad and children. Whenever there’s danger, they’ll go back into the cave and protect themselves. It’s a small hyena type in this domain, so they won’t attack humans. However, when you would throw a shoe or even camera towards the whole, they will come get it once we’re gone. Anything that smells like meat or has been touched by humans, they’ll eat it or rip it apart.

    Hyenas are not the smartest hunters. Once they grab their prey, they won’t let go until they have that exact square piece of meat. So, when biting the back of an impala, they’ll rip out a part and let the pray run away until they’ve eating their piece of meat. Once it’s finished, they’ll chase the pray again, but it might have been escaped already.

    Overall very exciting to see the whole and know they were inside it. A bit scary though, you could really feel the tense of the horses as well. Off we went back to the camp with another experience in our memories.    Read more

  • TravelerSafari South-Africa & Botswana

    Day 3 Morning Ride - Hippos

    July 14, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Good morning beautiful jungle! The snoring horses had woken us up, ready for a new day in the bush. Bryan gave us again a delicious morning tea at 7.30am, ready to kick off the day.

    For the morning ride, the focus was to look for hippos. There were too in the area close to the water ponds, but it was not easy to spot them. Sometimes they’re in the water, so you can only see them pop up once in a while. Hippos can only hold their breath for 7 minutes, so they have to pop out of the water, but you still might see just the noise or month. Today we were lucky to see them full body, as they were grazing on the other side from the pond. It was hard to spot them, but our guide Owen had a good eye. The hippos look like a mix between grazing cows and grey elephants. I couldn’t believe I saw these animals for the first time in my life, and this from the saddle! After a short break admiring them, we continued the ride back home, ironically passing some grazing cattle. I remember realizing these hippos must have been huge, seeing these small innocent grazing cows.

    Along the way, Owen showed us the nest of a weaver bird. These birds make impressive nests attached to tiny branches, so that snakes cannot reach the nest. I wonder how the weight keeps hanging on these fragile branches, but apparently nature has figured it out quite well.

    When almost arriving home, Owen explained us about the “Baboon Tails” or the black plants in savanna. They look like burned plants with their black stamina, but these plants look like this in winter and colour green in summer. Very strange plants!    Read more

  • TravelerSafari South-Africa & Botswana

    Lunch Time - Swimming with horses

    July 14, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Around lunch time, we could have a little play in the water with the horses. All horses all capable of swimming, however they might prefer to avoid the water. The temperature of the water was just 15 degrees, so quite cold as compared to 25 degrees outside. Not all members wanted to go for a swim, because we were told at university not to swim in enclosed (African) water ponds with not current, because there might be parasites inside. Of course, we were not sure about these statements, but we didn’t want to take the risk. So, as I was not swimming myself, that gave me a wonderful chance to get some photos for the girls Yasmine, Tina, Aisling and Severine.

    When arriving at camp Horizon, it was amazing to see the 94 horses all together resting. The girls had to ride bare back with swimming suits, so that the horses could go really deep. Lovely to watch!

    Tip: As described above, in winter the water is very cold and reaches temperatures of only 15-18 degrees. No need to bring a wet suit, but might be useful to take a bathing suit instead of bikini, along with shorts or long pant.    Read more

  • TravelerSafari South-Africa & Botswana

    Afternoon - Jeep Safari

    July 14, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    For Lunch, we went back to Camp Davidson. Owen advised us to eat as much as we can, because we would return back quite late to the camp quite late (9pm instead). We were advised to pack warm cloths and bring our cameras. So at 1.30pm Abraham came to pick us up for a 1.5h drive towards Doornstok, the private game park close by.

    This game park is owned by 4 South-African shareholders and because of an internal dispute, only jeep safaris are allowed in this park and no guides horse riding. It felt like a good brake in between all of our riding, plus our muscles could get a good rest. The game park has antelopes, monkeys, lions, leopards and elephants. So 4/5 Big Five’s, except for the buffaloes.

    Tip: The tour starts around 2 and finished around 7pm, so make sure to bring really warm clothes for the evening. I brought my scarf, extra jackets and even my riding gloves. The jeep is open, so you feel all wind coming in. The jeep also offers some blankets to share togethers, so it was very cosy in the evening with the sunset and animals.    Read more

  • TravelerSafari South-Africa & Botswana

    Day 4 - Day ride with fast galop

    July 15, 2019 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Today we went for a full day ride, with lunch out there in the jungle. We would only return back home in the evening. For this trip we would visit a local village and have some nice long canters (fast galop). The group was excited and the energy was intense. We truly start to feel like a family all together with Owen and Bianca, so smiles were everywhere.

    Owen’s horse is the leading horse with usually the fastest pace in galop. The horse is so fast, that almost nobody can outrun him. Expect 1 horse: the horse of Jasmine. During the long galop roads, all reins were loose and horses went full speed! Owen could not believe he was being passed by Jasmine’s horse. We had a good laugh. In between canters, I swopped horses with Jess because my horse Sunday is quite young so not very fast on sandy roads. Jess’ horse (aka “Barbie” because of her beautiful white coat) “Shenanigan” is very fast, so I had the chance to enjoy some good galops in front of the group as well. Lovely feeling!

    For Lunch, we stopped at a small farm with beautiful lodges. They all looked amazing, so we truly felt at home in these luxurious jungle places. Bryan went by to drop off his amazing Lunch, and we enjoyed some delicious cyder beers.

    After lunch, Lydia the South-African massage lady passed by, for all who were dreaming about relaxing body massage. 30min was about 300ZAR or a small €20, so we decided with 5 of the group to have a relaxing oil treatment for our muscles. I must say that the saddles are very comfortable, so I didn’t really feel any muscles pain. However, some people are more prone to horse riding muscle pain, so then it might help to bring some anti-inflammatory gel (eg. Voltare gel).

    In the afternoon, we saw our gracious friends the giraffes again and enjoyed our walk alongside their cantering. Absolutely amazing!

    Tip: You don’t need to bring cash money for the massage, because Horizon will keep track of the people and allow you to pay when leaving for Botswana (by cash or card).    Read more

  • TravelerSafari South-Africa & Botswana

    Last evening in South-Africa

    July 15, 2019 in Botswana ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Monday Day 4 was our last dinner in South-Africa, in the beautiful lodges of Camp Davidson. Bryan prepared a nice barbecue meal with South-African side dishes, finished with banana and chocolate dessert at the fireplace. We exchanged some final stories with Owen and Bianca before leaving for Botswana, about the animals and jungle, but also about our growing friendship and amazing adventure.Read more

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