Location: Kingdom of Eswatini (small country on the border between South Africa and Mozambique)

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights

Accommodation: Lodge-based

Dates: fixed

Riding Level: Intermediate-Advanced - less experienced riders can be accommodated, and non-riders are welcome!

Group Size: 1-8

Diversity and flexibility are the highlights of this holiday - great plains rides, climbing the infamous Nyonyane Mountain, small river crossings, spectacular views across the Malkerns, Ezulwini and Mantenga Valleys, changing habitats and the impressive bushveld with giraffe against the Lubombo backdrop and fun ranch-style riding with the beautiful Nguni cattle at KaMsholo. 

Mlilwane is Eswatini’s (Swaziland’s) best-known nature reserve. It was here in 1961 that Ted Reilly – whose father had settled at the property in 1906 – first took action to save what remained of the kingdom’s wildlife, converting it into a sanctuary and rounding up animals from elsewhere around the country before they were hunted out. Although Big Game Parks – the independent conservation trust that Reilly subsequently founded – has since acquired the management of the larger reserves of Hlane and Mkhaya, and more recently KaMsholo, Mlilwane remains its spiritual home. 

The riding is fun, adventurous and sometimes slightly technical – a great introduction to trail riding while seasoned trail riders enjoy the easy, up-beat pace and diversity of these trails.  Spend 5 nights on Mlilwane Game Sanctuary and 2 nights on KaMsholo Bushveld Safaris, 2 hours drive (self-drive or additional transfer). The combination amplifies the diversity that Eswatini has to offer. 

Guests get to ride different horses through their stay, mostly being allocated 2 – 3 different steeds. We depend on accurate guest info on horse preference to match horses and riders. The horses are mostly homebred Warmblood/Arab/Boerperd crosses, with some Fresian, Percheron, and Clydesdale crosses for larger mounts.

Riding Level: Intermediate to Advanced - must be able to post a trot, sit a spook, and be fit for longer canters. Less experienced riders can also be accommodated with advanced notice.

Speed: A good mix of walk, trot, and canter. Mountains are slower' plains allow for long canters.

Distance:  10-20 km per day

Ride Time: 1 hour on day 1, 4-6 hours on other days

Tack: Snaffle bits, endurance trail saddles (South African, Liversage)

Terrain: Mountains, bridle paths, and flat open plains

Riding level description: Riders should be capable of spending long hours in the saddle, tacking and untacking their own horse, and controlling the horse at all paces.

MLILWANE – spacious thatch Lontweni Rondavels, en-suite with shower, kitchenette, veranda, fan.

KAMSHOLO – spacious thatch chalets, en-suite with shower, kitchenette, veranda, air-conditioning.

All meals are included in the itinerary, but drinks are for the guest account. Restaurant meals are typical of southern Africa - meats, starch and vegetables, usually buffet. We can cater for vegetarian and can assist with other dietary requirements as requested.  

Safaris begin at Mlilwane Game Sanctuary Rest Camp, where guests check-in in time for the first ride (4 pm in summer months and 3 pm in winter months). Safaris end at KaMsholo Game Reserve after breakfast on the last day (around 9 am).

Transfers are not included, to allow for self-driving guests, but can be arranged. 

The nearest airport is KM3 Airport (Eswatini). Guests can also fly into JHB (Johannesburg) and rent a vehicle or transfer.

Mkhaya Game Reserve

2-night bush safari, with lots of walking and the opportunity to see rhinos!  Stone Camp accommodation is unique, stone and thatch units with no doors or windows – open to the bush. Totally off-grid, lantern light, magical. 

Arrival and check-in

Meet your guide

4 pm sundowner ride - this 1 hour ride allows guests to reset and shed the stress of travel. An easy-paced ride in Africa's finest golden hour, with a fun canter or two to get the holiday spirit flowing, returning to toast arrival with drinks before dinner. Ride through gentle, undulating terrain, past vlei, along the river and through open grassland alongside zebra, wildebeest, nyala, blesbuck, impala, warthog, and sometimes kudu.

7 am breakfast

8 am morning ride - 3 hours, return for lunch

2 pm afternoon ride

The morning ride combines the southern and eastern plains, riding through the historical old open-cast tin mines from the 1920s, now a beautifully scenic area. Ride through flat, open grassland with small river crossings below the mountain. Opportunity to see plenty of plains game and perhaps the occasional, elusive reedbuck or crocodile. 

The afternoon ride will follow the Mhlambanyatsi River Valley, full of kudu, wildebeest, and antelope. 

7 am breakfast

8 am departure on a full day mountain ride with saddlebag lunch

Short warm-up on the trail before slowing to a walk for the single-track mountain paths, climbing the southern slope to the saddle. After about an hour and a half, we untack and leave the horses in a paddock to hike the summit of Execution Rock, enjoying a snack at the top with a 360 degree view. Remount and drop down the northern slope to the Usushwana River. The ride traverses ever-changing habitats, joining the old railway to arrive at a well-earned lunch break on the banks of the river. The return ride follows the river east along a forested road, back onto Mphumalonga Plains and home via the hippo dam, arriving around 2:30 pm. 

7:30 am breakfast

9:00 am Community and Craft ride, including lunch at Malandelas Country Restaurant

Evening sundowner drive

This ride passes through rural community to Malandela's Restaurant in Malkerns, where we enjoy lunch on the terrace, looking towards the mountains. Lunch and drinks are included, but guests are welcome to bring their wallets for curio shopping at Malandela's various fair-trade craft shops, with a great selection of gifts and souvenirs. The return ride is through small, private farms, back into Mlilwane for a leisurely afternoon. A wonderful opportunity to observe the community and culture, architecture, and way of life of Eswatini.

7 am breakfast

8 am Mantenga View Point Ride

3 pm evening sundowner ride

This ride explores the eastern slopes of Nyonyane, climbing up to Mantenga View Point, riding just below Execution Rock, revealing its monumental beauty.  The evening ride is a shorter plains ride near the lodge.

7 am breakfast

8 am morning ride

Depart Mlilwane and transfer to KaMsholo, arriving in time for lunch

Sunset ride

The morning ride offers several options, depending on the group. Once the group arrives at KaMsholo, the afternoon ride through the bush will take you to a special dinner site near Tinsele Camp, across the lake from the Lubombo Mountains. See giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, ostrich, and waterbuck.

6:30 am breakfast

7:30 am Nguni Cattle Mustering

Afternoon ride

An early start with coffee and rusks, then saddling up to head off to find the beautiful Nguni cattle. This herd is a breeding show herd with some of the oldest and purest genes in Africa. We begin riding through the bush with possible wildlife sightings while tracking the cattle. Once located, the guides explain a few different color and pattern combinations and impart the traditional importance of the Nguni. Then down to business - a blow on the traditional Luveve horn, a whistle and a bleat at the cattle, as the group herds them to their Sibaya (corral) for daily checks. Typically about a 3 hour ride. Warning not to wear your best riding gear - this ride takes you off the trail and into the bush, where thorns will send you home with evidence of your adventure! 

8 am breakfast

9 am departure