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

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights

Accommodation: Lodge-based with 2 nights at a Fly Camp in the bush

Dates: fixed

Riding Level: Intermediate-Advanced

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 2 nights on Mlilwane Game Sanctuary, then 2 nights at Fly Camp, then back to Mlilwane for 1 night and then the last 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. 

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

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.

Camping - canvas dome tents with cots, bedding, and towels. Latrine and warm tree showers.

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 for EmaSomini fly camp

Ride over Nyonyane Mountain on 4x4 roads and bridle paths, dropping down to the Usushwana River for lunch. After lunch, the trail continues northwest along an old railway line into rural community, climbing through community homesteads to arrive at EmaSomini Fly Camp in the late afternoon. 

7:30 am breakfast

8:30 am full-day ride with saddlebag lunch

Ride through the ridges and valleys of Mlilwane North with magnificent views across Eswatini to Mozambique and South Africa. Enjoy a saddlebag lunch along the trail, and keep watch for reedbuck and grey duiker, as well as community livestock. The focus of this ride is scenery more than wildlife, and the pace is slow, due to the terrain.

7 am breakfast

8 am full day ride back to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary base camp with saddlebag lunch

Ride back to base, dropping down through Mlilwane North, riding cross-country on cattle tracks and trails. The descent is slow with ever-changing scenery. Dismount to cross the Usushwana River, then follow the river back home through Mphumalanga Plains. Wildlife viewing will increase substantially after lunch as you near Mlilwane base camp.

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