Enjoyed the Most:
The horseback riding & wildlife at Mashatu took my breath away: Plenty of long and fast canters, jumping small ditches and logs along the way (optional), covering the most amazing and vast terrain, cantering alongside the herds of giraffe who look like they are going in slow motion but are covering just as much ground as we are!! I will never, for the rest of my life, forget camping in the bush not so far from a den of lionesses, who you could hear at night roaring over their territory - you can actually hear other lions from across the border (and river) in South Africa roaring back in reply! Simply phenomenal, not at all scary. You never feel unsafe in the care of this first class horse safari operation.
Even walking (on foot or horseback) is exciting; there is just so much to revel in. In some parts, the dirt sparkles with rough diamond bits. It is magical. Curious and mischevious baboons watch from their haunches perched ontop of massive termite hills, jackals streak from bush to bush looking for cover, vultures circle above looking for carcasses leftover from the cats and hyenas, the air is filled with enchanting, rythmic bird calls. Antelope, zebra and wildebeest graze vigilantly on the grasslands or stand stock still in the bushes while you pass by thinking just maybe you don't see them. We followed the drag trail of a leopard kill, and eventually found what was leftover of the unlucky zebra. We did find 2 leopards late in the week: these cats are hard to find by most safari standards. Many locals have not even seen them. Here in the Mashatu Reserve, you have a brilliant chance of finding at least one during your week here. I met someone who went the week before me, and she said they saw 6! We saw a beautifully feminine, young female who came right up to our jeep and then proceeded to roll around like a house cat in the dirt, grooming and showing off. We saw a large male leopard lazing on a low lying branch in the massive Mashatu tree; he stared at us lazily, before sliding down out of the tree and disappearing into the bush. We were 10 feet away from several lionesses and their cubs, who were tormenting their mother just like children do - it was funny! We found a herd of elephants, where one baby came up to us and wanted to play. Like a dog wanting to play fetch, he had his back haunches up and front end down playfully, trying to get us to interact with him and the ball of elephant dung he was using as a soccor ball. He kicked it back and forth, front feet to back feet, side to side. It was incredible. For safety reasons of course, we could not "play" with him, and eventually he got frustatrated, and so with his trunk, threw his dung ball at us and stomped his feet like a spoiled kid before walking back to his mother. Anyone who thinks these impressive animals are not highly intelligent with very human like personalities and emotions is kidding themselves. Elephants are everywhere in the Mashatu Reserve, some travel alone, others in herd of up to 50. Our guides West and Mpo were comedic gentlemen, who were knowledgeable and friendly, and love to poke fun at you and keep you smiling. They are not only a wealth of knowledge about their country and safari, but also have trained locally, as well as in Europe and UK, in 3-day eventing. They are not just safari guides, but trained equestrians as well. Same goes for their wonderful horses; they are not only fearless safari animals, but well schooled horses who do dual duty competing in the ring when not trekking.
Bothered you:
That I did not have more time to spend there!? I could have stayed for weeks!!!
Comments:
This place is great for experienced riders. There is a short riding test on the first afternoon to be sure everyone is up to par with required riding level and to make sure your selected horse is a good match. If you are not able to ride to the ability required, you unfortunately cannot continue. While this sounds a bit nerve-wracking for anyone who has doubt in their riding, for those who are strong riders, this ensures that you have the fast paced, exhilerating and SAFE riding experience you seek without worrying that an unfit rider may negatively effect the group. I kind of had butterflies even though I know I am a good rider! Haha! You do a large triangle... one side cantering, second side hand gallop/extended canter, and third side you need to bring the horse back at a collected canter. You can do it! ;)
Camping. Yes, it's camping, but really, REALLY nice camping. Put it this way, my mother came with me, who is NOT an outdoor type at all, and she felt completely at ease, wonderfully taken care of and always comfortable and happy while at all the camps we went to along the trail. She came as a non-rider and rode with the support vehicle each day from location to location and her experience was just as wonderful as the riders. There was a few days were she saw some wildlife I was jealous of! And don't knock having an outdoor shower until you have done it. Seriously. I already knew how divine they were from past trips in the backcountry, but I enjoyed seeing the rest of the group come to realize after the first day just how lovely they are!! If you are really not into the camp scene, you can book a safari that is lodge to lodge (Mashatu Deluxue Safari)!