Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Destination: Nava Manzi Game Farm, Waterberg.
Location: 330 kilometres north of Johannesburg, in the Limpopo Province. Just under 4 hours’ drive from Gauteng.
Accommodation: Upmarket Safari Lodge
Includes: All meals, tea, coffee, water & 2 daily horse riding experiences.
Interests: Horse riding, wildlife, nature, beautiful scenery, authentic, intimate safari lodge experience, relaxation & great food.
There is an Honesty Bar with a selection of soft drinks, wines, beers, and a small selection of spirits. Please feel free to bring your own preferred tipple. You will settle your bill on the last day before departure.
Nava Manzi
Your Gateway to Unspoiled African Wilderness
This ladies-only horse riding safari offers an unforgettable escape into the untouched beauty of the Waterberg. Designed for women who love horses, nature and meaningful travel experiences, this safari combines scenic riding, comfortable accommodation and warm South African hospitality in one truly special setting.
At Nava Manzi, horse riding allows guests to experience the bush in a unique and immersive way. Riding through open landscapes, along riverbeds and across beautiful bushveld terrain creates an incredible sense of freedom and connection with nature. The absence of dangerous big game in the riding areas allows guests to enjoy relaxed yet exciting rides while taking in the surrounding wildlife and scenery from horseback.
The atmosphere at the lodge is peaceful, welcoming and unpretentious, offering the perfect balance between comfort and authentic bush living. After a day in the saddle, guests can unwind around the fire, enjoy wholesome meals and embrace the slower rhythm of safari life.
Despite the high level of quality and comfort, the atmosphere is very laid-back, and the staff are extremely warm, approachable and accommodating.
At the heart of this experience is our Managing Guide, Corné, a true legend in the world of horse safaris. With more than 25 years of experience, Corné has managed and guided countless safaris across Southern Africa, from the breathtaking waterways of the Okavango Delta in Botswana to some of the most remarkable wilderness regions in South Africa.
More than just an exceptional guide, Corné is the catalyst that makes this safari such a memorable and enjoyable experience. Sociable, warm, and deeply passionate about the bush, he combines expert knowledge of wildlife, fauna and flora with an extraordinary understanding of horses and riding safaris. Whether sharing stories around the fire, identifying tracks in the veld, or carefully matching riders to horses, Corné brings a rare combination of professionalism, authenticity and personality that transforms the journey into something truly special. Ignatius supports Corne, an expert horse trainer and equally proficient guide. Together, they are a formidable team, ensuring you are always in safe hands.
HORSES ARE OUR PASSION
Horse riding at Nava Manzi is suited to intermediate and experienced riders who are comfortable and confident in the saddle. Riding through the African bush on horseback offers a completely different safari experience, quiet, immersive and deeply connected to the environment.
The riding terrain varies from open bushveld to winding natural trails and river areas, providing an exciting and scenic riding experience throughout the stay. Guests may encounter plains game, birdlife and the incredible natural beauty of the Waterberg while out riding.
The horses are responsive, well cared for and suited to the African terrain, allowing riders to feel both comfortable and confident during the experience. Great care is taken to match riders with suitable horses according to ability and riding confidence.
Rides vary depending on the group and riding experience, with the focus always being on enjoyment, safety and experiencing the bush from horseback.
TACK & EQUIPMENT
We use comfortable Trail-Rider saddles, originally based on the famous US cavalry saddle designed for the comfort of both horse and rider alike. The saddles are hand-made by Liversage Saddles in Belfast, South Africa. We strongly advise all clients to wear a riding hat. We only ride traditional English style.
All riders should be intermediate to experienced with soft hands, a good seat, and capable of long canters along sandy paths.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation at Nava Manzi offers a comfortable and stylish safari experience that blends naturally into the surrounding landscape. The lodge provides a relaxed and intimate atmosphere where guests can truly disconnect from busy everyday life and reconnect with nature.
Rooms are thoughtfully designed with comfort in mind, creating a welcoming retreat after a day spent exploring the bush on horseback. The overall experience is refined yet relaxed, perfectly suited to guests looking for an authentic upmarket safari stay rather than a formal luxury lodge environment.
Guests can enjoy peaceful evenings around the fire, beautiful bush views and a genuine sense of tranquillity throughout their stay.
* Wi-Fi is available in selected lodge areas
* Special dietary requirements can be catered for upon request
RIDING ABILITY
This Ladies Horse Riding Safari is suited to intermediate and experienced riders. All riders should be comfortable and confident in the three main gaits, walk, trot and canter.
Guests should have a reasonable level of riding fitness and confidence as rides may include longer periods in the saddle across varied bush terrain.
Minimum age: 14 years (if accompanied by an adult).
RIDING STYLE
The riding style is classic English. During a canter you should be out of the saddle with a light seat and the reins short but without excessive pressure on the bit. When walking the reins should be kept long allowing the horse to extend it’s stride. While trotting, (not that we do much trotting) you should be able to post or rise to the trot. Please always listen to the instructions given by either of the guides. There will be two, a Lead guide and a rear guide. During a canter should you feel that the pace is too fast, slow down to your confidence level and the rear guide will look after you.
Always have the reins in your hand, even when taking photos. While stationary and watching animals your horse is allowed to graze.
Menu Examples
Breakfast –
Tea / Coffee
Toast / Muffins / Butter / Strawberry jam / Grated cheese / Breakfast ham / Sliced tomatoes
Fruit platter / Muesli / Yoghurt
Lunch –
Lasagne and salad
Burgers with different fillings and chips
Quiche and salad
Build your own wrap with loads of assorted fillings
Coffee
Dinner –
Starters:
Butternut soup / Crunchy cabbage salad / Broccoli and cauliflower loaded salad / bruschetta
with mushrooms and poached egg
Mains –
Chicken pie & veggies
Kudu boboti & rice with roasted veg
Chicken curry & rice with sambal selection and pompadoms.
Venison schnitzel with chips and steamed green vegetables
Dessert –
Lemon soufflé / the best Malva pudding with homemade custard/ apple crumble with ice cream or custard/ Banoffee pie with rum flambéed banana
Wildlife –
Kudu, Nyala, Duiker, Steenbok, Blue wildebeest, Zebra Giraffe, Oryx, Baboons and monkeys, impala, warthog and the occasional bush pig and bushbuck.
We have seen Leopard, Caracal, Jackal, Bat-eared foxes, but the sightings are normally at dusk and these animals are very elusive.
Itinerary
Day of arrival
12h00 – Arrival & Check-in
13h00 – Hosted lunch with Meet – Greet & Briefing.
15h30 – Meet your horse & afternoon ride.
17h30 – Sundowners in the Bush
Return to Lodge & freshen up
19h30 – Hosted Dinner
Day 2
07h00 – Wake up
07h30 – Breakfast
08h00 – Cross the Tambotie river and explore the flats on the Eastern side of the Tambotie river with long sandy canters. See magnificent marula trees and enjoy tracking game especially the giraffe.
Return to the Lodge for Lunch
Afternoon ride with sundowners on the patio and dinner at the lodge
Day 3
07h00 – Wake up
07h30 – Breakfast
08h00 – Full day in the saddle. Morning ride up through the forest valley to the top of the mountain and the view point looking North into Botswana. Continue down hill into the Tambotie river valley and end up at a bush lunch in the banks of the river. This is near to a house where we will open a side room en suite for you to freshen up. You can swim in the river (season depending) and relax. Then ride back to the stables or those who are tired can drive back to the lodge.
17h30 – Freshen up at Lodge
18h30 – sundowners on the patio and dinner at the lodge
Day of departure
07h00 – Wake up
07h30 – Breakfast
08h00 – morning ride on the Western side of the river.
12h00 – Freshen up at the Lodge
12h30 – Lunch
After Lunch you can depart, giving you enough time for a leisurely drive back to Gauteng.
