The riding is challenging and technical since it is wilderness riding with steep climbs and descents, river crossings and tricky rocky terrain to cross. There are some opportunities for fast riding on the plains and the riding is not suitable for nervous riders. In addition to abundant wildlife you will visit and spend time and interact with a Swazi community at Ebutsini Village and a local school.

There will be scheduled departures for car transfers from Johannesburg on the first day of the safari. This car will leave at 0930 to arrive at the lodge for midday. You must allow time for clients to come through customs and baggage in time for this transfer.
On the last day of safari the car transfer will be organised to collect guests from the Swazi Village between 11.00 / 12.00 to allow guests to have lunch on the way to the airport (not provided in cost) and ensure they are on time for evening flights.
If you are booking a full group (8 people) then the flight arrival time can be more flexible, as long as everyone is aware that if guests arrive later they may miss the afternoon introductory ride at the lodge.
Set Rate for clients travelling on shared car transfer:
 235 US/115 GBP/169 E per person return. Not included in ride price
If you are booking an internal flight to our nearest airport (KMIA - Nelspruit) you must book your inbound flight to arrive no later than midday to ensure that you arrive at Dawson's in time for late lunch and afternoon ride.
Return departure to KMIA is typically at 11.00pm for afternoon flights to Johannesburg
Rates for KMIA transfers must be requested from SAHBS prior to booking as they are subject to increase at any time.

Timings

• Johannesburg to Dawson 's - approx 3 hours
• Swazi Village to Johannesburg - approx 4 hours
• KMIA to Dawson 's - approx 1.5 hours
• Swazi Village to KMIA - approx 2.5 hours

Clients will begin at Dawson Homestead with eight en suite rooms, private dining area and pool. On safari, you stay in dome tents on proper beds with sheets and duvets. The tents are comfortable and contain tables and lights. A long drop loo and bucket shower is provided at each camp site. A mess tent is erected for ding should the weather be inclement. The Ebutsini Village consists of traditional rondavels thorugh each room has ensuite facilities and electricity.

Breakfast consists of porridge and bacon and eggs. When on safari, you will make your own saddle bag picnic form bread rolls, ham, cheese etc. In the evening professional chefs will cook delicious meals. Vegetarians can be catered for with prior notice but stricter diets cannot be accommodated on the safari. You will be provided with fruit cordial, bottled water, tea and coffee. Beer and house wine is served with dinner, and you may bring your own spirits if so inclined. Drinks at Dawson Lodge are not included.

On safari most of your time is spent in the saddle, or to reach high waterfalls for panoramic views, Hardy and adventurous can swim in the mountain streams and pools.

Summer months are October to March with the hottest months being October to February when temperatures may rise to mid 30’s C. The rains can start in November with December to February being the wettest months. Winter is May to August. Since you are in the mountains, the evenings can be cold, with temperatures falling to 5C. Rain is unlikely in the winter months, but mist and heavy dew is possible and so you should have good quality raingear at all times to prevent feeling damp.

Songimvelo game reserve was proclaimed a conservation area on the 4th March 1983. It covers an area of 50,000 hectares, which makes it the largest provincial game reserve in South Africa. Situated 100 kms south of the town of Barberton, it borders on to the Kingdom of Swaziland. 250 kilometers to the north east will bring you into Mozambique. Kruger Park is also easily accessible by car.

Some of the most extraordinary facts about Songimvelo include its rock formations that have been dated at 3.5 billion years old, making them some of the oldest known geological formations on the world.

Early Stone Age man also inhabited this area and artifacts have been found dating back to 1 million years old. Stone walled sites from the later Iron Age are also very common and can be viewed across the reserve. Indications that the area was inhabited by the San People (Bushmen) can also be found. More recently the discovery of gold in the area encouraged hoards of Europeans to migrate to the area in search of their fortunes.

The park boasts more than 1400 different species of plant life, including the extremely rare Woolly Cycad, which is the only place in the world this tree can now be found. There are 14 other threatened plant species that survive in this area, and their conservation is a high priority to the park.

There are 20 species of herbivores all of which were re introduced after they had been hunted to extinction prior to the 1980's. Animals seen include elephant, white rhino, buffalo, giraffe, kudu, eland, impala, blesbok, blue wildebeest, zebra, sable, hartebeest, tsessebe, bushpig, warthog, klipspringer, steenbok, duiker, mountain reedbuck, hippopotamus, waterbuck, bontebok, oribi, baboon, vervet monkey, bushbaby. There are 3 very important animals situated in the park: white rhino which were almost hunted to extinction and now the park is home to 40 of these magnificent animals. 'Disease free' Buffalo are also present (these are carefully bred buffalo that are free from Tuberculosis and Foot and Mouth). There is also an important population of Springbuck that are 'Heartwater' resistant (this is a tick born disease that can kill livestock if not managed carefully).

Depart Europe / UK for overnight flights

Arrive Johannesburg in the early morning (preferably between 07.00 and 09.00) and transfer by car direct to Dawson 's Game & Trout Lodge. Or Book an internal flight to Nelspruit (for arrival midday latest) and then onward transfer to Dawson 's Lodge.

On arrival at Dawson 's Lodge settle into your room and a late lunch with the rest of the group. Later there will be a briefing explaining how the safari will progress and an opportunity to meet the horses and remainder of the team.

In the afternoon have your first ride for approx 2 hours, returning to the lodge for dinner and a good night's sleep before setting out on safari early the following day.

An early start to set off on safari. The horses will travel ahead by truck and you will transfer by vehicle (50 minutes) from Dawson 's Lodge into Songimvelo Game Reserve.

You set off riding for approximately 4-5 hours (with regular breaks) riding on the plains towards Wind Hoek Base Camp, with numerous river crossings, and a lunch stop at the Hippo pools.

These plains are abundant with wildlife, surrounded by magnificent mountains and give you your first opportunity to feast on this beautiful reserve.

Arrive at Wind Hoek Base Camp mid afternoon. The support team will have set up a comfortable camp, including a bucket shower and long drop toilet facilities.
The rest of the afternoon is spent exploring and settling in to your tents.

Dinner will be served (dependant on weather) either in the mess tent or outside.

The normal pattern on safari will be a morning call at c. 6.00am (earlier in summer) followed by a full breakfast and tea or coffee. You generally make your own saddle bag picnic and can choose from a variety of different breads and tasty snacks and fillings.
Full day ride descending from mountains into the valley, game viewing and riding through rivers and onto the plains.
Return to Wind Hoek Base Camp late afternoon.

Today is a day of excitement and you will set off to explore more widely into Songimvelo. Ride into the stunning mountains, with pack horses and all equipment required to spend a night out under the stars! After a spectacular lunch location you will ride on to the evenings resting place and enjoy a simple (though delicious) evening meal. This is challenging - though spectacular - mountain pass riding,
Sleeping bags will be provided for quite simply the most magical night you could ever spend in the bush

Breakfast will be served in the mountains and then descend the mountain passes to Komati River plains. This area has great game viewing and potential encounters with White Rhino.
Arrive at Wind Hoek Base Camp for a late lunch, with time to relax before dinner.

Today you will explore the Gold Mines in Songimvelo, with game viewing along the way. Ride 3.4 hours in the morning and arrive back at camp for a late lunch and afternoon at leisure.

Ride to Ebutsini Village game viewing and enjoying the dramatic scenery on the way through Songimvelo. Arrive mid afternoon and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure and settling in to the traditional Rondavels. Evening will be spent at the village enjoying the entertainment and catering - Swazi style!

A final morning ride from Ebutsini Village and a visit to the local school where guests can donate any gifts they might have bought and receive an amazing performance from the children. After an early lunch, depart from the village by car direct to Johannesburg for onward connections.
Or
Transfer by car to Nelspruit airport for internal flights to Johannesburg

Arrive UK / European destinations.