Horse rides take place across picturesque grassy plains and rolling Kalahari dunes with views across the desert landscape. Most guests are novice riders, and therefore there are horses that are suitable for riders with no previous riding experience. Horses are child friendly which provides for a very special African family safari experience. For children and adults alike, there is nothing like seeing animals in the wild or watching the sun set over a never ending horizon. To do this on horseback, part of nature and completely out of sight of anything man-made, is a truly unforgettable, experience.
Visitors can ride out to the rolling sand dunes and find a beautiful picnic lunch or a splendid candle lit dune dinner awaiting them. A dune dinner is an enchanting experience, offering the vastness of the "diamond studded" Kalahari night sky, Relais & Chateaux rated culinary delights and the sounds of silence penetrated occasionally with the roars and cries of the African bush.
The Kalahari Desert has a variety of horses that includes the following breeds: Percheron X, Boerperd, Boerperd X, Quarter Horse X, Thoroughbred , Appaloosa, and Arab X. An experienced horse guide and backup rider accompany all rides. The horses are trained for trail riding and are schooled in the Western style of reining. Riders need only bring jodhpurs or can ride with comfortable trousers. Gloves, boots, hard hats as well as short and long chaps will all be supplied.
Surrounding the rugged Korannaberg Mountains in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, this Kalahari Desert Reserve covers 1000km2 (100 000 ha) of land on the edge of the mysterious desert wilderness that is the Kalahari. You will be able the find over 70 species of mammal which will include the Kalahari lion, cheetah, and desert black rhino, sable and roan antelope in this Reserve. More than 200 species of bird can also be found.
Horseback riding on safari gives riders an up close and natural experience of timeless Africa. Riders become part of the African landscape, becoming one with nature and their surroundings. On a more conventional vehicle safari you might miss out on some of the wildlife. At this Kalahari Desert Reserve, the game viewing opportunities are unparalleled in terms of South African safaris. Horse riding across the savannah alongside various wild animals, immersed in the sights, smells and sounds of Africa is a unique experience. Don't miss out!
There are exclusive luxury private game reservea that provides unparalleled game-viewing. Visitors can encounter the mystical desert safari from the back of an open sided safari vehicle, on horse back or by foot, as guided walks meander across silent red dunes of the Kalahari Reserve. This desert wilderness that is the Kalahari is the historical home of the San People (Bushman) has the largest private concession in Sub-Saharan Africa with over 200 bird species and more than 70 species of mammal including lion, cheetah, desert black rhino, sable and roan antelope and the Meerkat.
These small social carnivores live in close-knit communities called mobs or gangs they depend on one another for survival. If danger is sighted, the sentry gives a warning bark, and the Meerkats flee to the safety of their burrows. When they face the threat of a rival group of Meerkats or a predator, they dig frantically in the sand to create clouds of dust to distract their aggressors. If the threat is a snake, the adults will huddle together with their hair bristling, making themselves as big and tall as they can and drive the predator away. In the community, each Meerkat has special duties. One can see as they emerge from the burrows, selected individuals will stand guard to keep watch for predators. Even as these cooperative breeders wrestle and play about, while sunbathing and grooming one another, they always have a sentry on the lookout.
The Meerkat is immune to the poison from a scorpion or a snake and while most mongooses are nocturnal, Meerkats hunt during the day. Another interesting fact about the Meerkat is that it can dig up about as much sand as it weighs in seconds. The Meerkat uses its tail for balance and as a signal. They have a common latrine that is used by all the members of the gang. Meerkats band together in numbers to frighten off predators many times their size. Although not endangered, the Meerkat is considered a flagship species due to its public popularity. Meerkats live in grass-lined burrows that are shared with ground squirrels and yellow mongooses. Various adults will baby-sit the youngsters while the mother feeds.
Travelers can take trips to Van Zyl's Rus where a group of biologists from Cambridge and Pretoria are investigating the cooperative behaviour of the Meerkat. This Meerkat Project has featured in several recent films of Meerkats, including Animal Planet's very popular Meerkat Manor. A stay at a private retreat is the ideal opportunity to take time to observe the Meerkat from only a few feet away.
Both Sandra Olivier & Gillian Meier are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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