Category Archives: Youth

Another successful TWT challenge ride

January 24, 2017Africa, Charity fundraising event, Community projects, Education, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Trustees, Waterberg, Youth#wildlifephotography, adventure, Africa, Ant Baber, challenge, challenging horse ride, Horse, horse safari, Horseback challenge, horseriding, Long distance riding, photo of rider, photo of roan antelope, photo of wildebeeste, photograph of wildebeest stretching, photographs of white rhino, riding horses in Africa, riding in Africa, Riding on Ant's Nest, riding with game, Riding with rhino, riding with wildlife, Safari, Sophie Neville, South Africa, Travel, Wildlife on Ant's Nest, wildlife photographySophie Neville

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-Ant Baber leading The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2017-

Twelve intrepid riders from around the UK, and one from Australia, successfully completed the third Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride covering 181 kilometers at some speed, crossing rivers and rocky terrain.

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-Riders from Yorkshire crossing the Melk Rivier on horseback-

The six-day expedition proved a real adventure, traversing four different private game reserves and stretching everyone to the limits.

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-Climbing up from the Palala River on Jembisa game reserve-

The horses were beautifully looked after by the guides and back-up team from Ant’s Nest who hosted the expedition.

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-Riders from Yorkshire encountering white rhino at Ant’s Nest on the third TWT Challenge Ride-

Riders, who paid their own travel and safari costs, had to raise a minimum of £1,000 each for The Waterberg Tust to support community projects in the Waterberg.

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Funds raised will be divided between Save The Waterberg Rhino, Lapalala Wilderness School and Lethabo Kids Club in the township of Leseding, with support also being given to other health, welfare and educational projects. The 2017 riders were able to visit projects already supported by The Waterberg Trust. They all took part in an inspirational workshop on the importance of wildlife conservation at Lapalala Wilderness School on the Palala River.

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-Meeting the educators at Lapalala Wilderness School-

The Waterberg Trust riders’ fund-raising efforts in 2016 made it possible for 125 children and their teachers to attend a residential course here. We met the first group from Meetsetshehla Secondary School in Vaalwater:

-Some of the 125 students sponsored by The Waterberg Trust-

Students from Mokolo Primary School in Vaalwater will be able to come another week. As The Waterberg Trust also paid for pupils’ transport, local children from all backgrounds will be able to gain a grounding in environmental awareness, develop leadership skills and establish contact with a mentor who can help with wildlife issues.

-Pupils from Meetshesethla Secondary School learning about treats to wildlife-

Having said goodbye to the horses, riders saw an anti-poaching security post donated to Save The Waterberg Rhino by The Waterberg Trust Riders in 2016.

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-Save The Waterberg Rider’s new security point ready to be manned on a 24 hour basis-

They also met children at Lethabo Kids Club in Leseding township who showed-off the school uniforms purchased with grants from The Waterberg Trust in 2016 to ensure every child goes to school.

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-Lethabo Kids Club that has been running for 15 years in the township of Leseding-

The needs of older students who have shown more than ten years commitment were discussed. Some are seeking sponsorship for tertiary education.

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-Meeting the youth who help with Letabo Kids Club in Leseding-

It was a joy to meet the people of the Waterberg, learn of their cultural heritage and explore the bushveldt so rich in natural history.

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-TWT Riders on Jembisa-

The ride was led by Ant Baber following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather E.A. Davidson, who explored the area on horseback in early 1900’s.

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-Ant Baber who has been leading horse safaris for more than twenty years-

The Waterberg Trust, a registered UK charity, was represented by trustee Sophie Neville who, along with the twelve other riders, whould like to extend heartfelt thanks to our hosts, the land-owners and all those who sponsored the ride, especially Ant’s Nest and Jembisa.

If you would like to make a donation to support The Waterberg Trust please click here.

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Objectives of The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2017

October 4, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Community projects, Education, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Uncategorized, Waterberg, YouthCharities in the Waterberg South Africa, Charity fundraising event, Charity fundraising talk by Alastair Fothergill, combatting rhino poaching, Grassroots conservation projects in South Africa, Lapalala Wilderness School, Letabo Kids Club Leseding, Making a Difference, Nature Conservation, Save the Waterberg Rhino, Sponsored ride, Talk on wildlife filmmaking by Alastair Fothergill, The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2017, Wildlife filmmaker Alastair FothergillSophie Neville

On 15th January 2017, twelve intrepid ladies from around the UK set off on horseback across the Waterberg Plateau in South Africa to gain an understanding of this pristine wilderness and learn about challenges faced by the rural community. Lying three hours drive north of Johannesburg, the Waterberg is home to the third highest population of rhino in the world. As up to four rhino are being poached in South Africa every day, it is imperative to guard this upland area where they can be protected.

A challenging section of the Waterberg Charity Ride

Would you help us to raise funds for Save The Waterberg Rhino, who are combating anti-poaching, Lapalala Wilderness School, who help ensure local children grow up with an understanding of nature conservation, and other community projects in the region?

LWS pupils with python

The twelve riders paid their own way, so every penny raised in sponsorship will go straight to The Waterberg Trust, a UK registered charity who can send donations, plus any Gift Aid, to these small but effective projects in South Africa. Funds go a long way to really make a difference in the Waterberg where they are administered by trusted conservationists with years of experience. You can meet those who are striving to Save The Waterberg Rhino and protect the wilderness while uplifting communities in the Waterberg, here:

Those taking part in The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2017 were able to observe a number of white rhino living on Ant’s Nest game reserve, while being updated on anti-poaching initiatives by Tess and her husband Ant Baber who is leading the six-day ride.

They then crossed the Waterberg hills on horseback, traversing Kwalata private game reserve to Lapalala Wilderness run by Anton Walker, who also appears in this film. He cares for wildlife reintroduced to the area thirty years ago by his father, the author and conservationist Clive Walker seen here speaking to TWT riders in 2016:

LWS meeting Clive Walker

While on this reserve, riders visited the Lapalala Wilderness School where teenagers from Vaalwater come for a residential course on wildlife conservation sponsored by TWT. Students testify how this experience changes their outlook on life, giving them an appreciation for their environment and the future of South Africa’s wild animals. The children take their enthusiasm into the community whose support is essential if poaching is to be combated.

After thirty-two hours in the saddle, the ride ended at the Palala River on Jembisa private game reserve. Before leaving, riders visited Lethabo Kids Club in the local township of Lesiding who minister to the poorest of the poor and ensure all children attend primary school.

sophie-neville-alastair-fothergill-and-juliet-maddan — TWT riders with Alastair Fothergill who gave a fundraising talk on his BBC series The Hunt

50% of funds raised by the sponsored ride are going to Save The Waterberg Rhino and 50% to support community projects in the area.

Riding safaris at Ant's (60)

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

Support the project on Social Media and receive news:
Share posts on The Waterberg Trust’s Facebook page, please click here
For Save The Waterberg Rhino’s Facebook page, please click here
For the Lapalala Wilderness School’s page, please click here
Find out more by clicking here: Save The Waterberg Rhino
Make a donation to The Waterberg Trust, please click here for address
Donate via The Waterberg Trust Justgiving page

As a UK registered charity, The Waterberg Trust can claim Gift Aid on eligible donations, and organise transfer of funds to South Africa efficiently. You can add a note to specify ‘Save the Waterberg Rhino’ or ‘Lapalala Wilderness School’ or another project with your donation.

Visiting Lethabo Kid’s Club in Leseding

June 14, 2016Africa, Charity, Community projects, Education, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Christian project in a South Africa township, Community, Community Programmes, Donate, donation of school uniform, Education, equipping children for school, Limpopo Province, Making a Difference, School bags, South Africa, sponsorship, WaterbergSophie Neville

TWT rider with Letabo Kids Club

TWT Riders were able to visit Lethabo Kids Club in the township of Leseding, which has been run for the last sixteen years by Marilyn Cook – seen here in purple.

Finding out about the Back to School project

As it was the weekend before Easter we handed out Easter eggs as a treat. The youth who help on the project organised games and dancing for the children with vibrant music.

The children normally receive a glass of fresh milk and a peanut butter sandwich when they come to the club for stories and other activities each Wednesday.

Letabo Kids Club uniform

The Waterberg Trust is supporting a ‘Back to School’ project here, which has been working well and ensures all the children are equipped for the new school year in January.

Letabo Kids Club The state provide schooling but require each child arrive dressed in uniform, bringing a school bag equipped with stationary. Some families battle to find the money for this.

Letabo Kids club school bag

Lethabo Kids Club help by providing one item of clothing for each child. They first ask the children’s guardians to complete a form confirming they need assistance. So far, more than eighty children have been aided but the need is ever present. Some children have lost their parents and are being brought up by grannys, aunties or older siblings.

If you would like to make a donation to this project, please click here for The Waterberg Trust Justgiving.com page labelling your gift ‘Letabo Kids Club’.

Marilyn Cook with some of the kids

All set for The Waterberg Trust Challenge Rides

March 9, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Peer Education, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Ant's Nest, anti-poaching unit, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Education, Fundraising event, Game reserve, game viewing, horse safari, Horseback, Limpopo Province, Long distance riding, make a difference, Making a Difference, Riding, riding in Africa, riding with game, Safari, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sponsored ride, The Good Safari Guide, Transformed Lives, Waterberg, Waterberg ConservanceSophie Neville

Lapalala Wilderness School does such good work in promoting conservation in South Africa that it makes excellent subject matter for television.

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The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2016 has also been attracting quite a bit of on-line media coverage. Please click on these links to see:

Classic Safari Camps

The Good Safari Guide

Ant’s Nest Newsletter

Hiking, Outdoors and Wildlife online

Waterberg Conservancy

and we have had a report on the 2015 Challenge Ride in Arabian Online written by Kate Williams.

Sophie Neville has had a news article published in the Lymington Times

This coverage is wonderful as we want to raise funds to send 100 children on a eco-course at the Lapalala Wilderness School and support Save The Waterberg Rhino, raising awareness for conservation as we do so.

How you can support The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride:

Follow Save the Waterberg Rhino on Twitter

Follow the projects on Facebook:

The Waterberg Trust on Facebook

Lapalala Wilderness School on Facebook

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Learning about reptiles

Meet the people striving to Save The Waterberg Rhino

February 26, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Uncategorized, Waterberg, Youthadventure, adventuretravel, Africa, Ant Baber, Anthony Baber, Anton Walker, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Clive Walker, Fundraising event, Horseback, Lapalala Wilderness, Long distance riding, make a difference, Making a Difference, Riding, riding in Africa, riding with game, Save the Waterbeg Rhino, South Africa, Sponsored ride, Tessa Baber, WaterbergSophie Neville

Tessa Baber, who appears in this short film, started ‘Save The Waterberg Rhino’ in 2013.

Those taking part in The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride in March 2016 will be able to observe a number of white rhino living on Ant’s Nest game reserve, while being updated on anti-poaching initiatives by Tess and her husband Ant Baber who is leading the six-day ride.

The plan is to cross the Waterberg on horseback, traversing Kwalata private game reserve to Lapalala Wilderness where riders will meet the warden Anton Walker, who also appears on this film. He cares for both black and white rhino re-introduced to the area by his father, the author and wildlife artist Clive Walker when he was warden about thirty years ago.

While on this reserve riders from the UK will visit the Lapalala Wilderness School where children, often from deprived communities, come for a week’s residential course on wildlife conservation. Many of them testify how this experience changes their outlook on life, giving them an appreciation for their environment and the future of South Africa’s wild animals. The children take their enthusiasm into the community whose support is essential if poaching is to be combated.

The ride will end at the Palala River on Jembisa private game reserve who have been supporting Save The Waterberg Rhino and the Lapalala Wilderness School for some time.

The Waterberg Challenge Ride 2016 promises to be quite an intrepid adventure. The route has not attempted on horseback before. The riders face early starts and long hours in the saddle but they are busy getting fit and packing carefully in preparation for the challenge.

Riding safaris at Ant's (60)

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

Support the project on Social Media and receive news:
For Save The Waterberg Rhino’s Facebook page, please click here.
For The Waterberg Trust’s Facebook page, please click here
For the Lapalala Wilderness School’s page, please click here

Find out about Save The Waterberg Rhino

Donate via The Waterberg Trust Justgiving page:

As a UK registered charity, The Waterberg Trust can claim Gift Aid on eligible donations, and organise transfer of funds to South Africa efficiently. Add a note to specify ‘Save the Waterberg Rhino’ or ‘Lapalala Wilderness School’ with your donation.

Riders are gaining sponsorship on individual pages:

Anne Lester – https://www.justgiving.com/Anne-Lester

Susie Airy – http://www.justgiving.com/SusieAiryTheWaterbergTrust

Fiona Worlidge – https://www.justgiving.com/fiona-worlidge

Belinda Fordy – http://www.justgiving.com/Belindalfordy

Becky Overy Owen – https://www.justgiving.com/bexoo

Belinda Chaffer – http://www.justgiving.com/Belinda-ChafferTWT

Sophie Neville – http://www.justgiving.com/Sophie-Neville-TWT2016

If you’d like to organise your own fundraising event, and learn more about the charity contact sophie@sophieneville.co.uk

The Waterberg Trust Challenge Cycle Ride – plans and preparations

February 22, 2016Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Waterberg, YouthAchievement, activity holiday, Barry Burles, Cambridge to Norfolk, Charity, charity cycle ride, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, cycling, fun cycle ride, Fundraising event, Long distance riding, make a difference, Making a Difference, Nigel Hall cycle ride, Sponsored ride, Williams OrmeSophie Neville

18 adult riders and one 14 year-old boy have committed to take part in The Waterberg Trust Challenge Cycle Ride 2016. “One or two are having to juggle work and family commitments, but we have great expectations!”

Two brave volunteers – Sam Franklin and Charles Whitbread will be driving the support vehicles, keeping the riders fed and watered at the predetermined stoppage points spaced at roughly two-hour intervals. Only short stretches of the ride are not on a tar road. These are from Fen Ditton in North Cambridge to Ely. “It is a great delight to discover how lovely it can be cycling towards Ely Cathedral at 8.00am. It’s the only building you can see on the skyline.”

“So far, we have had four practice recce rides, which have helped to determine the route. The number of punctures on each ride has been alarming, but it is all part of the practice in keeping everybody going. Being equipped to mend a puncture rapidly or change an inner tube no matter where you are is important. It is like a motor-racing event with everybody helping out by providing the different bits of kit and expertise to speed the puncture repair. We have certainly become practiced at it.”

Mending a puncture on the TWT cycle ride

“Will used the puddle alongside the track to determine where the hole was. He had to do a puncture repair because he had used his spare inner tube already as this was his second puncture of the morning!”

“At this stage were are still about one hour’s ride from Ely, having just peddled across Wicken Fen. That was a marvellous experience if you are interested in birds and rare horse breads like me. On this occasion, we had breakfast in Ely and then cycled on to Littleport, half way to Downham Market.”

A previous outing had been another really fun ride from Ely to Downham Market (the second phase of the ride) across the Fens and the many bird sanctuaries. “We hardly saw a car and it felt very remote. Punctures were again a challenge for the racing bikes on this ride. My steel framed 25-year old tank of a bicycle has the distinction of not yet having suffered from punctures. The racers were much quicker though. I felt like the tortoise in the hare and the tortoise race of Aesop’s Fables because I did not have to stop.”

The practice ride last weekend explored the third phase of the ride from Downham Market to the Dabbling Duck pub in Gt Massingham for lunch along quiet country lanes, far from anywhere in particular.

The cyclists are raising funds to send to the Waterberg in South Africa. 50% will go to the Lapalala Wilderness School, with the aim of sending 100 dis-advantaged children on a residential week’s course on wildlife conservation. 50% will go to ‘Save the Waterberg Rhino’ and help them fight poaching.

If you are able to sponsor the riders, TWT has a Justgiving page here.

Nigel Hall, who is taking part, has a Justgiving.com page for the cycle ride here

William Orme has a Justgiving.com page here

Barry Burles, the leader, has a Justgiving.com page here

“The stop press bit of news is that I have been lucky enough to have been offered by my wonderful wife a new hybrid bicycle for my birthday present. In case you didn’t know, it’s as exciting being given a new bicycle as a grown man as it is when you are a young boy. The 84 miles might seem somewhat shorter for me now on the 12th March!”

There will be three more weekend practice rides between now and then.

Making a Difference: Teaching Conservation Skills at Lapalala Wilderness School in South Africa

January 26, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Peer Education, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAchievement, activity holiday, adventure, Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Community, Community Programmes, conservation skills, conservation training, eco school, Education, environmental education, Fundraising event, horse safari, Horseback, Justgiving, Limpopo Province, Long distance riding, make a difference, Making a Difference, Nature Conservation, raising awareness, Riding, riding in Africa, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sponsored ride, Transformed Lives, Waterberg, wildlife conservation, youth empowerment, youth opportunitiesSophie Neville

Lapalala Wilderness School wins Eco School Award and inspires others

The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2016 is currently raising funds and looking for sponsorship to help this award winning eco-school on the Palala River in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.

The Lapalala Wilderness School was established thirty years ago to give children from disadvantaged areas to have the opportunity to spend a week learning about nature conservation while gaining practical skills in the African bush.

If you would like to support this excellent educational project, you can make a donation on JustGiving via The Waterberg Trust and add a note with your donation specifying “Lapalala Wilderness School”

Report on the Rickshaw Ride

November 2, 2015Charity, Charity fundraising event, Travel, Uncategorized, YouthSophie Neville

Monty Owen, Sam Whitbread and Tobin Mills, all aged 19, have recently completed a challenging rickshaw run to raise funds for the charity Cool Earth as well as Save the Waterberg Rhino and The Waterberg Trust in South Africa.

“The Rickshaw Run was organised by Cool Earth, which works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction. It is now supporting 113 rainforest villages throughout the world, thus protecting over 500,000 acres of forest.”

“We basically drove a Tuk-Tuk from the top of India to the bottom in two weeks. In doing so we covered 3,850 km in 135 hours behind the wheel of our 7 horse power glorified lawnmower!!”

“During this time we ran into a host of problems including our engine, gearbox, carburetor, wipers, horn, lights (all), brakes, brake fluid, speedo, battery, piston, a bent axel, 2 flat tyres and a crash to top it off!! Despite these and many other tricky situations we managed to cross the finish line in 6th place from a total of 83 teams.” This wasn’t bad, as they were the youngest team. They decorated the tuk-tuk with STWR stickers and wore T-shirts to spread awareness about rhino poaching.

“We paid all our own costs and so all funds received go directly to our charities.”

Their fundraising venture is featured on the Waterberg Nature Conservancy website

“In attempting this crazy adventure, we set out to raise £3,000 for charity. We are well on the way to raising this amount but could do with some extra help!”

Funds raised by Tobin Mills are going to the host organisers Cool Earth. If you click on Tobin’s Justgiving page you’ll see he has raised £613.68, which is great and met the challenge set.

Funds Sam Whitbread and Monty Owen will be split evenly between The Waterberg Trust and Save the Waterberg Rhino in South Africa where Sam grew up. So far they have raised £1,901. We are hoping the final figure will reach £2,000. If you’d like to donate these are the links to their fundraising pages:

Sam Whitbread’s Justgiving page

Monty Owen’s Justgiving page

or send a donation by cheque to TWT, The Trust Partnership, 6 Trull Farm Buildings, Tetbury, Glos.

Thank you very much for your support. This is what we have been able to for Save The Waterberg Rhino buy with the funds raised so far:

World AIDS Day

December 1, 2014Africa, Charity, Healthcare, HIV, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Home Based Care, Hospice, Limpopo Province, Orphans, Palliative Care, Peer Education, South Africa, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAIDS in Africa, Charity fundraising, HIV fundraising, HIV/AIDS project in rural Africa, make a difference, What can I do?, World AIDS DaySophie Neville

1st December is World AIDS Day!

Our aim at the Waterberg Welfare Society Trust is to do all we can to help the people cope with the pandemic in rural areas of the Waterberg in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.

To read more about community projects we support, please click here

To read more about how some children are being helped, please click here

If you would like to get involved in fundraising, we’d love to hear from you!

Please email: Sophie@sophieneville.co.uk

Helping at WWS on Christmas Day — Helping on Christmas Day

If you would like to make a donation we have a Justgiving page here

Waterberg Charity Ride in January 2015

September 18, 2014Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Healthcare, HIV, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Home Based Care, Hospice, Limpopo Province, Orphans, Palliative Care, South Africa, Travel, Trustees, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, Youthactivity holiday, adventure, Africa, camping, Charity, Charity fundraising event, game viewing, Horse, horse safari, Horseback, January, Long distance riding, make a difference, Riding, riding in Africa, riding with game, Safari, silhouette of girl riding horse, South Africa, Travel, Waterberg, Waterberg Biosphere, Waterberg Welfare Society, Waterberg Welfare Society Trust, wildlifeSophie Neville

Would you like to join us on a sponsored ride through the Waterberg in South Africa to raise funds for the Waterberg Welfare Society Trust?

Are you up for an adventure?

We are looking for riders!

Horizon Horseback Adventures have kindly offered to organise a special safari, taking riders through private game reserves, whose owners have generously offered to host our party.

It will be an exploratory venture, indeed a unique opportunity to ride alongside wild animals in this beautiful area, now proclaimed a UNESCO biosphere. The group will be led by Sophie Neville, who became a horse safari guide in the Waterberg back in 1992, and is now a trustee of WWST.

Dates: Sunday 25th January 2015 – to – Saturday 31st January 2015

This enables anyone from the UK to depart from Heathrow on Saturday 24th January and arrive back in the UK on Sunday 1st February.

DAY 1: You will be collected from O.R Tambo international airport, Johannesburg and driven north to Horizon safari lodge (approx. 2.5 hours) in time for lunch. In the afternoon we will enjoy a short introductory ride to ensure everyone’s horses are suitable and stirrups are set correctly.

Horizon’s first passion is its horses and the adjoining landscape is heaven for riders. Miles of sandy tracks enable us to take long canters, while keeping an eye out for wildlife. Our first night will be spent on Triple B Ranch, a traditional homestead in the heart of the Waterberg biosphere reserve.

DAY 2: We’re off! Today we will ride from Horizon lodge to Koshari game ranch, a 1300ha reserve that will whet your appetite for all things ‘Waterberg’. The area is home to a large number of animal species as well as 250 species of bird. We have a good chance of seeing plains game including giraffe, zebra and many antelope – and will take time to view the buffalo. The night will be spent in tented accommodation at Koshari with an authentic African dinner served under the stars.

Day 3: Today we will enjoy a full day ride on Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill private game reserve. The diverse topography means that it supports over 40 species of game including giraffe, white rhino, sable antelope, buffalo, nyala, gemsbok (Oryx), kudu, Livingstone eland, blue wildebeest (gnu), red hartebeest, zebra, impala, bushbuck, duiker, steenbuck, mountain reedbuck, waterbuck, warthog, blesbuck, baboons, bush-pig, klipspringer, leopard, jackal and brown hyena to name but no lion!

We should be able to fit in a swim with the horse before arriving back at Koshari in time for a much-needed sundowner drink and another night’s camping.

DAY 4: Today we will ride from Ant’s reserve to Lindani. This stunning 3,800ha game farm and safari lodge offers another brilliant game viewing opportunity as well as fantastic going for the horses. With large areas of open savannah bushveld and gently winding sandy tracks, that stretch for many kilometres, some fun will surely be had here!

That night at Lindani we will be joined by resident astronomer Dr Phil Calcott who will lead us on a ‘night sky safari’. In this hugely informative and engaging presentation you will learn about constellations, the life-cycle of stars and be able to see the planets ‘live’ with the help of impressive telescopic equipment. The Waterberg is a fantastic site from which to star-gaze as there is no light pollution and Dr Phil’s comedic style will have you all leaving as budding astronomers.

DAY 5: From Lindani we ride to Jembisa, a private reserve and lodge that looks down over the Palala river. The ride into Jembisa will take us across open savannah and wetlands and down into the Palala Valley where the river has cut a deep gorge into the sandstone.

From the Palala River we will ride on, up the bank and into Syringa woodland and mixed bushveld. Here we can try to track giraffe as we make our way past iron age archaeological sites.

Jembisa occupies a beautiful and dramatic spot in the Waterberg wilderness where a wide variety of wildlife and bird species can be seen. The lodge offers saddle weary travellers the chance to swim or have a massage and is much celebrated for its excellent food.

DAY 6: Today we ride from Jembisa back to our starting point – Horizon Horseback. It’s a long, long way, so this will be the most challenging leg of the journey.

Hopefully we will arrive in time for sundowners on the plains where zebra and antelope graze with the horses.

The atmosphere of the lodge and its team of passionate and friendly staff will make you feel instantly at home. Enchanting entertainment courtesy of the Sotho choir is planned – the perfect accompaniment to an African sunset.

DAY 7: Unless you want to collapse by the pool, our last morning will be spent riding in the game reserve at Horizon where once again we have a great chance of viewing animals including giraffe, zebra, impala, kudu, warthog and even hippo.

The ride will be followed by lunch and a trip to the Waterberg Welfare Society visitor centre at Timothy House, Vaalwater to meet some of the recipients of your generous sponsorship. This is, after all, what this ride is really about!

~ Waterberg Welfare Society ~

The cost of safari itself is £1500, per person sharing. This includes airport transfers, riding, accommodation, food and drinks. It does not include flights, tips or travel insurance – which you will need.

To secure your place Horizon will require a non-returnable deposit of £500. The balance of £1,000 must have been paid 6 weeks in advance to Horizon Horseback before the trip commences.

If you have any questions or would like to book your place, please contact Sophie Neville ~ sophie@sophieneville.co.uk

To participate you need to raise a minimum sponsorship of £1000 for the Waterberg Welfare Society Trust. As a registered UK charity, Gift Aid can then be added.

We can help you with fundraising ideas.

While we encourage riders to find sponsorship some of us are raising the donation of £1,000 in other ways such as hosting a sale or asking for donations instead of birthday gifts and then gaining matched funding.

To make your own Justgiving page – please click here

To see Sophie’s Justgiving page as an example – click here

You will need to get fit as we may be covering 30km to 50kms a day. It will be high summer in South Africa, so the bushveldt will be green and antelope will have young at foot. It can be hot and sunny or can be overcast and rainy but will not get cold.

To read about the horses please click here

To see more photos of what to expect please click here

The itinerary may change – but hopefully only for the better!

Click here for where we are in South Africa

Information on the camps:

Horizon Horseback ~ website: www.ridinginafrica.com

Triple B Ranch ~ website: www.waterbergcottages.co.za

Koshari Game Reserve ~ website: http://www.koshari.co.za

The Ant Collection ~ website: http://www.waterberg.net

Lindani ~ website: http://www.lindani.co.za

Night Sky Safari ~ website www.greatguides.org (astronomy)

Jembisa ~ website: www.jembisa.com

Flights and Transfers:

We find it is best if people book their own flights to Johannesburg – try Trailfinders or Flight Centre.

NB: please book flights that arrive in S.Africa no later than 9.00am and depart from Johannesburg no earlier than 7.00pm. Should you need to arrive late or depart early, a private transfer will be supplied at additional cost.

Make your way to the information desk in the arrivals hall where you will be met and driven to the Horizon safari lodge for lunch.

At the end of the safari we will arrive at Johannesburg airport at 5pm suitable for all flights departing after 7 pm.

Do I need a visa? You must be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six months after your return date and has at least 3 blank pages. Visas are not needed for those with British passports. Please check if you come from elsewhere.

What vaccinations do I need? Vaccinations and malaria medications are not required however we recommend your tetanus to be up to date.

Are riding helmets compulsory? Yes, hard hats are mandatory and you will not be able to ride without one. We can provide helmets, but suggest you bring their own. We do not provide half-chaps but might have the odd pair extra should they be needed.

What should I bring? As well as comfortable riding clothes and your hard hat, please bring the following; Bum bag, lip salve, strong sun protection cream factor 20 or higher, short boots and chaps. (Long rubber boots are not advised), swimming costume, light weight long sleeved shirts, raincoat, camera with memory cards and camera batteries, small torch (head torch style highly recommended) your own towels and toiletries.

What is the pace of the riding? This safari is for fit, experienced riders. You must be someone who rides at least twice a week, be comfortable at an extended canter and be able to cope with long hours in the saddle.

What is included in the package price? Accommodation, riding, meals, all beverages including house wines and a selection of spirits. The cost does not include international air flights, travel insurance or gratuities.

Is there a laundry service? We will be able to offer a limited laundry service when packing do bear this in mind as it helps not to have too much luggage. We can normally turn laundry around within 48 hours (excluding the 30 or so days a year that it rains!)

What is the accommodation like? This will vary from A-frame tents with beds, sheets and duvets and ensuite bathrooms to comfortable guest houses with shared bathrooms. Meals are picnic lunches and evening meals cooked around the fire.

Single supplements? Bookings are taken on a ‘willing to share basis’. If you want a single room there would be 50% supplement.

What are the horses and tack like ? The horses have been selected for their temperament and rideability and all walk-out. They have been carefully chosen from the various South African breeds, which are well known for being of a tougher nature – able to cope under extreme conditions. These breeds include the Boerperd, Shire- cross-Thoroughbreds, Appalosas, and the S.A. Warmblood. They range in size from 14.3h. to 17h. Tack is McClellan trail saddles and snaffle bridles

Do cell phones work? Yes in most places although there will be areas of no coverage

Useful contact numbers: Please give loved ones who may need to contact you for any reason can contact Laura on 0027(0)83-4191929 or laura@ridinginafrica.com.

In the case of a badly delayed flight: please dial 0027(0)834191929 during the day and after hours on +27(0)14755-4009.

Money: We suggest you don’t change too much money into the local currency as your holiday is fully inclusive – however there is a local craft shop! Gratuities are at your discretion and can be paid in pounds, euros or dollars.