South Africa, Free State Province – Private Game Lodge
Our private game lodge is located in the easternmost part of the Free State province, right at the foot of the mountains that lead up to Lesotho. The terrain is characterized by impressive mountains and sandstone formations, and vast open landscapes perfect for galloping.
This game reserve, teeming with diverse wildlife, invites you to explore its plains adorned with herds of springbok, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, and more. The estate is a paradise for horse lovers, boasting two award-winning studs for South African Boerperd and Arabian Endurance horses, in total 200 hundred horses. The young horses, raised in the wild mountains, exude sure-footed grace, offering thrilling rides through wooded ravines, technical mountain ascents, and exhilarating canters amidst the wildlife.
Explore scenic trails and enjoy long, free canters across the grassy plains. During a seven-night stay, three full-day rides await—an excursion to discover bushman paintings with a scenic picnic, a venture to the hamlet of Rosendal with a lunch stop, and a climb to the summit of Sekonjela’s Hat Mountain followed by a picnic by the pools—perfect for a summer dip! Additionally, for the adventurous, an overnight camp at Holkrans Cave is available, weather permitting.
In addition to fantastic, exciting, and fast-paced riding, you’ll enjoy exclusive accommodation at this elegant private sandstone lodge. It offers a very personal atmosphere with only 16 rooms. Enjoy evenings by the open fire in the library with a drink in hand, or be captivated by the breathtaking view from the veranda overlooking the vast landscape.
Meals are a highlight, featuring generous breakfasts, picnics during the long rides, and gourmet dinners—all homemade, fresh, and rooted in local cuisine.
If you’re looking for an adventure filled with fast-paced and fun riding among wild animals, combined with mountain climbing and stunning views, and you appreciate beautiful accommodations and luxurious meals—then this is the trip for you!
Accommodation & Food
Nestled at the foot of the majestic Witteberg Mountains, the Sandstone Lodge is the beating heart of the Nature Reserve — a place where timeless elegance meets untamed wilderness. The Sandstone Lodge offers you comfort, charm, and unforgettable views.
The lodge features 16 individually decorated en-suite rooms, thoughtfully designed to reflect the natural beauty and heritage of the region. Original sandstone walls, wooden finishes, and subtle antique touches create a warm, homely atmosphere. Each room offers mountain or garden views and opens onto the reserve’s peace and stillness.
Lodge offers a range of shared spaces to unwind:
- Sparkling swimming pool with mountain views
- Sunroom and honesty bar stocked with drinks and snacks
- Lounge with fireplace, perfect for cool evenings
- Small library and reading nook
- Covered stoep (veranda) with seating to watch the sunrise or stargaze
- Free Wi-Fi in shared lodge areas
SANDSTONE CLASSIC STANDARD ROOMS: TWIN & QUEEN
There are 6 Sandstone Classic rooms at the lodge, either on the veranda or in the courtyard. Three of these rooms are twin rooms, and the remaining 3 have Queen Beds. Most of them have fireplaces or Queen Ann stoves for winter days. They are all en-suite, although only 3 of them have both a bath and shower.
EXECUTIVE SANDSTONE LUXURY: QUEEN + FAMILY
There are 5 Sandstone Luxury rooms at the lodge, and 1 Luxury Family Suite. These rooms are larger, have sweeping mountain views and cozy fireplaces for the winter. Room 4 has a wonderful balcony and mountain view, Room 8 is the honeymoon suite, and Room 15 is the family suite with a Queen bed and two Twin beds for kids under 16. These rooms are all en-suite with both a shower and bath.
MOUNTAIN VIEW COZY ROOMS
There are 3 small Mountain View rooms, all on the verandah with breath taking views. These are smaller than the other rooms and only offer a shower.
Fresh linen, towels, and daily housekeeping is included.
Food
Your stay includes a hearty farm-style breakfast, served in the intimate lodge dining room overlooking the garden. Enjoy seasonal produce, homemade breads, preserves, and eggs fresh from the free-range chickens.
Lunch is either a light lunch on the veranda or a picnic lunch on the full day rides.
Dinner is offering traditional South African cuisine, including lamb from the reserve, locally grown vegetables, and delicious desserts.
The bar and lounge area is the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine after a day of adventure
Horses & Riding
Immerse yourself in equine paradise with over 200 horses on the farmstead. This is a horse lovers’ paradise with two award-winning studs for South African Boerperd and Arabian Endurance horses. The young horses are raised wild on the mountainsides, resulting in characteristic sure-footedness.
The trail horses are mostly native Boerperd and there are more than 60 horses for guests to choose from, so you will certainly find a horse that matches your wishes. On scenic trails you can enjoy long canters on the plains amongst the wildlife; or follow tracks climbing into the mountains and explore wooded ravines. Ride through the herds of young horses and perhaps take an exhilarating turn around the endurance training track.
The well-being of the horses is paramount, carefully curated for quality and meticulous care to enhance their performance in safaris and endurance races. Their dedicated approach to horse care includes the following practices:
- The horses enjoy a year-round existence in a herd, fostering a natural lifestyle alongside other reserve animals like zebra, eland, and oryx. Daily checks by horseback stockmen ensure their welfare
- As an Arabian and Boerperd Stud farm, breeding stock and youngsters reside in the mountains, developing climbing skills that translate into hardy, sure-footed rides after backing. Daily monitoring by horseback stockmen ensures their well-being
- Some of the horses are brought in twice a day for feeding, checking, and grooming by the devoted team.
- Extra care, including rugs and additional food, is provided during winter and for older horses requiring special attention or for those training for endurance races.
- Regular physiotherapy and dental visits occur at least once a year for all the ridden horses. The farrier visits every six weeks to shoe horses, with an emphasis on keeping as many horses barefoot as possible
- Specially designed trail saddles prioritize horse comfort, evenly distributing the rider’s weight and preventing back issues. Regular checks and cleaning maintain tack to the highest standards
- A meticulous record tracks each horse’s workload to ensure they receive adequate rest. Endurance horses follow a structured program to maintain race fitness, guided by the onsite horse trainer who keeps them in optimal condition. The commitment to these practices underscores the dedication to the health and happiness of their equine partners
The going is fabulous on the grassy plains, and there are plenty of long canters to enjoy. The horses settle into a wonderful rhythm and are happy to keep going for as long as their riders ask. The mountain paths afford incredible views of the reserve below. In places the mountain riding can be technical - there are short stretches of sheer rock to cross and steep ascents and descents to negotiate. But these horses are so sure-footed that you can trust them entirely to keep you safe.
The horses are mostly ridden in simple snaffle bridles, although some go in curbs. You ride in comfortable South African trail saddles, which are specially designed for long hours of riding. Breastplates and cruppers are often used when riding the more mountainous routes.
The lodge offers rides to many of their regular guests but only riders of similar ability will be grouped together. It is possible that you might be joined on your rides by guests who are staying just a few days.
Hard hats are mandatory.
Climate
Summer is from December through to February with day time temperatures ranging from 15 - 32ºC. Rain is possible at this time although it is usually a short down pour in the afternoon and once over, everything comes out cleaner and greener.
During the autumn months of March to May, the trees change to a beautiful colour. Towards the end of May it will get cooler and it is possible to have the first night frost.
June to August is winter. Temperatures drop to zero at night and overnight frosts are common. The skies are blue and the tops of the mountains are covered in snow. Moolmanshoek sees snow every 2 to 3 years and might have 4 to 6 inches lasting a few days. During winter, daytime temperatures can vary from a cold 1ºC to a mild 17ºC.
September to November is spring. It’s a lovely time of year as the rains bring the first green grass and blossom on the trees.
Program - Free State Safari Ride Stationary
** Please be aware this is a sample itinerary only. The following is a description of possible rides you might do. The order of the riding routes may change depending on the number of guests, your preferences, weather and wildlife. Any changes that are made, will always be with your best interests at heart.
Day 1: Arrival in the afternoon for a light lunch on the veranda at the main lodge. Settling into rooms of your choice (cozy, classic, or luxury rooms charged according to your preference) before enjoying a late afternoon introduction to the stable yard and some of our horses and a horse ride, along with an orientation of the lodge and immediate settings. Three course dinner in the Bamboebos Restaurant.
Day 2: Breakfast on the veranda followed by a morning 4 hour yellow loop trail. A breathtaking ride through the donga forest with some exciting canters up steep trails, following a scenic route up the mountains with beautiful views into Lesotho. As we ride below the peak of Sekonjela’s Hat, the second highest peak in the Witteberg Mountain Range, we discover unbelievable views over the estate and towards the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho. All the young horses are raised in these mountains and can often be seen on the ride. Working your way back to the shower pools where, in the summer months, you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the pools. Mounting up, the ride back down the valley takes you down steep slopes of sandstone with breathtaking views of the Valley, where you will be amazed at the dexterity of the incredible Boerperd horse, as they negotiate the slopes with ease.
Light lunch on the veranda before another afternoon ride.
Three course Dinner in the Bamboebos Restaurant.
Day 3: Early breakfast before setting off on Picnic lunch ride to discover the Bushmen Paintings. This ride takes you on the middle section of the Endurance blue loop, skirting the ridges behind the lodge. You will explore the overhangs where there are bushman paintings estimated to be over 400 years old. After exploring the first bushmen painting site, you ride over the mountains giving you spectacular views into Lesotho, before descending into the valley where you explore more bushmen paintings with a sacred entrance tunnel into the mountains.
Large herds of red hartebeest, black wildebeest, impala, giraffe and sable antelope can be discovered on the ride. A short ride down into the valley to enjoy a picnic lunch under the willow trees or at the Bass dam where you can relax in the shade as the horses graze nearby. This trail is a slower pace, with some long canters before we climb up the mountain.
After a leisurely picnic lunch, you ride back to the lodge.
Three course dinner at the "Bamboesbos" restaurant
Day 4: Breakfast on the veranda before Holkrans ride departure. Mounting up, the ride takes you along long canter tracks, up to the game fence that leads to the mountain trails that lie in the shadow of Sekonjela’s Hoed. Once in the mountains, you follow narrow trails, passing the rare mountain bamboo that was discovered on the reserve, resulting in the lodge becoming registered as a Natural Heritage Site. You ride on to discover Holkrans, a large cave chamber where a unique water break has resulted in the rocky overhang, looking out over the Sandstone Ledges.
The ride back down finds you riding past the Sugarbush Protea trees. Incredible views looking out over the valley as the sure-footed horses carefully pick their way down the mountain slopes amongst sagewood, red hairy heath, ouhout and a variety of fynbos species. A ride to remember!
Light lunch on the veranda before another afternoon ride.
Three course Dinner in the Bamboebos Restaurant.
Day 5: This morning’s ride takes you along the ridge at the foot of the Pyramids to discover the Adventure Centre at Langesnek, where the adventure center offers abseiling or high ropes for school groups. The ride meanders through the valley behind Langesnek and on to the long open plains of the neighbouring farm, to discover vast herds of wildlife and the numerous “White Blesbok”. Riding through the wetlands to discover magnificent bird life before exploring the tracks alongside a small dam, where countless waterfowls can be observed. Lovely long windy canters back towards the lodge. Lunch back at the lodge before enjoying a eco game drive in the afternoon for a change of pace.
After the sundowner and eco game drive three course Dinner in the Bamboebos Restaurant.
Day 6: Jacobsberg Trail includes amazing game encounters as you canter through the open plain areas before climbing up the steep ridge leading up to Jacobsberg. Incredible views over the reserve before continuing to follow the valley’s edge in the shadow of Virsierskerf to discover the seven pools trail. On a hot summer’s day, the option of a swim in the pools to enjoy the crystal-clear mountain streams is an option before mounting up again to ride back through the plains.
Light lunch on the veranda before another afternoon ride.
Three course dinner in the Bamboebos Restaurant.
Day 7: Pyramid Mountain Trail After enjoying another scrumptious breakfast on the veranda, you head out on an exciting ride up the Pyramid Mountain Trail. Climbing the Pyramid Mountain from the rear coming out between the two pyramids, riders head down over the side of the second pyramid onto the plains, nice canters to the rocky outcrop overlooking the savannah. Game can be discovered amongst the high peaks, grazing contentedly on the steep mountain slopes above you as you ride. Amazing views and lovely rolling canters on the return ride. Enjoy the view of large herds of plains game on the open savanna en route back to the lodge.
Afternoon ride includes sundowners overlooking the plains
Three course dinner in "Bamboesbos" restaurant and in the winters a lovely cosy fire.
Day 8: Its never easy to say goodbye. After a week of camaraderie and adventures, its time for a final morning ride through the plains to bid adieu to this piece of paradise. Enjoy a brunch on the veranda before final goodbyes and departure.
Travel Information
Ability description: Trail Ride Levels 3
Included in the price: 7 nights, riding according to the selected program, full board; half a bottle of house wine daily; 1 sundowner drink per day – choice of local beer or ciders;juice/tea/coffee with meals; one game drive (7 night stays), local taxes; park entry fees.
Not included: Flights, transfers, other drinks and meals not mentioned above, personal insurance, gifts from the gift shop, gratuities.
Arrival/Departure: Please book arrival flights into OR Tambo International Airport to arrive NO LATER than 9:00 am
Please book departure flights out of OR Tambo International Airport NO EARLIER than 20:30
This allows guests to share transfers. If flights are booked well outside of these times, guests will need to book PRIVATE TRANSFERS.
Travel Route: Johannesburg (international flights), 4 hours drive or Bloemfontein (domestic flights), 3 hours drive.
Transfers: Pre-book through HorseXplore. Please note that flights must arrive in JNB before 9:00 AM on the day of arrival and depart no earlier than 8:30 PM on the day of departure.
Price: For 1-2 people: ZAR 6,600, For 3-7 people: ZAR 7,950 for 8-12 people: ZAR 9,950-. Paid at departure and shared among the people sharing.
The Transfer company is a private company. Guests pay for transfers at the lodge before departure to allow last minute changes (extra guests joining will affect the price). However, guests wanting to tip the shuttle drivers, may do so directly.
Season: Special dates.
Single Room: Can be booked for an additional fee. For prices, click "Book on request" under Dates & Prices.
Currency: ZAR South African Rand
Credit Cards: All debet/credit cards are accepted except for AMEX.
Tips: Optional but appreciated.
Wi-Fi: Guest wifi
Number of Riders: 8
Rider Age Limit: 12 to 17 – must be acomplished riders and accompanied by parents, 18 to 75 strong intermediate to advanced riders
Maximum Rider Weight: 95 kg.
Pool: Fresh water pool fed by fresh mountain spring water
Additional Information: Riding helmet is mandatory. But there are a number of hard hats available, however, we recommend that riders bring their own well fitted, safety approved riding helmets
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