Moolmanshoek Private Nature Reserve is set in the Witteberg Mountain Range in the Eastern Free State in South Africa and is about four and a half hours from Johannesburg. On this 3 300-hectare piece of paradise, surrounded by plains teeming with wild game, the Nel family have bred and raised Arabian horses with the aim of training them to become incredible endurance horses, capable of competing at the highest standards of the game!
Since Willie Nel bought Moolmanshoek, he used Arabian horses on the farm as work horses, checking stock and fence lines. In 1990, Wiesman’s grandfather selected a top English breeding stallion, Olford Silver Tu Penny. This phenomenal stallion sired, amongst others, Sweep, Pula and Moya, Arabians that ranked in the top 5 in the world in Dubai.
Wiesman became involved with Leon Liversage, (inventor of correct fitting, functional saddle trees, and one of the original explorers in Commercialized trail riding and horse safaris in South Africa.) Together they developed Moolmanshoek Endurance Horses, selecting and breeding horses for export and endurance racing. Over 20 of the horses they bred were exported to Dubai for endurance.
In 1997, Wiesman registered his own Boerperd Stud, and has since been breeding both Arabians for Endurance and Boerperd, incredibly sure footed and comfortable safari and trail horses.
Moolmanshoek Private Nature Reserve not only breeds phenomenal Arabs and Boerperd, but is also an incredible destination for discerning travelers that want to experience life in the African bush. The plains game found on the reserve include Black Wildebeest, Impala, eland, ostrich, red hartebeest, water buck, springbok, lechwe, oryx, warthogs, blesbok, black backed jackal, caracul, and the more elusive aardvark and aardwolf.
After the ride you can add on The big 5 game reserve : Namibit and great to visit after the horse riding for a 2/3 nights or so. There are 10 different lodges that you can select from depending on your budget.
Meeting Point
Johannesburg, South Africa
The driver will meet you at at the information counter in the International Arrivals hall and will have a sign with MOOLMANSHOEK on it.
Date and Rates based on double occupancy
Moelmanshoek 7 night horse safari 2027
November 16 - 23, 2027 ( plus add on in a Big 5 Game reserve at Nambiti : https://nambiti.com)
Rate :
classic room: € 2,772 /Luxury room: € 2,860 sharing
classic room €3,096 /classic room € 3,184 luxury room single
7 nights , 7 days riding with the option of mobile nights if the group is up of it
Getting there:
Moolmanshoek is a drive of approximately four hours from Johannesburg International Airport.
We can arrange airport transfers for you. These are payable locally and the cost is shared between all those travelling. If you wish to share transfers from/to Moolmanshoek then you are recommended to book flights arriving into Johannesburg before 09:30 and departing from Johannesburg after 20:30.
TRANSFERS Transfers from Johannesburg airport cost approximately R7,000 (c. €385,72) per vehicle each way (up to 2 people). . Transfer prices are subject to change and are not yet confirmed for 2027.
Arriving at the lodge in the early afternoon should allow time for an introductory ride. On your last day there is usually time for a final ride in the morning and transfers normally depart after lunch. You may need to vacate your room after breakfast so it can be made ready for arriving guests.
Price Includes
- Full English breakfast and buffet, light lunches, 3 course dinners,
- up to 5 hours of riding per day,
- 1 picnic lunch ride with gourmet picnic and drink, 1 eco game drive, 1 sundowner ride with cheese platter and sundowners drink,
- laundry, wine/beer/cider from safari drinks list, tea, coffee and juice.
- All other alcoholic drinks outside the safari drink list can be selected and will be charged separately to your rooms.
Price Excludes
- International and domestic flights
- any shuttles
- gratuities : All extra charges can be paid by card before departure; however, any tips would be preferred in cash, and preferably in South African Rands. It is very difficult for staff to exchange Forex. As a guideline, we suggest ZAR2100 for a one week stay. Please don’t tip staff directly, rather give cash tips in the office to allocate to staff at month end. We would be very happy to have guests recommend any staff member that they would like to allocate a specific amount should they so wish. Guests can use their bank cards at the airport to draw cash directly from their bank account (provided they have informed their bank that they will be travelling) to avoid paying charges to exchange Forex. Please perform due caution when drawing money from any ATM, although there is extra security at the airport.
- any extra purchases and extra drinks/activities
This is an amazing 7-night horse safari that is lodge based. As we will be a closed group and we can do a couple nights mobile if the whole group is up to it. Daily we ride up to 5 hours per day. 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.
There is also a ride out to Rosendal that is technical and long hours in the saddle that could also be included. November is great month as it's the cherry season. The weather is usually dry and day time temperatures around 25 C.
Day 1 Arrival at the lodge
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 Sekonjela's hat
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 Moolmanshoek and towards the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho. All our young horses are raised in these mountains and can often be seen on our ride. Working our way back to the shower pools where, in the summer months, we 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 Moolmanshoek Valley, where you will be amazed at the dexterity of our incredible Boerperd, as they negotiate the slopes with ease.
Light lunch on the veranda before another afternoon ride to meet our young colts living in the mountains.
Three course Dinner in one of our three restaurants..
Day 3 Bushmen
Early breakfast before setting off on Picnic lunch ride to discover the Bushmen Paintings. This ride takes us on the middle section of the Endurance blue loop, skirting the ridges behind the lodge. We will explore the overhangs where we find bushman paintings estimated to be over 400 years old. After exploring the first bushmen painting site, we ride over the mountains giving us spectacular views into Lesotho, before descending into the valley where we 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 we can relax in the shade as our horses graze nearby. This trail is a slower pace, with some long canters before we climb up the mountain.
After our leisurely picnic lunch, we ride back to the lodge. Three course dinner at the "Bamboesbos" restaurant
Day 4 Holskrans
Breakfast on the veranda before Holkrans ride departure.
No visit to Moolmanshoek Horse trails is complete without a visit to Holkrans!
Mounting up, our ride takes us 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, we follow narrow trails, passing the rare mountain bamboo that was discovered on the reserve, resulting in Moolmanshoek becoming registered as a Natural Heritage Site. We 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 our Sugarbush Protea trees. Incredible views looking out over the valley as our 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 Langesnek
This morning’s ride takes us 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 an 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
Jacobsberg Trail includes amazing game encounters as we 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. This afternoon we visit the brood mares living .
Three course dinner in the Bamboebos Restaurant.
Day 7 Pyramid Mountain Trail
Pyramid Mountain Trail After enjoying another scrumptious breakfast on the veranda, we 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 Departure
Its never easy to say goodbye, particularly at Moolmanshoek. 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.
