Shiwa Ng'andu Horse Safaris, Zambia
Horses
Type of horses:
South African Boerperd, SA Warmblood, Quarter Horse cross and THB crosses.
Nature of horses:
Responsive horses that like to work, as well as able to cope with the harshness of the African bush - sure footed, intelligent, hardy and brave. All horses are schooled in basic dressage movements in classical English style to produce a soft and responsive mount.
Height of horses:
14hh to 17.3hh
Weight limit:
16 stone/100 kg /220 lb.
Tack type:
South African stock saddles designed for comfort and long hours in the saddle. Pelham bridles are used for control, although you will normally ride on a loose rein.
Weather
Current Conditions:
Partly Cloudy, 26 C
Forecast:
Sun - Scattered Thunderstorms. High: 25 Low: 18
Mon - Scattered Thunderstorms. High: 25 Low: 17
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
Zambia Safari
2012 price £1771 per person for Impandala Farm House Accommodation.
£2429 per person for Shiwa Main House Accommodation.
Price includes all meals, accommodation, beverages, bar (wine and beer only), riding, guiding, car transfer to Big Five Camp, accommodation at Big Five Camp, park entry fees and laundry.
Price does not include International flights, charter flights, scheduled flights from Lusaka to Mfuwe, car transfers (other than mentioned), cash bar at Big Five Camp, gratuities, merchandise and visits to Hot Springs.
There is a single supplement of 25% if unwilling to share room with a guest of the same sex.
Shiwa House
2012 price £1366 per person for Impandala Farm House Accommodation.
£1771 per person for Shiwa Main House Accommodation.
Price includes all meals, accommodation, beverages, bar (wine and beer only), 5-6 hours riding a day, guiding and laundry.
Price does not include International flights, charter flights, scheduled flights from Lusaka to Mfuwe, car transfers, gratuities, merchandise and visits to Hot Springs.
There is a single supplement of 25% if unwilling to share room with a guest of the same sex.
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
Shiwa House is located in the heart of northern Zambia, to the north of the Luangwa National Park and overlooking Shiwa Ng'andu, the 'Lake of the Royal Crocodiles'. The estate includes a 10,000 hectare game reserve with 22 mammal species, of which the there are large herds of Zebra, Blue Wildebeest and numerous herds of antelope. Leopard, Caracal, and Serval Cats are amongst the predators and on occasion a pack of Wild Dog come through from the neighbouring reserves providing exciting game viewing as they hunt their way through to their next destination. The house was originally designed and built by Sir Stewart Gore-Browne in the 1920’s and the story of his life inspired the book 'The Africa House' by Christina Lamb.
The horse riding at Shiwa Ng'andu is run by Steven and Lucy Rufus who are renowned for their riding safari experience. Steven is an extremely experienced horseman who has lectured in equine studies and is a registered farrier. Having grown up with horses in Matopos National Park in Zimbabwe, he has a wealth of experience with big game and is considered to be one of the foremost horse guides in the industry today. Steven has a passion for all African History and its wildlife and at Shiwa House he has found the perfect location to impart this knowledge to guests. He will cover both modern and ancient history of the area and how Gore-Browne played an integral part in forming modern Zambia.
This destination prides itself on having some of the best horses in the safari business and they have received many accolades on their quality and schooling. All the horses are selected for the same criteria as an event horse i.e. pace, conformation, ride ability and temperament. In particular they look for responsive horses that like to work, as well as ones that are able to cope with the harshness of the African bush. They are all fit, in excellent condition and range in height from 14 - 17.3hh.
The riding can be fast with long canters and gallops along beautiful sandy tracks and through forest paths. There are beautiful open plains where there is the opportunity to view and potentially gallop with the Zebra or Antelope species. Encircling one side of the reserve is a mountain region which provides wonderful opportunities to explore on horse back and just maybe sight the elusive mountain Leopard. The views are amazing and of course what better way than to see the whole reserve than from the back of a horse! As you are riding in an area with game, all riders will have to pass an assessment before going out in to the bush.
Terrain is diverse with open plains, beautiful sandy soil and magnificent forestry areas cloaked with a canopy of leaves to allow for exploration on the hottest of summer days. The combination of history, large herds of game, diversity of antelope species and other wildlife make this estate and horse riding a truly amazing experience.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
Shiwa House is located in the heart of northern Zambia, to the north of the Luangwa National Park and overlooking Shiwa Ng'andu, the 'Lake of the Royal Crocodiles'. The house was originally designed and built by Sir Stewart Gore-Browne in the 1920’s, but fell in to disrepair and had been all but abandoned. In November 1999, Charles Harvey, the eldest grandson of Gore-Browne and his wife Jo and children Tom & Emma, bought the house and estate from other family members. They then lovingly took on the restoration project for the house and whole estate, including local hospitals and schools and the house now retains its former glory.
The Harveys welcome guests as part of their own family in four double rooms with ensuite facilities. All rooms are simple with original hardwood furnishings, fireplaces and paintings very much in keeping with the dream and design of Gore-Browne nearly 100 years ago. Within the building is housed the very comprehensive library and extensive archive base of documents and photographs which were built up by Gore-Browne during his time at Shiwa.
The Shiwa Estate includes a 10,000 hectare game reserve with 22 mammal species, of which the there are large herds of Zebra, Blue Wildebeest and numerous herds of antelope. Leopard, Caracal, and Serval Cats are amongst the predators and on occasion a pack of Wild Dog come through from the neighbouring reserves providing exciting game viewing as they hunt their way through to their next destination.
Shiwa House was nominated for “Best Safari House’ at the 2009 Good Safari Guide Awards and has had numerous books and articles written about it. We highly recommend The Africa House by Christina Lamb.
Jo & Charlie produce over 90% of all food consumed on the estate and pride themselves on the quality – and quantity! – of the meals supplied. They provide delicious wholesome farm food, which is the perfect accompaniment to long hours in the saddle or invigorating walks around the estate. Typically breakfast is served after the mornings activities and consists of full English style breakfast ingredients, with piping hot homemade muffins and a choice of cereals, farm produced fruits and yoghurts. A lighter lunch is served, again typically consisting of cold meats, salads home made bread.
In the evening you will enjoy a sumptuous three course meal served in the original dining room and once more home made fare and farm produce is the key element of all the courses.
Vegetarians can easily be catered for. If you have a gluten intolerance then please ensure that we are given a minimum of three weeks notice to cater correctly.
IMPORTANT NOTE – as over 90% of all food is produced on the farm we can not guarantee any produce will be free of nuts.
For all his meals Stewart Gore-Browne used to dress correctly in dinner jacket or other such attire – even when dining alone! Shiwa House is a magnificent stately home, and whilst in these modern times there is no dress code for meals per say we really encourage our guests to enter in to the sprit of this wonderful building and be presentable for all meals to really feel part of the history of the house.
Activities
The fishing is excellent, and there are 450 different species of birds on and around the lakes, historic walks around the estate, river walks and day trips to Kapishya Hot Springs. In addition there is the David Livingstone Memorial on the estate as this area is where he lost his medicine and completed his last writings shortly before his death investigating the source of the Nile.
There are plenty of activities to keep everyone busy at Shiwa House and non riders are very welcome. In addition to game walks, and game drives there is opportunity learn more about the extensive history of the area and have a guided tour around the main house itself.
Shiwa House is a working reserve and all visitors can be involved with the everyday tasks that this wonderful estate has to perform.
Our guests are welcome to take part in any of the following activities all of which are included in the cost:
Bird walks, Game Drives, Boating, Forest Walks, Historical Walks, Brick kilns and Archaeological Tours, Visits to Waterfalls, Fishing and Mountain Biking.
Further Details
Languages: English.
Health requirements: Fit and healthy, able to withstand long hours in the saddle.
Age limit: 10 years and above. Clients over 65 years should have written confirmation from their doctor that they are fit for the ride and that there are no medical conditions of which the guide should be aware.
Tuition: No
Included: All meals, accommodation, community levy, professional guide, horse riding, guided walks (where detailed in itinerary), all beverages (note - alcohol will be local brands only), car transfer from Ngoma Airstrip to Lodge.
Not included: All flights, plane or car transfers (other than where indicated), park fees (to be paid locally) gratuities, laundry service.
Travel Information
International flights to Lusaka go direct from either the UK (British Airways) or connections via Nairobi using Virgin Airways / Air France. Daily flights to / from Johannesburg (SAA or Zambian Airways) provide another alternative to reaching Lusaka.
From Lusaka you have a number of options to reach Shiwa House and the rates and connections are as follows:
1-4 Passengers
Mfuwe – Shiwa – US$ 1020.00 – ONE WAY PRICE
Lusaka – Shiwa – US$2295.00 – ONE WAY PRICE
Ndola – Shiwa – US$1550.00 (note from Ndola there are scheduled flights up from Johannesburg in South Africa) – ONE WAY PRICE
5-8 Passengers
Mfuwe – Shiwa – US$ 2040.00 – ONE WAY PRICE
Lusaka – Shiwa – US$4590.00 – ONE WAY PRICE
Ndola – Shiwa – US$3100.00 – ONE WAY PRICE
A strict luggage limit of 15kg per person is enforced for your safety and all bags must be soft sided for the hold.
For flights direct from Lusaka guests are required to pay a departure tax of US$ 8.00 per person in cash prior to leaving the main terminal.
All rates are subject to availability and quoted on lowest possible rate for plane size. Should that plane be unavailable then rates may increase to cover a different model.
Self Drive
Shiwa House is located approx 1000km from Lusaka and takes approx 10 hours to drive. This is a wonderful option should you wish for an extended holiday to see parts of Zambia along the way and split the journey in to a couple of days.
The roads to the Northern Province are good in parts and we can recommend a number of places to stay en route should you wish to take this option. Please note you should organise your trip to drive only during the day time as you do need to be aware of potholes along the way.
Airport: Lusaka
Programmes
Zambia Safari
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Please note that the following is an example itinerary. The actual daily itinerary will be determined by the guide with the best interests of the group and horses in mind and taking into consideration terrain, weather conditions and game patterns. Expect an amazing experience as your horse takes you through the stunning sights and sounds of the African bush. Day one:
Arrive at Shiwa Estate for lunch at 13.00 and then settle in to your accommodation before taking an introductory ride along the lake side and through the beautiful forests for approximately two hours. Day two:
Riding split into early morning and later afternoon rides through the reserve of approximately 3 hours each. Today will also cover the history of Shiwa and will include a guided tour of the Main House and surrounding farm, antique farm equipment and original kilns, plus opportunity to ride to the graves and learn more about the special family that established Shiwa Ngandu. Day three:
Early start for approximately 5 - 6 hours riding, up into the hills overlooking Shiwa and wending way through forests. Fast riding along sandy tracks and open plains by the lake make this a wonderfully scenic and exciting day. Lunch will be a picnic at the Boathouse overlooking the famous Lake Shiwa with return to Impandala mid afternoon. Day four:
Early departure for Big Five Camp for walking safaris. The journey takes approximately 4 hours, with plenty of opportunity to game view along the way. Arrival at camp for lunch and then in the afternoon waking with the big game! A fascinating and exciting adventure walking in the African Bush before returning to camp for evening meal and overnight in rustic but wonderfully comfortable accommodation. Day five:
Early morning and afternoon walk of approximately 2/3 hours each with relaxation during the day at Bush Camp. Lots more adventures and opportunities to learn about the African Bush and it's wildlife. Overnight at Bush Camp. Day six:
Depart early morning to return to Shiwa Ngandu Estate, again approximately 4 hours with last opportunity to view the big game before arriving back at Impandala for lunch. Then afternoon ride to re acquaint you with your equine partners and enjoy some fast riding of approximately 3 hours through the forest. Day seven:
Morning of Arena Polo! Enormous fun to be had by everyone and does not requier any previous experience of polo, just a sense of adventure and good humour. Arrive back at Impandala for lte lunch and afternoon at leisure. A trip to the Hot Springs can be organised for those wanting to soak away any muscle aches. Day eight:
Early morning start for riding approximately 4-5 hours searching for the elusive aquatic Sitatunga and other forest dwellers, wending through forests and opening up the horses for lovely long gallops. Afternoon at leisure, with sundowners at the Boathouse watching the sun set over the lake before returning to Impandala for evenign meal. Day nine:
Where charters allow, a final morning ride for the last opportunity to say goodbye to equine friends then return to Impandala to prepare for onward journeys. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | The ride is for intermediate and advanced riders only. Riders should have an independent seat and be secure in the saddle as riding is challenging and fast with long canters and gallops. Not suitable for nervous riders! |
| Type of ride: | Safari |
| Total riding time: | As per itinerary. |
| Departure dates: | 2012: Flexible all year round. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Shiwa House
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A 6 night safari based entirely on Shiwa Reserve with one night at a tented Bush Camp in the hills giving you the opportunity to visit David Livingstone’s Memorial and enjoy the African Bush. The remainder of the time you will be based at the beautiful Impandala Farm House and enjoy all the facilities this lovely place has to offer. Day one: You will arrive at Shiwa Estate for lunch around midday and then settle into your accommodation before an introductory ride along the lake side and through the beautiful forests for approximately 2 hours. Day two: Today's riding will be split into early morning and later afternoon rides through the reserve of approximately 3 hours each. Today will also cover the history of Shiwa and will include a guided tour of the Main House and surrounding farm, antique farm equipment and original kilns, plus opportunity to ride to the graves and learn more about the special family that established Shiwa Ngandu. Day three: Early morning start for a beautiful and long ride of approximately 5 hours round the perimeter of the lake and then in to the hills to reach the special bush camp for lunch and an overnight stay in the tented camps. In the afternoon there is an opportunity to ascend the mountains on foot to visit David Livingstone's Memorial and amazing views over Shiwa and surrounding countryside. Hot bucket showers, comfortable tents and weather permitting, evening meals under the stars make this a magical experience. Day four: Another early start, riding for approximately 5 hours wending your way back through the hills and forests of Shiwa, game viewing and taking the opportunity for fast riding on the lovely sandy tracks. You will arrive back at Impandala for a late lunch and an afternoon at leisure. A trip to the hot springs can be organised for guests wanting to soak away any muscle aches of the last two days riding, by floating in the natural springs with a gin and tonic! Day five: Early morning start for riding of approximately 3 hours, searching for the elusive aquatic Sitatunga and other forest dwellers, wending through forests and opening up the horses for lovely long gallops. Lunch will be at Impandala followed by an afternoon of lessons with Arena Polo in preparation for the full match tomorrow. Day six: Morning of Arena Polo! Enormous fun to be had by all and does not require any previous experience of polo, just a sense of adventure and good humour. Using the pitch by the lake, followed by a picnic lunch at the lovely boathouse overlooking the famous Lake Shiwa, and return to Impandala for late afternoon. Day seven: Where charters allow, you will have a final morning ride for the last opportunity to say goodbye to equine friends and then return to Impandala to prepare for onward journeys. |
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| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Experienced and confident. |
| Type of ride: | Based |
| Total riding time: | To suit |
| Departure dates: | Flexible all year round. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |