Detailed Itinerary

Unique Horse Trails South Africa

We will meet you at the airport and drive by vehicle to Kenton and stay at the tented camp. After a short introduction briefing we will go for a short river ride followed by drinks and snacks. The evening meal is normally fresh fish.

Day 1
We have an English breakfast and then we get into the bus and drive to the start of the trail at Port Alfred. The scenery is incredibly beautiful and the beaches mostly deserted. We have a pack lunch at the rocky outcrops of the “Ship rock”. After lunch we have long canters which are often in the surf as the tide pushes in. Also popular swimming with the horses in the lagoon. We overnight in Kasouga.

Day 2
After breakfast we head off on the horses to Kenton-on-Sea. The beaches are exceptionally beautiful with long beach canters on this day.
We swim across the Kariega River and have a picnic lunch on the banks of the river. After lunch we then head upriver to the Beachcomber’s tented camp in the late afternoon. The tented camp has fantastic views of the river and the horses are close by. We normally have a barbecue and enjoy snacks and sundowner drinks on the deck overlooking the river.

Day 3
After breakfast we ride in the nearby game reserve. Here we will look for elephant, giraffe, buffalo and many other game animals. We ride most of the day and leave the reserve by 3pm. Weather depending, swim and sundowners at the beach.

Day 4
This day we head off to Addo Elephant national park in the minibus and spend the day driving around in the reserve looking for animals. They have all the Big 5 and it is the best place in the world to see African Elephants. We return to the tented camp in the evening.

Day 5
After an English breakfast, we ride from the camp to Cannon Rocks. We must swim the horses across the Bushman’s River which is always a highlight. We will have a picnic lunch at the remote Diaz Cross. We then continue up the coast to the next overnight stop. The beaches are spectacular here. Along the way we will visit a Stone Age pottery site. The accommodation is a beach house with nice views

Day 6
This day we ride back to the Tented camp. Sometimes it is possible to gallop on this day. In the afternoon we do a boat trip up the Kariega River often swimming and enjoying the tranquillity of the area. This night we will have a braai and drinks around the fire.

Day 7
We do a short morning ride depending on departure times.

Please note: The route is subject to change based on tides, weather conditions, availability and logistics.

Helpful Horse Trail Information

Required Skill & Fitness Level:
To make the most of our horseback trails, we recommend that riders are healthy and have a relatively good level of fitness (we’ll help you get fitter while on the ride!).  Riding with us needs a degree of physical fitness, as these rides are not recommended for inexperience or unfit riders (we do offer beach rides for those who feel like doing shorter rides and completely experienced enough for the longer trails. The Beachcomber trail includes different types of riding including long canters on sand, to relaxed walks with the wildlife we encounter along the way. We also swim with our horses through two rivers and do a few shallow crossings.

Our Horses:
Our horses are a hardy mix of Arabian crosses. They are safe, well mannered and are very lively when needed but also happy to plod along with inexperienced riders. Our saddles are comfortable trail riding saddles and we use soft bits on all our horses.

The Tack and Gear:
We use trail saddles, made locally, designed for the comfort of both horse and rider alike. We recommend you wear half or full chaps with comfortable riding boots and a light weight riding helmet, preferably with good ventilation. We do have a limited number of chaps and helmets at the stables, but we highly recommend that you bring your own helmet and chaps.

Transfers:
Private transfers are available from Port Elizabeth or East London. We can also book you on a scheduled transfer.

Accommodation:
It’s important to spend the evenings in comfortable accommodation after long days in the saddle. You will stay over in a beautifully located tented camp on the banks of the Kariega River which will be your base. Our tented camp offers comfortable rooms with views over the river. Meals are served on the central deck. This is also where we relax after our rides to enjoy a drink around the camp fire.

Meals:
We pride ourselves on the wholesome meals we provide our guests. From breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks along the way, we cater for the active traveler.

Horse Trail Rates

2023:
EUR 1550 per person

Includes:
Riding hats (or bring your own)
Expert guiding throughout
Comfortable accommodation in a variety of locations (beach lodge, farm cottage, guest house, beach hostel)
Delicious meals
Wildlife Safari entrance fees, game drives and game activities
Transfers from/to Port Elizabeth and East London (available on request)

Excluded:
All flights
Visas
Travel Insurance
Any additional activities (we will gladly assist with suggesting and booking any pre- and post activities)

Horse Trail Dates

Scheduled Trails:
Join one of our scheduled horse trails, generally running twice a month. Please check the availability calendar for exact departure dates.

Tailormade Trails:
Book a private horse trail to experience the Sunshine Coast at your own pace and riding style. Our expert guides will adapt the trail to suit your time and experience.

Things to do before and after your horse trail:

These services are all bookable via the individual operators.
We will gladly provide you with the best options, as well as contact details to book.