Packages and Options

We suggest to arrive on the following flights (airline schedule may change):

SA flight 471 departing from Johannesburg @ 10.35 arriving East London @ 12.05
SA flight 1365 departing from Cape Town @ 10.00 arriving East London @ 11.30

SA flight 1408 departing from East London @ 15.45 arriving Johannesburg @ 17.20
SA flight 1368 departing from East London @ 15.55 arriving Cape Town @ 17.25

Or
SA flight 480 departing from East London @ 17.20 arriving in Johannesburg @ 18.50
SA flight 1376 departing from East London @ 19.00 arriving in Cape Town @ 20.35

Pre trip arrangements: If you are concerned about jet lag after a long flight, you may want to spend an extra couple of days before the ride - to relax and acclimatize. We can arrange for a pick up from the East London airport and transfer to the Kai River on the "Wild Coast" for your overnight at the Black Rock Cottages - or similar  (~$330 per person per day incl. meals and activities)   Or we can just book a B&B accommodation for you if you prefer.

Day 1   We advise riders to try and plan to arrive in East London on SA flight 471 @ 12.05. It is approximately 1 ½ hours drive to Kei Mouth from the airport. After settling you into your room we make our way to the horse paddocks situated a short distance from where you are staying. After a brief introduction, we will take the horses out for the afternoon, (time & light permitting) and explore the village and river front of Kei Mouth. The first evening we will join you for drinks and dinner, before a good nights rest after you long journey.
Day 2   After breakfast we will pick you up at about 9.30 am and go to the paddocks to collect the horses. We head across the Kei River and enjoy some great beach riding and get to Trennery’s in time for lunch. The horses are given a few hours off and you get to laze around the swimming pool, walk, and mountain bike, play tennis or head for the beach. During the afternoon, we take the horses across country and explore some unusual river formations at “The Gates”. We finish with a sunset canter down the mile long beach.
Day 3   This morning we ride to the nearby local community development project and discover some Xhosa traditions and customs. We then meander through the tribal villages and ride onto the Nongqawases Pools and waterfalls, and hear about legends of the Xhosa people. After lunch, we ride to the wreck of the Jacaranda. Depending on the tide the riding is energetic and exciting as we canter the beaches and rolling country side.
Day 4   Heading north, we pass the Jacaranda and turn inland across country and through rural villages to cross the Kobonqaba River. The horses set a steady pace at trot and canter as we head towards Wavecrest in time for lunch. This afternoon is free time. You can take a boat trip up the river and explore the Mangrove swamps, hike, fish, or just kick back and relax in the Jacuzzi! Drinks on the deck at sunset as we sit a watch the great Crested Cranes come in to roost, end a perfect day.
Day 5  The low tide dictates our riding path today. We either circle inland towards the remote settlement of Cebe, exploring huge sand dune forests before finding a perfect picnic spot for lunch and head back towards Wavecrest along the endless beaches. Or we do the ride the other way around – this gives us the best beach riding at low tide and a safe river crossing.
Day 6   Today we start our journey back home. This time we cross the Kobonqaba river at the river mouth. This crossing is a comfortable wade through at low tide, and our departure time will depend on this. We ride back past Trennery’s and call in a Seagulls Beach Hotel for a great pub lunch. We then head towards Kei Mouth and the pontoon crossing before dropping the horses off at the paddocks around 4 o’clock.
Day 7   We say good bye, before returning you to the East London Airport. Depending on your flight schedule we will fit a final ride before departure.
... or extend for a day of riding ...

Extension:
Your holiday can be extended to include a game viewing safari at a nearby private game reserve. Accommodation in luxury safari tents, view rhino, lion, giraffe, zebra, and many other game species
~$695 per person for 2 nights
Included: All meals & drinks, game drives, horse back game viewing (on reserve horses; typical trekking ponies!) included.
Transfers from the coastal resorts and back to the Airport included

The Indian Ocean creates a sub-tropical land of flora and fauna from different climates all flourishing side by side like nowhere else in Southern Africa
The climate along the coast is nearly always warm to hot, with humidity levels rising form December to March. The climate is temperate with warm summers and mild winters. Soft gently falling rain occurs during the summer months (November to March) although it can be wet it is never cold.
The winters are perfect.
The average minimum temp rarely goes below 10 'C and the days are around 25'C .
The best time to visit, fish and ride is from the end of March through to August.
During September, October and November the weather is generally good but can be unpredictable as this is when we have our spring rains!.

Fauna & Flora
The flora rejoices in a vast array of indigenous coastal forest, prehistoric Cycads, tree orchids, Kiepersol, Sneezewood and Yellowwood. Lush vegetation with plentiful water, forest and fruit trees provides a beautiful environment for over 250 species of birds. Inland, coastal and sea birds rub shoulders and compete for sky space. Above it all, the regal Fish Eagle can be heard to shriek his haunting cry

Suitable gear for the great African outdoors:

Jodhpurs or riding pants
Own hardhat.
Shorts for walking and hiking.
Walking shoes or boots with rubber soles.(Full length boots and cowboy boots are acceptable.)
½ or full length riding chaps
Slip slops or sandals.
A couple of light long sleeved shirts with collars to protect you from the sun while riding.
T shirts and tops.
Light long trousers. Jeans will do
Smart/casual outfit to change for dinner at the hotels.

Also bring :
Warm clothing jersey/(jumper/fleece
A good warm rain proof coat.
Light weight rain jacket that will be tied to your saddle.
Sunhat (that stays on) and sun block.
Swimming costume and swimming towel.
A torch (Flashlight) each.
A camera, film and binoculars. (battery chargers)
Reading material
Other items of a personal nature.
1 bag of Mr Johnson's Equiglo Treats. A delicious herby snack for horses and ponies – if you have room in your suitcase!
Laundry
Laundry can be done for you during your holiday. There is a full laundry service at Trennery’s and Wavecrest.

You will be staying at different inns and lodges along the way. These are the usual overnights:
1 night Morgan Bay/Sunray Lodge, 2 nights Trennery’s, 2 nights Wavecrest, 1 or 2 nights The Cock Inn. You will find on the Wild Coast, the accommodation is all good, comfortable but simple; authentic South African seaside holiday hotels.

Your hosts and horses
Your professional guides and hosts, Clint and Julie-Anne Gower, will receive you with true South African hospitality, having lived their whole lives in this area they ensure that you get the most from your adventure into the malaria-free Eastern Cape Province. The high standard of service, love of horses and passion for what they do make this horse riding holiday exceptional.
The guides are expert and the staff will pamper you. The riding is plentiful and varied the beaches pristine and the food is delicious. You will be enthralled by the unique combination of cross country riding and the exploration of our beautiful coastline. The horses are friendly, easy to ride and lively to command. You will ride a horse that you wish you could take home with you!
We breed a selection of horses each year to meet the demand for quality trail horses, and outstanding endurance prospects. Two different types of horses, both requiring excellent athletic ability, kind natures and sound confirmation.
Our trail team is a selection of home bred and handpicked horses, chosen for their temperament, size, shore footedness and reliability.
Trail horses are very special equines; they have to be lively and forward going enough to keep up with the rigours of days of riding and kind enough to accept that each week they will have a different rider.
Our horses are all much loved and cared for….

How well do I have to be able to ride?
Our horses are of a very high quality and are well schooled. Our holiday is for riders who have ridden before and are comfortable and confident at a trot and canter. The horses are gentle and reliable enough for the holiday rider, but also of such a standard that the more experienced rider will have a good time. The trail pace varies from walking through the country side to enable good wild life viewing, long trots and canters on open plains, to fast gallops down the beaches if wanted. If in doubt it is a good idea to contact us and discuss your needs and expectations. We can put you in touch with another guest, probably in your own country, who has visited us in the past.
Competent child riders are welcome. We have some super ponies suitable for confident children who ride regularly. Nannies are available to take care of the little ones who are not riding.

We strongly recommend that you wear a hard hat when in the vicinity of horses. We have a selection, but it is always best to bring your own to ensure a good fit. We recommend you also bring a wide brimmed hat for protection from the sun before you leave.

Tack:		McClellan-type trail saddles
Horses:		Pure and cross bred Boerperd, Thoroughbred, Percheron, Anglo Arab
Pace:		all paces 5 hrs per day | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3 to 4 out of 5)    Intermediate
Weight:		Max 210
Riders:		Min 2	Max 6

Your hosts and horses
Your professional guides and hosts, Clint and Julie-Anne Gower, will receive you with true South African hospitality, having lived their whole lives in this area they ensure that you get the most from your adventure into the malaria-free Eastern Cape Province. The high standard of service, love of horses and passion for what they do make this horse riding holiday exceptional.
The guides are expert and the staff will pamper you. The riding is plentiful and varied the beaches pristine and the food is delicious. You will be enthralled by the unique combination of cross country riding and the exploration of our beautiful coastline. The horses are friendly, easy to ride and lively to command. You will ride a horse that you wish you could take home with you!
We breed a selection of horses each year to meet the demand for quality trail horses, and outstanding endurance prospects. Two different types of horses, both requiring excellent athletic ability, kind natures and sound confirmation.
Our trail team is a selection of home bred and handpicked horses, chosen for their temperament, size, shore footedness and reliability.
Trail horses are very special equines; they have to be lively and forward going enough to keep up with the rigours of days of riding and kind enough to accept that each week they will have a different rider.
Our horses are all much loved and cared for….

How well do I have to be able to ride?
Our horses are of a very high quality and are well schooled. Our holiday is for riders who have ridden before and are comfortable and confident at a trot and canter. The horses are gentle and reliable enough for the holiday rider, but also of such a standard that the more experienced rider will have a good time. The trail pace varies from walking through the country side to enable good wild life viewing, long trots and canters on open plains, to fast gallops down the beaches if wanted. If in doubt it is a good idea to contact us and discuss your needs and expectations. We can put you in touch with another guest, probably in your own country, who has visited us in the past.
Competent child riders are welcome. We have some super ponies suitable for confident children who ride regularly. Nannies are available to take care of the little ones who are not riding.

We strongly recommend that you wear a hard hat when in the vicinity of horses. We have a selection, but it is always best to bring your own to ensure a good fit. We recommend you also bring a wide brimmed hat for protection from the sun before you leave.

Passports
Passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure required by all nationals referred to in the chart.
Passport Note
Passport must have at least two blank pages for entry stamp. This cannot include the 'endorsement' page at the back. Passengers who also require a visa must have a passport with two blank facing pages, one for the visa and one for their entry stamp. Anyone attempting to enter South Africa without the required pages will be returned to their country of origin.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days for business and tourist purposes, except:
1. nationals of Cyprus, Hungary, Poland and Slovak Republic who may stay for up to 30 days, and nationals of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia who do require a visa, unless transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport (advance notice of overnight stay is required).
Visa Note
(a) Proof of financial means may be required. (b) Unaccompanied children under the age of 18 years must hold written consent from their parents when travelling alone. (c) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses). (d) After entry, extensions of stay may be sought from the Department of Home Affairs.
Types of Visa and Cost
Visa fee: £35. UK nationals are exempt from visa fees.
Validity
Dependent on length of stay requested. Permits may be extended if done so 30 days prior to expiry of original permit.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses. Applicants in countries where South Africa is not represented may send their applications to the embassy in the nearest country.
Working Days Required
Five to 10 days.