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We recommend that you book a self-drive car for this Horse Safari. Contact us for our competitive car hire rates. However, we can also arrange road transfers from Durban – details on request.
Day 1:
Depart from Durban and drive (approximately 3 hours) north, through the scenically beautiful Zululand area, and arrive at St. Lucia village. This cosy settlement is the springboard for exploration of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, one of South Africa’s World Heritage Sites. Check in at your lodge. Optional river cruises are available, contact us for details. In the evening, explore the village on foot, there are many cosy restaurants and shops within easy walking distance of your lodge.
Overnight: St. Lucia
Day 2:
Meet your horse-safari guide, and head for the camp. After settling in it is time to meet your horse. Most horses are Boerperds with some thoroughbreds, thoroughbred crosses and Boerperd crosses. Boerperds are a South African breed probably of Arab-Barb descent, which were the first horses to come to South Africa from Java when the Dutch arrived in about 1653. These developed into the Cape Horse and were subsequently crossed with English thoroughbreds. The Boerperds are known as being strong, hardy and well muscled, usually 14.0hh to 15.3hh, sure footed and to have kind temperaments and generous natures. Set out on your first ride and enjoy being in the saddle in one of the world’s most unique areas.
Return to camp. This is a completely luxurious safari. The tents are large old style colonial tents with headboards for storage and a kist at the end of each bed to put your bag on. The beds are made up with pristine beautiful heavy white cotton linen, duvets and pillows and covered with soft cotton spreads. Big, thick fluffy towels are at the ready too. Each tent has a verandah with canvas chairs in which to relax and watch the bush go past. There is a zippered door between the main bedroom and the en-suite bathroom. The bathroom is roofed and private but partially open so you can still gaze at the trees while you shower. The food is sumptuous and of a world class standard.
Dinner and overnight: Luxury Safari tents. (B,L,D)
Day 3 & 4:
There is no set itinerary for the rides as this will depend on the seasons, weather and riding abilities.
Beach Rides: We take the horses out along the beach at the northern end of the wetland park where there are many kilometres of clean white sand with the Indian Ocean rolling in alongside. During the whale season (May-November) we sometimes see humpbacks breaching out in the deeper water on their way to the breeding grounds in Mozambique and from November to March we search for the tracks of turtles who dug their nests above the high tide mark in the warm sand the night before. The rest of the year we have to make do with dolphins playing in the surf or just the amazing views along the beach to the highest forested dunes in Africa. The beach rides are low tide dependent so we can ride on the hard sand and this way neither damage anything living in the soft sand nor possibly harm the horses.
Game Rides: The game rides begin at the campsite and we ride in the Nature Reserve on the southern end of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Here we often see zebra, wildebeest, bushbuck, warthog, duiker and impala while riding. This is the perfect start for a novice as it a gentle ride with lots of interest along the way.
Dinner and overnight: Luxury Safari tents. (B,L,D)
Day 5:
Leave the camp after breakfast and head back to Durban, or alternatively continue with other Active Escapes in KwaZulu-Natal. (B)
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