On this horse riding holiday you will discover the beautiful beaches and mountains of the Western Cape in a point to point trail. Starting about 150 km North of Cape Town from a remote mountain farm, we ride down through the fynbos, past magnificent wetlands with quiet lakes known as Rocher Pan and Verlorevlei (lost estuary) with magnificent its birdlife, through the only area in the world where potatoes are grown in pure white sand, irrigated in large circles, and finally to the West coast of the South Atlantic, where the pristine and lonely beaches seem to be stretching for ever. The area is famous for its profusion of wild flower carpets in August and September, the Namaqualand daisies. The Boerperd x Arab horses are spirited and keen whilst also being surefooted and well suited to the mountainous terrain. A truly spectacular horse riding holiday that you will never forget.
Trip length
10 days / 9 nights, shorter trails available, see below
No single rooms available (on some or all nights). Riders must be prepared to share.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - WESTERN CAPE BEACH TRAIL
Day 1
Guests are collected from Cape Town Airport and travel for 2 hours northwards on a scenic drive to a remote fruit farm in the mountains. Spend the day recovering from your flight in these peaceful surroundings. Hike on the farm's walking trails through indigenous vegetation and enjoy the peaceful unspoilt mountain kingdom and sandstone rock formations. Dinner and accommodation at the farm in comfortable fully equipped cottages.
Day 2
After breakfast, we saddle up and leave the farm riding along fynbos covered mountains (part of the Cape Floral Kingdom), and enjoying the scenic luscious fruit orchards. We descend the mountain (walking and leading in places) via a steep path (baboon trail) down to the river valley below, where we picnic. Continuing through Banghoek (“Scary Corner”) we reach Kapteinskloof Farm where we will stay in lovely restored 17th century Sandveld cottages situated in a beautiful garden. Resident Friesian horses entertain us with their presence. 20kms riding.
Day 3
From Kapteinskloof we leave the river valley and skirt the Aurora Mountain to a dam (swimming possible) where many water birds will entertain us while we picnic on the bank. Continuing through Sandveld vegetation and farmed lands to the small town of Aurora where we stay with a local Austrian, Helmut, at La Aurora Guesthouse (modest), and eat at his very interesting restaurant. 28kms
Day 4
After a wholesome breakfast with Helmut, we travel west skirting a small mountain and passing small wetlands into the Sandveld. Picnic lunch is in an interesting boma on a typical Sandveld farm. Continuing toward the coast via farms, some with local Strandveld vegetation, and through dry pans, on to Seefontein, an isolated modest old farmhouse situated on the sand dunes alongside a huge unspoilt beach. No electricity but gas for hot water and candles for light. Barbeque in a muisbos skerm under starry skies. Almost paradise with swims in the sea. 35kms riding
Day 5 We have breakfast at Seefontein and start the beach riding north to the luxurious Draaihoek Lodge. The area is unpopulated and dolphins and seals sometimes play in the waves. Huge sea, sky and beach. Lots of seabirds. A short detour changes the scenery to the bird sanctuary of Rocher Pan to enjoy its uniqueness and then continue on the beach until we reach an “oasis” called Draaihoek Lodge hidden behind high sand dunes. Very comfortable accommodation in beautiful thatched buildings and good seafood at a lovely restaurant. We can have a afternoon rest and swim in the pool or in the sea. Here we stay for lunch and dinner. 25kms
Day 6 After breakfast we continue north towards Elands Bay, (a small fishing village known for its crayfish packing factory). Trailside lunch. We leave the beach and ride east on the Verloren Vlei Estuary to Vensterklip our very comfortable dinner, bed and breakfast venue on the banks of the vlei (lake), a RAMSA area with many wetland birds. 28kms
Day 7
Vensterklip provides a good breakfast before take-off. Crossing the river, we ride along the vlei and gradually ascend the mountain running alongside the vlei via sandy tracks with amazing panoramic views and the Verloren Vlei below us. The path leads us down to the shore where we will pass through old farms that previously survived on subsistence farming and fishing. Some lovely old Sandveld mud and thatch buildings. Picnic lunch at Muishoek (“Mouse Corner”), keeping alongside the vlei, via several farms to Redelinghuys, a small Sandveld town named after the person who donated the ground to build an impressive church. The Verloren Vlei Estuary starts here. Dinner and accommodation in a comfortable guesthouse. 30kms
Day 8
From Redelinghuys, we head south through typical Sandveld vegetation. Agriculture is visible with potato circles evident as well as lemon producers and packers. We overnight on the foothills of the Driefontein Mountain at the Sandveld Country Cottages where we have a barbeque and swim in their pool. Great open views with mountain vistas all around. Resting time allowed for the next day’s trek up the mountain. 20kms
Day 9 Continuing around the Driefontein Mountain we enter the valley below Aurora Mountain and ride through the Banghoek Nature Reserve, stopping for lunch at a local Swiss farmer, to the foot of the Piketberg Mountain where we will take the mountain path back, arriving late in the afternoon. Riding includes a mountain climb. The area is wonderful, with mountains all around and interesting things to see along the way. We will also stop to swim where possible. 40kms
Day 10
After breakfast guests can walk on the farm’s hiking trails through indigenous vegetation and enjoying the peaceful unspoilt mountain and sandstone rock formations, bidding the horses goodbye, before being collected by the courier and transported back to Cape Town.
Please Note:
The entire horse trail is about 150 miles long, a distance covered in 9 days in the saddle. Our safety standards are high and every effort will be made to follow this itinerary. However this program is subject to changes or substitutions to the same high criteria without prior notice, if for example inclement weather makes this necessary, as with many riding holidays.
NOTES - WESTERN CAPE BEACH TRAIL
Apart from the 10 day itinerary above, there are also a 7 night trail or 3 night farm stays available in the Picket Mountain area. These are available on request throughout the year. They can also be combined with nights in the Paarl winelands, nights in Hermanus or city stays in beautiful Cape Town. Here 3 days to visit the Waterfront, Robbin Island, Table Mountain, Chapman's Peak Drive and many other sights are a must. Call us to tailor make your stay in the Western Cape.
Western Cape Mountain Trail 7 day/6 night trail Ride through unspoilt indigenous mountain vegetation and fruit orchards with spectacular views. Enjoy the tranquility whilst staying overnight in a remote picturesque stone cottage at Agterdam where there is not a soul in sight. Journey through the magical Banghoek Nature Reserve with all of its wonderful sights. The Boerperd x Arab horses are spirited and keen whilst also being surefooted and well suited to the mountainous terrain.
3Night Western Cape Farm Stays
Day 1: Arrive from Cape Town. 3 hours riding. Night at the farm
Day 2: Dayride. Night at the farm
Day 3: Free day - hiking/resting/sightseeing
Day 4: 2 hour ride. Return to Cape Town. OR
Day1: Arrive from Cape Town. Hiking on mountains or 2 hour ride. Night at the farm.
Day 2: Leave for overnight ride. Night at overnight spot (location varies with weather).
Day 3: Return to farm in the afternoon.
Day 4: Resting. Return to Cape Town.
The weight limit for this ride is 16 st/220 lb/100 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Accommodaton, all meals and beverages (except bar bills at hotels outside meal times, bar run by back up team is included), all riding adn guiding.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
International flights, transfers, insurance and items of a personal nature.
Riders who booked this ride also considered:
Atlantic Coast Trek - France Lots of fun, very good horses. Beach riding all year round for for intermediate riders onwards
What you see on our web site is exactly how much your invoice will come to and this will not change once booked. Unlike some other companies the prices on our web site are fully inclusive of often hidden extras such as: VAT, Sales Tax, state taxes, city taxes, service charges, non-optional tips, fuel surcharges which can add 20% or more to the advertised cost. Prices are available in £ sterling, Euros and US$. Once invoiced, prices are guaranteed against adverse currency fluctuations. Contact us for package prices which include flights from the UK and see each ride for exact details of all items in individual itineraries.
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