Beachcomber Horse Trails 7 Days Sand and Safari
10.02.-17.02.2023
24.02.-03.03.2023
What can you expect on the 7 Days Sand and Safari riding trip with Beachcomber Horse Trails? Here you will find all the important information about the stables, the itinerary, photos, and my review.
Table of Contents
Information
The 7 Days Sand and Safari riding trip with Beachcomber Horse Trails could be booked and paid for directly on the "Beachcomber Horse Trails" website or via “Pferd und Reiter.” The trip took place with other guests. The maximum group size was 8 guests plus the ride leader.
Stable
The horses lived in a herd on a paddock. If there was not enough grass, the horses were moved to another paddock. The paddocks were located near the camp or the host’s house. Large water troughs were provided.
The staff fed the horses twice daily and prepared them for the rides. Horses showing any signs of injury were given a rest.
Itinerary
Arrival Day 10 & 24.02.2023:
Guests met the host at Port Elizabeth Airport at 3 pm. Then they were driven approximately 1.5 hours to Kenton-On-Sea. At the camp, staff assigned the two-person safari tents, which had proper beds and small balconies overlooking the Kariega River. They delivered the luggage to the tents. There were two shared bathrooms at the camp with toilets, toilet paper, sinks with soap, a shower, and a bathtub. Running water was available. A one-hour ride to the river was planned. While we changed for the ride, staff brought the horses to the tie-up area.
The first ride went past the host’s house. The trail led through the hilly forest landscape with views of the clear Kariega River. We followed the trail to the river, rode alongside it for a bit, made a 180-degree turn, and returned the same way. Back at the camp, we dismounted and staff took care of the horses.
Dinner was served on the camp terrace under the starry sky.
My Trail Ride Diary
Your personal companion for your ride trips– with plenty of space for photos and notes!
– Are you interested in an internship? Here you’ll learn everything that awaits you. –
First Riding Day 11 & 25.02.2023:
Breakfast was held in the common area. The first beach ride awaited. Our host picked us up and we drove to Port Alfred. At the meeting point, the horses were saddled, bridled, and tied, waiting for the riders. Each guest received a lunch box and a bottle of water, which we could refill. We stored everything in the horses’ saddle bags. We mounted, set the riding order, and off we went.
We rode along the kilometer-long sandy beach. At a walk, we could ride side by side to chat. During trot and canter, we stayed in a line. Beautiful long beach canters at normal speed were included. Occasionally, it got faster, but never a racing canter. Canters lasted on average up to 3 minutes. We paused at a rock for a picnic: 3 half sandwiches, fruit (apple, banana, etc.), and a mini snack bag with cookies.The ride continued until we reached a lagoon. We unsaddled the horses and removed our riding clothes to swim with the horses in the lagoon. After a pleasant swim, the host mounted again while we put our riding clothes back on. The accommodation in Kasouga was close by.
Staff brought our luggage there. The holiday house had two bathrooms and several double rooms. We settled in, showered, and went to the beach. Dinner was served by candlelight indoors.
– Do you just want to do a 1.5-hour ride along the river? Here you can read the report on what to expect. –
Second Riding Day 12 & 26.02.2023:
We had breakfast together at the table. Bags were packed and ready for loading. We rode with a saddlebag picnic. The host and a staff member brought the horses and tied them to trees near the apartment.
We mounted, packed saddlebags, and rode along the long sandy beach again, riding side by side at a walk and in a line for trot and canter. Long canters of about 3 minutes were included. At the Kariega River, we unsaddled and rode in swimsuits across the river to a sandbank behind the car bridge. We got dressed while staff saddled the horses. The ride continued along the river to a picnic spot and then at a walk through hilly forests back to the camp. A final canter awaited just before arrival.
At the camp, we dismounted, tied the horses, and staff took care of them. We had some free time and went swimming at the beach. Dinner was at 8 pm in the common area by candlelight.
Third Riding Day 13 & 27.02.2023:
After breakfast together in the common room, the host picked us up with the minibus after returning from transporting the horses. We met the horses at the entrance to Sibuya National Park. That day, a walking safari ride was planned.
We all rode in a single file line. Riding side by side was not allowed on this ride. In the national park, we took a picnic break near the river. From horseback, we could see the following animals on the safari:
- Warthogs
- Gazelles
- Oryxe (Antilopen Rasse)
- Zebras
- Rhinos
- Giraffes
- Buffalo
After the safari, the host first drove us back to the camp before collecting the staff and horses. Dinner was served in the common room after 8 pm.
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Fourth Day 14 & 28.02.2023:
On this day, we did not ride. Instead, after breakfast in the common room, we went by minibus to Addo Elephant Park.
During this minibus safari, we saw the following animals:
- Zebra
- Elephant
- Warthog
- Hartebeest (South African antelope)
- African wild dog
- Gnu
- Turtle
- Ostrich
- Lioness
We had a picnic at a large fenced picnic area.
After the safari, we returned to the camp and had some free time before the communal dinner at 8 pm in the common room.
Fifth Riding Day 14.02. & 01.03.2023:
After breakfast in the common room, we prepared for the ride. Meanwhile, the staff prepared the horses and brought them to the tie-up area. We packed our bags for the night and got ready to take them along.
With saddlebags packed, the ride started from the camp. We rode through the hilly forest landscape to the Kariega River, along the river for a while, then turned into the town of Kenton-On-Sea and followed a lightly trafficked road to the beach. We arrived at the Bushmans River. There, we tied the horses, unsaddled them, removed our riding clothes, and packed everything into the car. We then swam across the river on the horses. At one point, the water was so deep that we glided over the horses’ backs, holding onto the mane to stay on. On the other side, a car met us. The staff resaddled the horses while we got dressed. Over the dune, we rode directly to the beach, where we rode in all three gaits again. We stopped for a picnic at a viewpoint. We rode along the beach to Boknes apartment, enjoying beautiful beach canters averaging three minutes each.
At the apartment, we dismounted, emptied the saddlebags, handed the horse ropes to the staff, and went inside. Together with the host, the horses were brought home and taken care of. We had nice double rooms. There was no Wi-Fi in the apartment. We had time to freshen up and go to the beach before dinner at 8 pm on the terrace.
Sixth Riding Day 15.02. & 02.03.2023:
The last ride took place after breakfast on the terrace. The staff brought the horses while we got ready. Saddlebags packed, we rode straight to the beach. More beautiful beach canters awaited, again averaging about three minutes each. At the Bushmans River, we unsaddled and removed our riding clothes to swim with the horses across the river. We had a picnic at the Kariega River lagoon and swam there as well. We rode back to the camp at a walk, with one last canter just before the finish.
At the camp, we unpacked the saddlebags and prepared for a boat trip. The host picked us up, and we drove with the minibus and attached boat to the Kariega River. A beautiful boat ride awaited, with alcoholic drinks. At one stop, we jumped into the water and had some time to swim in the warm river before continuing.
We took another break to get ready for a restaurant visit. We walked to Cherrywood Nursery, where pizza and burgers were available. After a cozy evening, we walked back to the camp together.
Departure Day 16.02. & 03.03.2023:
On the last day, we had breakfast together in the common room. If all guests had afternoon flights, a short, faster beach ride (45 minutes) was possible after breakfast. Whether riding was possible depended on flight times, as the entire group drove about 1.5 hours together to Port Elizabeth Airport. Goodbyes were said at the airport.
Photos
The ride leader took photos of everyone during the rides. Guests could also take additional photos and videos and share them via WhatsApp groups.
My Review
I really enjoyed the riding trips. The horses were well cared for. The area is breathtakingly beautiful. The rivers are crystal clear and have an amazing color. Swimming with the horses without a saddle was a special experience. Riding along the kilometer-long sandy beaches was breathtaking; the long beach canters at a normal pace are unforgettable. The horseback safari in Sibuya National Park was also an amazing experience. The bus safari was adventurous, giving us close-up encounters with many animals.
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