Skip to main content

South Africa, Sunshine Coast

If you want to experience an exciting ride along "The Sunshine Coast", this is unbeatable.

Along with Jono and his endurance horses, many raised himself, you can canter for miles (without exaggeration) along pristine beaches. Jono is an experienced endurance rider who has lived here most of his life. He has a passion for maintaining and preserving wildlife, which makes him a fascinating guide.

You ride between 17 and 30 km (10-19 miles) per day, so it's important to be in good shape.

The tide plays an important role on this trail ride. In some parts you need to swim with your horse, which is a new and very fun experience for most riders.

Cozy picnics with time for a dip in the ocean provide much needed rest for weary riding muscles.

Besides the beaches, you ride through green valleys, along cliffs and through farmland. Some days you may encounter wildlife such as kudu, monkeys and antelopes. You will also visit the small charming coastal towns on the way and a game drive with more wildlife and have the chance to see the "Big Five".

You spend the nights in a safari tented camp and at various beach beach houses or guesthouses, each with its own story to tell.

After a long day in the saddle and a good meal, it is easy to get stuck with a glass of wine in front of the campfire and enjoy all the exotic sounds.

Full text search

The Program

Preliminary day-by-day program

Day 1:  We will meet you at the airport and drive by mini-bus to Kenton and stay at the comfortable tented camp. After getting changed into riding gear we will go for a short ride followed by drinks and snacks. The evening meal is normally fresh fish. 

Day 2: 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 Kasuga. 

Day 3: After breakfast we head off on the horses to Kenton-on-Sea.  The beaches are exceptionally beautiful. Long beach canters on this day. We swim across the Kariega River and have a picnic lunch on the banks of the Kariega River. After lunch we then head upriver to the 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 4: 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 5: Today is a rest day for the horses. We head off to Addo Elephant national park and spend the day driving around in the reserve looking for animals. They have all of the big 5 and it’s the best place in the world to see African Elephants. We return again to the tented camp.

Day 6: 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 7: 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 8: We do a short morning ride depending on departure times.

South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Group Travel with Nina 28 March - 4 April 2025

South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Group Travel with Nina 28 March - 4 April 2025

The best thing I know is to ride out in the country side on a lively and happy horse. And to do it in a country that offers a different scenery and cultural experience, that's really my thing. Will be very happy if you want to come along.

Tour guide: Nina Croft, horseXplore's contact person in Norway and active rider.
Date: 28 March - 4 April 2025
Number of riders: Min. 4 and maximum 8.

Accommodation and Food

Five nights you stay in tented camp. The horses graze around and you enjoy the great views of the river and listen to the sounds of nature. The tents are quite private but close together each with two comfortable beds in. The bathrooms are rustic but comfortable with hot water, flush toilets, a bath and a shower. Two nights you stay in comfortable bungalows close to the beach.

Meals are primarily made from fresh local ingredients. Picnic lunches are eaten along the way and carried in saddlebags. The lunch usually consists of dired meat, dried fruit, nuts, something sweet and a juice box. Sometimes you will help to prepare breakfast.

Horses

Jono has about 40 horses. Many of them he has bred himself. The horses are mostly Arabians and Arabian crosses, about 140-165 cm (55-65 in) at the withers. They are in very good condition as Jono also competes in endurance events. You can try several horses until you find one that suits you.

Climate

The climate is generally moderate with temperatures from 12 ° C to 25 ° C (53 – 77 F) in summer (October to March) and from 8 ° C to 18 ° C (46 – 64 F) in winter (April to September). The main rainy season is in the summer (September to April) with a chance of a little rain throughout the year. The weather can be unpredictable, you can experience all four seasons in one day. The wind can be quite hard sometimes, make sure that your hat is secure and will not blow away and that your jacket does not flap or rustle.


Travel Information

Ability description: Trail Ride Level 3 >>

Included in the price: 7 nights, 5-6 days riding, full board incl. wine/beer with meals, return transfer Port Elisabeth airport. 

Not included: Flights, insurance, drinks and extras not mentioned. 

Travel: Book flight/rental car >>
Fly to Port Elizabeth. 

Transfer: Book in advance with HorseXplore and inform about your flight times.
From the airport to your first accommodation, about 1,5 hours. The best time to arrive and depart at the airport is around 12 am.

Vaccination: This area is malaria free.

Single room: Can be booked with a supplement. For price click on ”Book on request” under Dates & prices. If only one rider is booked, a single room supplement is added.

Currency: South African Rand (ZAR). The safest is to bring a credit card so that you can withdraw cash from the ATM at the airport. Filling stations do not usually accept credit cards, but most supermarkets etc do.
Credit card: The Riding Centre does not accept credit cards. However, you can pay in Rand, USD, Pounds or Euros.
Tipping: Not expected.

Wifi: There may be access to WiFi at some of the overnight stays but not everywhere.
Electricity jack: 3 plug (type M). There is some adapters to borrow. There's a solar charger at the camp.

Group size: Min. 1, max around 8-10 persons.

Age limit: 10 years old.

Weight limit: 100 kg

Special diet: Inform when booking.
Saddle bag available: Yes
Shower gel, shampoo, towel: Please bring your own.

Feedback from our travellers

Dates and prices

"Book on request" means that we cannot confirm your booking immediately, but we will get back to you as soon as possible with a booking confirmation, normally within 24 hours on weekdays.

DateDaysName of tripPrice from
11/10/20248South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,550Book on request
25/10/20248South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & Safari
Fully booked
EUR 1,550Book on request
08/11/20248South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & Safari
Fully booked
EUR 1,550Book on request
22/11/20248South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,550Book on request
06/12/20248South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,550Book on request
17/01/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
31/01/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
14/02/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
28/02/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
14/03/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
28/03/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & Safari
Fully booked. Group travel with Nina. 10% discount on the following price!
EUR 1,705Book on request
11/04/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
25/04/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
09/05/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
23/05/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
06/06/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
04/07/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
01/08/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
15/08/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
29/08/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
12/09/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
26/09/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
10/10/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
24/10/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
07/11/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
21/11/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request
05/12/20258South Africa, Sunshine Coast - Beach & SafariEUR 1,705Book on request

Similar tours

Morocco

Morocco

This beautiful Moroccan ranch owned by two French women, Caroline and Caroline (who live in France but visit the ranch at regular intervals). The ranch is situated between the Atlas Mountains and is o...
South Africa, Entabeni - Big Five Safari

South Africa, Entabeni - Big Five Safari

Entabeni Safari Conservancy “The Place of the Mountain”, is situated in the World Heritage “Waterberg Biosphere” of the Waterberg region. Approximately a three hour drive north of Johannesburg, this 2...
Namibia

Namibia

Kambaku Safari Lodge - Namibia, located in southwestern Africa, is large, sparsely populated, varied and known for its beautiful, barren nature, its red dunes and exciting safaris. The official langu...
Italy - Lazio Castle Ride

Italy - Lazio Castle Ride

Welcome to our beautiful eighteenth century castle which is situated in Lazio between the hills of Tuscany and Umbria (barely 200 km / 125 miles) from Rome. The castle was once the residence of a Card...
Greenland

Greenland

Greenland is not a mass tourism location, but rather somewhere for the discerning traveller who is searching for unique experiences in a magnificent, clean natural environment and an exciting culture...
USA, Wyoming - Wind River

USA, Wyoming - Wind River

Wyoming is not only known for its incomparable nature, but also as the state with the strongest cowboy culture. Between the two magnificent national parks Shoshone and Yellowstone you will find a real...
Contact us
Address:
HorseXplore
Norra Catalinagränd 17
183 68 TÄBY
Sweden