Horse Riding in South Africa

No matter if you are a galloping professional or an apprehensive beginner, horse riding in South Africa is an incredible experience. Exploring long sandy beaches, lush vineyards or mystic mountains on horseback is an entirely unique experience. Discover the diverse wildlife, birdlife and many picturesque South African treasures whilst horse riding. Let the horse do the work whilst you relax, breathe in the fresh air and admire the beautiful sights around you.

Did you know? The gorgeous white sandy beaches in Cape Town provide many an opportunity for fast gallops through the waters, or casual meandering through the dunes on horseback - truly a day well spent.

There are countless places to enjoy horse riding in South Africa. The Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West Province, Northern Cape and the Western Cape all offer numerous awesome horse riding trials.

There are also quite a few South African horse riding trails tailored for the disabled or otherwise handicapped. In northern KwaZulu Natal you can enjoy the beauty of Lake Bhangazi and St Lucia on horseback. You can choose to enjoy a day trip around the lake, or stay overnight and enjoy the area at night time too.

Limpopo is home to South African horse riding safaris with excellent game viewing in the Waterberg area. There are a number of companies that offer day horse rides as well as the option to spend up to 10 days out in the wild - experiencing the beautiful Hermanus and Overberg areas on horseback. The Western Cape's gorgeous white sandy beaches provide many an opportunity for fast gallops through the waters, or casual meandering through the dunes on horseback - truly a day well spent.

South African horse riding safari’s in South Africa's game reserves allows you the unique opportunity of getting incredibly close to the wildlife in the area. The smell of the horses sweat overpowers the smell of humans and animals like giraffe, elephant and rhino can be viewed sometimes from just a few meters. It’s a breathtaking experience to be so close to these powerful and awe-inspiring creatures.

The Waterberg Mountains in Limpopo have sweeping grasslands that offer fast riding opportunities, while the mountainous areas can be explored at a slower pace. Bokpoort Horseback Adventures in the eastern Free State has short rides near a farm or multi-day trails that embrace the Lesotho border and head up into the beautiful mountains. You have the choice between comfortable and affordable accommodation or backpacker-style accommodation.

Biggarsberg Horse Trails on Larksend Farm near Ladysmith in KwaZulu Natal offers the beginner and experienced rider the opportunity to combine the excitement of horseback riding and the comfort of first-class accommodation in an area of implausible natural beauty.

The Amadiba Adventure Project Trail is a horse-riding trek through the remote northern coastline of the Wild Coast. It is run and managed by the local community. Therefore everybody gets a share of the income by providing horses, accommodation, food, bag carrying and any other services that might be needed. This is an awesome opportunity to explore the beautiful escarpments of this area and discover true African heritage.

Whether you are planning to take a few days off and enjoy a safari on horse back, or just a quick gallop down the beach, horse riding in South Africa is sure to be a memorable experience.

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Where to enjoy Horse Riding

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