Family Horse Riding Holiday - South Africa - Horse Riding Holidays with Equus Trails Your Horse Riding Holiday Experts

Family Horse Riding Holiday in South Africa

Ride Description:

The variety of horses and ponies, together with the plethora of children friendly fun activities such as Western games, cattle mustering, swimming with the horses, lessons and tailor-made outrides, makes this the perfect destination for families. Children from the age of 8 are welcome all year round, however we also run special options for family vacations when we will accept children of all ages.

We endeavour to tailor each family’s holiday experience and offer additional fun and challenging children friendly activities, which can be fun for the whole family.

Departure Dates – There are no fixed dates.

Prices – From £1485.00 Per Adult – From £1170 Per Child

Day 1 After a sumptuous lunch, ride out from the lodge and explore the private game reserve. This will be a gentle ride to acquaint horse or pony with rider and to adjust to the rhythm of the African bush. the many game species that could be encountered, for example, Zebra, Giraffe, Kudu, Impala, Eland, Hartebeest, Waterbuck, Hippo, Warthog, and other small antelope give a taste of what is in store for the rest of the holiday. As the African sun begins to set and the day draws to a close, enjoy a sundowner perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the peaceful veld.
Day 2 The morning ride can be split, with active and adventurous children trying their hand and riding talents at cattle mustering on the great ranch. Both challenging and fun, anyone who can ride really should have a go at being a cowboy at least once in their life! For the more sedate, the morning ride ventures across the ranch, through the traditional Sotho village, to the historic family homestead. Meet the children of the farm on a tour of the farm creche and school. For the afternoon ride, meander along the hippo pools in search of wildlife.
Day 3 Something completely different… Polocrosse! This fun and addictive game, which is a mixture of polo and lacrosse, is a wonderful way to engage the whole family. After a competitive and hilarious few hours, enjoy cooling ourselves and the horses in an unconventional way… swimming together, horse and rider, in the dam. After an exciting morning, the afternoon ride is more relaxed and visits Beadle, the farm community linked project and shop, where locals hand make exquisite beaded leather products, including browbands and made to measure riding chaps.
Day 4 Journey through the bushveld on horseback for the start of our wilderness safari. The following two days are spent exploring the bush and discovering it’s wildlife and secrets, from bushlore to medicinal plants. Away from the cell phones, sms’s, emails, computers and TV this is a wonderful experience for the whole family. It enables children to discover nature and it’s beauty and just to be children again. This night is spent at a bush camp along the banks of the Melk River.
Day 5 It is said that breakfast is the best meal of the day, and if it’s in the bush over a camp fire that is certainly true! The morning is spent exploring the bush on horseback and tracking some of the many antelope, giraffe and white rhino. After a picnic lunch and refreshing swim in the river we ride back to the ranch before sunset.
Day 6 For those who amy be feeling a little saddle sore, either a morning game drive on one of the few ‘Big 5′ game reserves in the area of an elephant back safari can be arranged. It may also be possible to squeeze a trip to the local town of Vaalwater to visit the local curio shop on the way back to the ranch. In the afternoon it is back in the saddle for a session of ‘Western Games’> Barrel Racing, Pole Bending and water carrying races will bring out the competitive spirits and test the whole families riding skills!
Day 7 A morning of EQ, a bushveld sport that involves not only orienteering across the expanse of the ranch, but also a set of challenges along the way such as river crossings and target shooting. It really is good fun for everyone and the entire family’s talents will be needed for this event. In the afternoon enjoy a wilderness ride in the reserve or a faster ride along some of the ranch’s kilometers of sandy tracks.
Day 8 Decipher the clues on this mounted treasure hunt and be rewarded with a champagne bush breakfast. This is followed by a short ride back to the lodge and another chance to swim with the horses. In the afternoon, ride out to the plain for a lost photograph of a zebra, giraffe, kudu or hippo.
Day 9 A chance to take your final favorite ride before saying a fond farewell to the horses, guides and ranch.