Wild Coast - South Africa

Linda who has been on 20 In The Saddle rides. Fantastic week-long trail ride along the stunning Wild Coast of South Africa | Expectations fully met. Our second visit to the Wild Coast - a longer trail this time. Julie Ann's horses are amazing, clearly very well loved and cared for, sure footed, fast when you want them to be, with brakes, and with the stamina to go for 30 - 40 kms a day and still be up for fast canters or gallops . The riding is varied and interesting (who knew horses could climb rocks?), fun and fast on the endless beaches, challenging at times when negotiating rivers and steep inclines inland and up and down to the beaches, relaxing to meander through the villages. I love the Leon Liversage trail saddles that are used - comfortable and secure. Troy is one of the best trail horses I have ever ridden. Guides Mel and Tertia worked extremely hard to look after all of us and made sure that everyone's needs were catered for. All done with a smile even on the day that rain peed down on us for 6 hours!! They were also very good hosts at meal times. Michelle provided great back up and was also a fun, cheerful companion at meal times.

Do you have any comments about the accommodation and food?

Julie Ann's hospitality at Squirrel's Nest at Kei Mouth was great - lovely food and wine on the first day. It was also nice for her to be with us at lunch on our last day. Accommodation was quite basic but overall we were satisfied - there is a need to lodge somewhere that the horses can also stay and there is limited accommodation in the area. Trennerys and Mazeppa Bay accommodation could do with some updating. Kobb Inn and Wavecrest had the best accommodation but the double bed at Wavecrest was rather small. The views from most were amazing and it was great to fall asleep to the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach. It would have been helpful if there had been more opportunity to dry our (very) wet clothes, boots and chaps - one lodge did offer to put clothes in the tumble dryer which was very welcome. Food varied in quality and it would have been nice to have more seafood - as we were right next to the sea!!

Do you have any other feedback for us?

We don't often do a return visit to a riding holiday location and the fact that this was our second visit to the Wild Coast shows how much we enjoyed it. May consider a third trip if the knees and hips don't give out completely!