Howard Krut is the founder and manager of the African Horse Company whose ethic is to offer an opportunity to experience the horse in its role of travelling partner and friend. The African Horse Company works together with nature reserves and private landowners, allowing unique access on horseback to some of the most beautiful stretches of nature in the Cape, unknown and undiscovered even by local people.

Journey into the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom -the smallest, richest and also the most threatened of the world's six floral kingdoms - an ecological hotspot of global importance at the southern-most tip of Africa.

The Southern Overberg like most areas of the Cape Floristic Region, has a rich flora - estimated at about 2500 species. About 300 of these are restricted to the area - grow here and nowhere else in the world, i.e. endemic - many occurring in very small and scattered populations. Such concentration of endemic plants is without parallel, not only elsewhere in the Cape Floristic Region, but in the world.

This a ride for fit, confident and adventurous riders who have a good trusting relationship with horses. Riders should be aged 15 years or over. The terrain covered on long rides includes steep mountain ascents and descents and the need to dismount at set locations to walk horses over difficult ground.
Fitness, good health, a sense of humour, spirit of adventure and experience in horse riding and dealing with horses is essential. You need not be a professional dressage rider or show jumper but should really feel very much at ease on the back of a trotting, cantering and galloping horse, have a tough mind and sense of humour.

The horses used are South African crossbreeds, mixing Boerperd, Arab, Saddler and Friesan bloodlines. The African Horse Company's horses range freely as a herd and are fully adapted to the environment with regard to grazing, weather and terrain. The horses are noted for their endurance and sure footing; these horses are the ideal partner and friend for extended trails.

There will be rock pools to explore, mountain trails to discover and waterfalls, fields of flowering fynbos and emerald forests, and a myriad of bird and animal life to observe in the mountains, coastal river and estuarine habitats.

Some of the animals you could encounter: whales, blue cranes, ostriches, baboons, porcupines, klipspringers, grysbok, steenbok, snakes, tortoises, black eagles, steppe buzzards, jackal buzzards, Cape sugarbirds, sunbirds, ground woodpeckers, African jackass penguins, pelicans, spoon-bills, herons, flamingos, yellow- billed ducks, Egyptian geese, egrets, common terns, plovers, sandpipers, endangered African oystercatchers, coots, white-breasted reed cormorants and the pied kingfishers. The area abounds with birding 'hotspots' and birders will delight in the many special and endemic birds.

Living in the richest plant kingdom on Earth is a privilege, Many of the fynbos flowers are so delicate and small that one will only see them when looking carefully. For those who love flowers, there are: proteas, ericas and many other fascinating fynbos species. Peak flowering time is in spring (September and October) but there are different plants in flower throughout the year. Many of the many protea species flower during the winter months (June, July and August). There are bulbs or geophytes, wiry evergreen grass-like plants known as restioids. There are shrubs called ericoids with hard, small and often tightly rolled leaves. The area has the highest diversity of buchus (citrus family - Rutaceae) anywhere in the world and there will be lots of lovely smells to accompany you on the trails.

Day 0 - Arrival at Mosaic Farm: You will spend the first night here and get to meet and know your horse, the route and fellow riders.

Day 1 - Mosaic farm to Farm 215:Ride along perfect white beaches of the Walker Bay conservancy and whale sanctuary which is arguably the best land based area in the world to watch whales (whale watching capital of the world from May to December - whales and their calves often come within metres of the coastline).
Enjoy the sandy beaches and experience the thrill of beach riding. Just before De Kelders the coastline gets rougher with rocky beaches and awesome cliffs which flatten out onto sandy stretches of die Plat.
We pass along the vineyards and enter "Hartebeeskloof", part of the fynbos reserve of Farm 215, where we will unsaddle and enjoy the farm's hospitality for the night.

Day 2 - Farm 215 to Buffeljagsrvier: We ride down from Hartebeeskloof into the lowland and limestone fynbos of Heidehof and Avilla, situated in the Rooi Strandveld, and ride towards the sea. Reach the coast just before lunch, passing Pearly Beach. We continue along the coast to Buffelsjagsrivier for the overnight stop right on the coast.
Buffeljagsrivier is a municipal camp site right on the coast where we will rest in a little simple cottage and caterers from nearby communities will treat us to local flavours and cuisine.

Day 3 - Buffelsjagsrivier to Renosterkop: We head along the coast via Die Dam along the beautiful coastline on our way south towards the southernmost tip of Africa. We ride in the Agulhas Plain in the Agulhas National Park.
We will be staying at Renosterkop, one of the oldest historic buildings found in the area. Meals will be prepared around the open fire, usually "braai" or "potjiekos" typically South African and often a surprise. Enjoy campfire, potjiekos and stories….

Day 4 - Renosterkop to tip of Africa and back: We will visit the southernmost tip of Africa. Despite the number of places called "Two Oceans" in Cape Town, the residents of Agulhas will be quick to assure you that the mighty Indian and Atlantic oceans do indeed meet at the Southern Tip of the African continent at Cape Agulhas, and not in Cape Town.

Day 5 - Renosterkop to the Ratelrivier farm: We will continue exploring the Agulhas Plain, leave our camp at Renosterkop and make our way to the historic ruins at Rietfontein for lunch.
Afterlunch we continue towards Ratelrivier where we will spend the night at one of the oldest farms in the Overberg Strandveld. A limestone mansion and luxurious stables tell a story of "gracious and extravagant living".

Day 6 - Ratelivier to Koudeberg valley: After days on the coast and exploring the coastal lowlands we will experience unspoilt mountain fynbos and spectacular views. We will traverse Groot Hagelkraal and ride past spectacular limestone cliffs. We will move through farms and nature reserves and pass by the rural sleepy village of Baardskeerdersbos. From Baardskeederbos we traverse kloofs and gullies of the Koudeberge, making our way to the Palmietberg and climbing to Perdekop. A slow descent brings us past the Koudeberg-dam to our resting place in the Koudeberg Valley: a renovated house, beautifully nestled in its own rocky outcrop.

Day 7 - Koudeberg valley back to MosaicFrom Koudeberg we make our way through protea and fynbos plantations via the hilltops overlooking the wide Valley of the Uilkraalsrivier with its green meadows. We cross the Uilkraalsrivier and climb the kloofs to "Witvoetskloof" and onwards to "the Downs". From there we head back to the coast, with the possibility of seeing whales again; and move along the Klein Rivier and Hermanus lagoon where we might see flamingos. From the Hermanus lagoon we return to Mosaic Farm.

In case you do not want to return home the same day, you can enjoy a good meal and spend another night on the Mosaic farm before you bid your friends goodbye and make arrangements to comeback for more "horse play".

We are not liable for any loss, damage or injury on your side; your travel insurance should include accident, health cover and emergency rescue. We will require you to sign an indemnity form. If rider is under 21 year of age, a parent or legal guardian will need to sign the indemnity form.

Please Note:Terms and conditions apply. We reserve the right to change prices if necessary.