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South Africa Horse Riding Holiday

Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures has five beautiful horses and access to a coastal reserve with breathtaking scenery, beaches, lagoons and ancient dune forest in Chintsa West in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

The little farm of 7 hectares ensures a private and peaceful stay in nature away from traffic and crowds with views over the stunning Indian Ocean

They only take one booking at a time, with a maximum of three riders per booking. This ensures that you, as an individual or private group, are guaranteed personalized attention and an itinerary that suits your riding ability and fitness level.

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced rider, they can create a safe and exciting riding experience and a bespoke menu that suits your dietary requirements. Non-riders welcome.

Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures also offers several additional activities as part of the package, from craft work such as horse archery bow making to adventure activities such as canoe paddling and surfing, as well as social volunteering at our farm school or local soup kitchen.

You can create a holiday that suits your needs as you control the activities. Come and unwind and adventure!

Key information

  • Maximum rider weight: 90kg
  • Horse Height Range: 14 to 16 hands
  • Horse breeds: Thoroughbred called Dollar. A Percheron cross called Snow, a Nooitgedacht cross Boerperd called Pablo, a Friesian called Sabrina, and an American Saddler called Pepe.
  • Saddles: English general purpose, trail riding, enduro racing, treeless and Australian stock saddles are available.

Meet the instructors

Thomas
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Highlights

  • 1-3 hours on horseback per day (a morning and evening session possible)
  • Guitar or ukulele lessons
  • Woodwork, and leatherwork, archery
  • Water sports in nearby beaches and lagoons: Surfing, canoeing
  • Volunteering with children in need
  • Workouts, yoga, and tennis
  • 14 nights accommodation + Kitchens for all accommodations will be fully stocked with groceries and kitchen equipment. Dietary preferences can be discussed upon booking. All ingredients are fresh and. Additional drinks and snacks can be purchased separately.
  • Transfers to and from the airport, transport around town

Skill level

  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced

Styles


11 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: Afrikaans, German
Airport transfer included: East London Airport
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Accommodation

Check-in Time:
13:00
Check-out Time:
11:00

You will stay most of the nights at Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Center and camp one night at double night game reserve. This camp does not include horses.

Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Center

All accommodations on the farm have beautiful views, comfortable furniture and kitchen equipment. There is a vast amount of nature visible directly outside, including monkeys, African birds and black pigs.

Horse cottage

This small cottage overlooks the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by indigenous bush. It can have a double bed or two singles. A family of three can be accommodated on request. It has a shower and a hygienic compost toilet. The compost toilets ensure efficient water use as they harvest rain as the primary source. It has a kitchenette with a cooker, fridge, and air fryer. There is free Wi-Fi. Can accommodate a maximum of 3 people.

The compost toilets ensure efficient water use as you are on the property and are incredibly precious. The cabin has a kitchenette with a cooker, an air-fryer, and a fridge so guests can make hot drinks and keep food fresh. For those guests who would prefer the self-catering option, the kitchen is well-equipped with the basics for cooking.

Ocean view cottage

Our accommodation is clean, peaceful, and tranquil, with the most amazing ocean view from the deck. It has two spacious bedrooms, a kitchen/lounge, a toilet, and a shower. This property has solar backup to get it through load shedding. It is well furnished, with a comfortable recliner. We also have a "snooza," which is a table that turns into a mattress if you would like your small children to sleep in your room. The kitchen is equipped with a Gas Hob, an air fryer, a microwave, and a fridge-freezer. A home help can wash laundry in the host’s washing machine. A Smart TV is available the living room with Netflix, Showmax, Amazon or Youtube. You will be provided unlimited free Wi-Fi, and you can also mirror your laptop or Wi-Fi on the Smart TV.

The beds are very comfortable. The bathroom is attached to the main bedroom and has only a shower basin and toilet. Extra bedding and towels are provided. Can accommodate a maximum of 4 people.

Guava Tree cottage

The house has a solar system, so load shedding will not be a problem. This accommodation is clean, peaceful, and tranquil, with the most amazing ocean view from the deck, living room, kitchen, and main bedroom. We've added a built-in barbecue, a solar-heated splash pool, a sauna, and a Jacuzzi on the deck so you can relax and enjoy the stunning views of the surroundings. The 60m2 covered patio is equipped with a vast wooden table seating 12 people with braai facilities, and there's a carport for shade for your car. Comfortable recliners & a sofa bed that turns into a double bed. There's also a couch bed that can be turned into a baby bed with railings. Two "snoozas" are tables turning into mattresses if you want your small children to sleep in your room. The kitchen has everything you need, including a dishwasher, washing machine, and microwave. There's an electric double oven and gas hob. We have a Smart TV in the living room, a satellite dish for DSTV and an Open view. We provide unlimited free Wi-Fi, with Netflix, Amazon, Showmax, or YouTube. You can also mirror your laptop or Wi-Fi on the Smart TV. The beds are very comfortable, and the house is accessible to people with disabilities. Can accommodate a maximum of 6 people.

Program

This riding holiday can be tailored to your level of fitness and experience. If you are a nervous beginner, Thomas Muller can help you learn good technique and build confidence. The holiday can aim to give a newnew rider an experience of all aspects of working with horses, from training and riding horses to grooming, health care and tack maintenance. If you are experienced, some exciting riding in beautiful areas can be arranged as well as sporting or social activities. One group is booked at a time so that you can create a holiday experience that is meaningful and comfortable specially for you. The holiday allows you to visit a small farm in South Africa and experience all aspects of farm life.

You can choose to help work on the farm, from training and riding the horses to fixing fences and clearing bush for grazing. We live near the Indian Ocean and some beautiful saltwater lagoons, so surfing, standup paddle boarding, canoeing, and hiking on the beach are very much part of our lives. Thomas Muller has vegetable gardens to tend and trees to plant. They have chickens to tend, eggs to collect, and maintenance work. Your goal is to ride five days per week. As the horse's well-being is paramount, you alternate heavy riding days, such as 25 kilometres outrides, with light schooling days and two days of rest per week.

In the interests of safety, your guide will have the final call on all riding activities, and all riders will ride with a guide in attendance. As only one group or individual will be booked on a working horse program at a time, you will have complete control over the type of riding you do and the length of the rides. They currently have five horses and only book three riders at a time. This leaves one horse spare if one goes lame or becomes sick. However, if any non-riders in the group want to tag along, please inform them, and they can make plans.

There are two rest days per week for you and the horses, and if all you want to do is help feed the horses and enjoy the beautiful scenery from a hammock, please feel free to do so. You will be their honoured guest, and you must leave them with fond memories, feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on life's challenges. In addition, there is a farm school, Acaciatree Nursery School, with beautiful children hungry for love and attention and teachers who could use a little help.

They have a local surf club, always happy to have extra eyes in the water, and a local soup kitchen feeding hungry kids daily. You will have control over how much work you think you can manage and the type of work that is interesting and meaningful to you. So if you want a real experience of South African culture and life, at a sensible price, please consider this option. They will be happy to transport you to other social enterprises and help you access activities such as surfing lessons or game drives, but these will be at your own expense.

Saying this, they have a stock of surfboards, stand-up paddle boards, and boats available if you want to use them for free. The maximum rider weight is 95 kilograms. No rider will be allowed to ride if over this weight. The schedule is an example only. It will need to be flexible to take into account the tides and weather, as well as the needs of the horses and the guests.

The guests choose additional activities in consultation with the guide, which range from craft activities, art, and yoga to surfing, hiking, and game drives. Each booking is private so that you will have complete control over the type and length of the ride and the additional activities for your group.

Horse riding

They enjoy riding in the local environment and practice, jumping, basic dressage, barrel racing, and horse archery. The main instructor supervises all riding activities. Thomas Muller will instruct you to develop good riding techniques to make you and the horse safe and comfortable.

They also camp with the horses on the "Emerald Vale" farm about 15 kilometres away. This is a beautiful farm with a brewery and restaurant. The campsite is extremely basic but is in a lovely spot near a dam. They trim their horse's feet themselves and are happy to teach the basics of this very useful skill.

Volunteer at the little farm Waldorf School

It is customary to donate to NPO organizations when one visits. The amount of money does not matter, but the gesture of support is always appreciated.

Visit Chintsa East Soup Kitchen

This community-based organization feeds children who otherwise would not eat (donation appreciated).

Daily itinerary

Day 1: Arrival day

Pick up from the airport. Settle into accommodation. Meet the horses. Supper around 6:00 p.m.

Day 2

A short warmup follows breakfast. The horses are groomed and tacked up. A rider evaluation confirms the skill level and matches the horse to the rider. A short out ride to get a feel for the horses. Lunch at 1:00 p.m. In the afternoon, on the beach, you relax or swim to rest after your flight.

Day 3

Early breakfast and warmup before grooming and tacking up horses. A 30-minute schooling session to strengthen horses' backs and then a six-kilometer outride through farmland. Untack horses and wash them down. The rest of the morning is off. Lunch at 1:00 p.m. At 4:00 p.m., stand-up paddle boarding on the lagoon to see the beautiful Chintsa river mouth. Supper at 6:00 p.m.

Day 4

Breakfast and warm up. Tack up the horses and ride down to the Beach. Explore the Chintsa breach and have a little canter on the sand. Lunch at 1:00 p.m. At 3:00 p.m., visit the arena to see Abby, the tame giraffe. Supper at 6:00 p.m.

Day 5

Breakfast and warmup. Groom and tack up the horses. A long outride on the beach past two beautiful lagoons and up into the farmland on the other side of the bay. A picnic lunch and a ride back to the stables. This is a 25-kilometer ride, around four hours. Afternoon off and supper at 6:00 p.m. Visit Buccaneers on the beach for a drink in the evening.

Day 6

Breakfast and warm up. It was an easy day for the horses after a long ride the day before. Feed, tack up, short lunge, and schooling session. Drive into Town for supplies and visit the Aquarium - lunch in Town and home mid-afternoon. Free time. Supper at 6:00 p.m.

Day 7: Rest day

Rest your tired legs and give the horses a chance to recover. Go on a game drive or hike for bird watching or surfing in the fantastic ocean.

Day 8: Rest day

Visit Acacia Tree Nursery School in the morning to meet the teacher and kids, participate in activities, paint a mug, or relax. In the afternoon, visit Hey Clay to paint a mug or just relax.

Day 9

Early breakfast and warm up. Pack and prepare for the two-day horse camp. Ride out to Emerald Valley campsite, which is also a farm and Brewery. This is around a four-hour ride. Have a picnic lunch while riding. Set up camp and enjoy the beautiful nature there. There is a dam and lots of birds. Cook on the fire and sleep well.

Day 10

Up early, breakfast, and take down camp. Ride back to the home stables, tired but happy. Afternoon off to recover or go to the beach to swim or surf to wash the dust out of your hair. Supper at 6:00 p.m.

Day 11: Rest day

After the ride to Emerald Valley, you and the horses will need a day's rest. Thomas Muller can arrange an outing or a craft project for this day.

Day 12

Breakfast and warmup are at 7:00 a.m. Afterward, feed the horses and ride to the Beach and the Cefani River mouth. This ride takes about three hours. Lunch is at 1:00 p.m. In the afternoon, go canoeing on the Kwalega River. Supper at 6:00 p.m.

Day 13

It is a leisurely morning: breakfast at a.m. and warmup. The horses will be tired from the Emerald Valleyle ride, so take a nap, take a quiet ride to the Beach, play in the lagoon, and let the horses roll in the sand. Let them graze at Buccaneers on the beach, then back to the stable, and have lunch and supper.

Day 14

Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and warm up. Tack up horses and do some jumping. Walk down to the beach for a surf swim or canoe. Lunch at 11:00 pm. In the afternoon, lunge and jump the horses again - this is a short session. Finish any craft projects that have been started earlier in the week. Supper at 6:00 p.m.

Day 15: Departure day

Sadly, it is time to pack up and leave for the airport. One last kiss for the horses, and you will be on your way. If your departure time is in the afternoon, you may want to take a short ride. Airport transfer is included in the price.

Included excursions

You will hike along a beautiful coast and visit Double Mouth Nature Reserve.

Instructors

Thomas Muller

Location

The tour will take place in South Africa. Tom and Tori’s horse holidays occur at a small farm in Chintsa West, 30 kilometers outside East London in the Eastern Cape. The beautiful rustic location is situated in the African bush, a mere 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the beach, and overlooks the Indian Ocean. The Xhosa word Chintsa is the name of the River that flows into the sea at this location. The Chintsa River has a tidal lagoon. At times, it is linked to the open ocean; at other times, it is closed off with a sand bar, creating a unique saltwater environment.

The lagoon has many living creatures, from mud prawns and crabs to Kingfishers and Fish eagles. As is customary in this area, the land surrounding the river banks is given the river's name. In this case, it is Chintsa West and Chintsa East (historically Cintsa). The lagoon opens onto a sandy beach over 10 kilometers long, lined with dunes and ancient dune forests, and is perfect for swimming, surfing, hiking, and kitesurfing.

If one walks or rides along this beach towards the northeast, you will encounter three more lagoons, each one more pristine than the last, until you reach the rocks before Haga Haga. A coastal natural reserve protects the coastal dunes and beaches. They have a very good golf course nearby (Olivewood Golf Estate) and several small game reserves (INKEWNKEWZI and ARENA), where you can view wild animals.

Food

The option for all meals to be included is available, alternatively you can choose the self-cater option. Thomas Muller prepares the meals on the farm. Catering can be adjusted to most tastes and dietary preferences so the menu will be designed in consultation with the guests. Additional drinks and snacks can be purchased separately.

The following meals are included:

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Drinks

The following drinks are included:

  • Water
  • Coffee
  • Tea

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
  • Seafood
  • Whole food
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

  • Golf
  • Game drives
  • Giraffe interaction
  • East London Aquarium
  • Lion Park
  • Snake Park

Thomas Muller also has a small farm school, Acaciatree Nursery School, and guests are welcome to spend as much time as they like at the school. Meet the kids and help the teachers. There are other social initiatives in the area and they are happy to transport you to visit them such as a surf club and a soup kitchen.

What's included

  • 14 nights accommodation
  • All transfers to and from the airport or bus station
  • All transport in and around East London for activities
  • All visits to charitable organisations
  • Three meals a day (menu to be discussed on booking) or self-cater
  • Horse riding and horse interaction + horse archery
  • Volunteer at the little farm Waldorf School (note: it is customary to make a donation to NPO organizations when one visits. The amount of money does not matter but the gesture of support is always appreciated)
  • Visit Chintsa East Soup Kitchen - This community based organization feeds children that would otherwise not eat (donation appreciated)
  • An early morning work out session that is tailored to your specific needs to prepare for a day of horse riding
  • Guitar or ukulele lessons
  • Woodwork such as wood carving or bow making
  • Leather work: Making bridles and halters
  • Tennis
  • Surfing and stand up paddle boarding
  • Canoeing
  • Beach visits
  • Hiking along the beautiful coast
  • Visit to Double Mouth Nature Reserve
  • Overnight camping Emerald Vale

What's not included

  • Airfare
  • Alcohol
  • Visits to local game reserves
  • Powerboat rides
  • Golf
  • Any activity that requires Thomas Muller to hire an outside provider
  • All riders must carry health or travel insurance covering horse riding

How to get there

Recommended Airports

Driving directions

Look up Tom and Tori Hoers and Heart in Google Maps. Once you are on London RD, going to Chintsa West, we have a sign on the left side of the road. We also have a wooden Gate.

Airport: East London Airport Airport transfer included: East London Airport No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

  • A reservation requires a deposit of 21% of the total price.
  • The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
  • The rest of the payment should be paid 7 days before arrival.

Value for money
Accommodation & facilities
Food
Location
Quality of activity
15 days / 14 nights
from --

Important information

All riders must have their own travel insurance that covers horse riding.

A group can be up to three riders booking together. Each group is private and will completely control the type of riding and the additional activities. Discounts are available for bookings of 2+ people.

Pricing information

Horse & Ocean View cottage - 1 person: 36150 ZAR

Guava tree cottage -  1 person: 40150 ZAR

 

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