More about 8 Day/ 9 Night Horse Trail

Day 1: Arrival at Farm215 early afternoon

Day 2: Farm215 to Farm215 | 3-4 hours A half day ride to settle in and prepare for the days to come. Route is through the fynbos mountains, along the Kraaibosch dam, through Light canters along farm tracks take us back to Farm215.

Day 3: Farm215 to Baviaansfontyn- (Bodhi Khaya) | 6 hours Setting off through the Agulhas plain, we reach the coastline after 2 hours riding. We follow the coastline with long beach canters reaching the mountains behind Gansbaai. A steep climb up to Mount Dyer gives breathtaking views of the Uilkraalsrivier estuary, then a steady trot along the mountain top brings us to our place of descent into the Baviaansfontein valley and to our destination Bohdi Khaya

Day 4: Baviaansfontyn Meander.Overnight on Bodhi khaya |3-4 hours This ride is a circular route around Baviaansfontyn. Walking along mountain streams, passing by Milkwood and Afro-montane forest on the way to Flower valley. This valley is filled with vast fynbos and indigenous forests. It is home to a Unesco supported project for sustainable fynbos harvesting and education. Breathtaking views of the ocean and fynbos mountains. Ride can be done morning or afternoon.

Rest of the day is spent lounging, reading and eating in the wonderful valley of Bodhi Khaya. Or treat yourself to a massage. Here the stillness is all encompassing.

Day 5: Baviaansfontyn to Stanford River Lodge | 5 hours We will pass through Grootbos Fynbos Nature Reserve, famous as a botanical hot-spot. Before we reach De Kelders (Gansbaai – a fishing village) we will head west through the coastal shrubland and traverse the vast magical almost surreal sand drifts (Grys Dunes) of die Plaat. The mysterious landscape will give way to the beach. We ride through the Walker Bay Nature Reserve to the unspoilt white beaches of the Walker Bay whale sanctuary. This is arguably the best land based area in the world to watch Southern Right whales (whale watching capital of the world from June to December – whales and their calves often come within metres of the coastline). Admire these magnificent creatures and their ‘aquabatic’ displays, splashing, crashing and blowing, breaching, lobtailing, spyhopping and sailing close to shore.

Enjoy the long, sandy beaches and experience the thrill of beach gallops. Halfway to Hermanus, we turn into the D3wns and head for the Kleinriver and the oasis of Stanford. We sleep at Stanford River Lodge with time to swim and canoe in the river.

Day 6: Beach ride to lagoon mouth | 3-4 hours A day of some leisure. A Fast half day ride to the beach and down to the Kleinriver lagoon, a magnificent body of water with a beautiful backdrop of mountain and an abundance of birdlife. Coming back, we laze on the rivers edge , swim or take a canoe on the river, eat and replenish.

Day 7: Stanford River lodge to Farm215 | 7 hours This is the long day. A full 35km takes us back along the beach , through dunes and over 2 mountain ranges. Arriving back at Farm215 we ease the body with a swim, good food and some of the locally grown wines Lomond Wines