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Equine Gap year Volunteering
Working / Horseback Riding Vacations in South Africa
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Horseback riding holidays
on South African career break as a riding volunteer at Cher-a-Don Mkulu Kei
Horse Trails & Riding Holidays, your best destination for equestrian gap
year experience working and riding horses both on the beach and safari adventures.
A combination of equine work and riding at a busy trail riding stable in a family
environment. A relaxed learning equestrian adventure in South Africa where your meals
and accommodation in our home. Experience the tranquil farm life in the Eastern Cape
South Africa, a diversity of experiences both equestrian and South African hospitality
while getting on the job experience working overseas. Ideal for the single traveller
to experience and learn about horses in a safe home to home experience.
If you are looking to book a equestrian tour
contact us and we can put together a range of equestrian experiences
both in game and on the beach to suit your requirements.
info@mkulukeihorsetrails.co.za
An equestrian working riding gap experience in South
Africa with Cher-a-Don Mkulu Kei horse trails and riding holidays. If you love
horses and are looking at traveling abroad, this is your work & travel,
affordable, riding volunteer exchange adventure.
Join us on a gap year or career break at Mkulu Kei
horse trails for your volunteer work holiday in South Africa. We are an
equine breeding stud and horse riding establishment, offering coastal
horse-riding trails, horseback trekking safaris at a private game farm,
shorter out rides to the public on the Morgan Bay beach, children's
pony camps and we use horses to teach life skills to youth caught for crimes
with our equine assisted learning program. Equine
Assisted Learning
A gap year working riding holiday program with lots
of horse riding on the beach at Morgan Bay, on the unpopulated beaches of
the South African Wild Coast and trail riding with Wildlife. On a working
riding holiday work with trained horses in the saddle, training foals on
the ground, and with the young horses, helping us back get them and get
them going under saddle.
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Equestrian students, pass on your equine knowledge by
teaching, guiding and helping our riding clients on the out rides and an
opportunity to transfer your skills to underprivileged local black children
in our development programme. During your working/gap holiday put your horse
riding and equine knowledge into practice and gain experience with sick or
injured horses and work with abused and rescued equines.
This is a "hands on" equine experience; no
hours of cleaning tack and mucking out stables get to the part of working
with horses and learn natural horse behaviour and "join up"
techniques. Volunteer work with horses at Mkulu Kei horse trails and you
could help lunging, halter training young horses, schooling in an outdoor
arena, ride through game or horse ride on the beach out ride helping clients.
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A great way to gain work experience for the equestrian
student or those interested in the tourism industry. On a gap year opportunity
for a few months or a full year working with our horses you will gain equine
experience, help teach and guide.
Volunteers while you are having fun riding horses on the
beach in the South African sun, playing with your horse in the sea: You are
giving an under privileged black child the chance to better their lives.
Your horse riding holiday daily rate helps to finance the development project. See riding development programme pages
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New Developments
What's new!
With Cher-a-Don Teambuilding Adventure Centre previously
Lalapanzi Adventure Centre horse back volunteers will get the chance to ride and
work with the horses both at the beach stable and experience horse riding trails
in the game. We can now accommodate non riding gap year placements helping with
the adventure activities at Cher-a-Don (Lalapanzi) Adventure Centre.
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A South African working riding holiday opportunity
on the Wild Coast, Eastern Cape. Mkulu Kei horse riding holidays a gap year
safari with lots of horse riding both in the game and on the beach. A very
affordable option of a holiday with horses and hours of riding on the beach.
Small groups of students, working and riding with horses of all ages. An
opportunity to see our holistic approach to horses and learn how to
communicate with horses and join up. And become involved in our Equine
Assisted Therapy at Cher-a-Don (Lalapanzi) Adventure Centre, using horses as a form of
therapy with kids in trouble with the law and at risk teenagers.
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See Equine Assisted Therapy/Learning
We can now accommodate non riding gap year
placements helping with the adventure activities at Cher-a-Don Teambuilding
& Adventure Centre previously know as Lalapanzi Adventure Centre.
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Cher-a-Don Adventure Centre
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Photos of Cher-a-Don (Lalapanzi) Adventure Centre
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Comments from Participants
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Adventure Volunteers
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Photos of Working Volunteers at Cher-a-Don
On a horse back riding holiday, learn equine skills
and use your equestrian knowledge to teach clients and underprivileged black
children to ride or get horse riding lessons. Work with rescued and abused
horses. Gain work experience for tourism and Hippo Therapy and other equine
related jobs on your gap year or career break.
Have a home base and network with South Africans to
extend your holiday in South Africa. A letter of reference on your completion
of your riding working holiday experience and the chance to join a
Wild Coast overnight trail at a substantially reduced rate.
Gap year adventure students can volunteer to help with
school and children groups at the adventure centre with activities, obstacle
course, abseiling and paintball and be involved with hiking and other eco
adventure tourism experiences.
Contact us by email for availability for your horse
riding adventure & working holiday. Tell us about yourself, your riding
capability, expectations and length of stay.
info@mkulukeihorsetrails.co.za
This is not a free horseback riding holiday, you
pay a small fee to enjoy our privileged life, learn from our horsemanship
techniques and gain equestrian experience.
See our
volunteer options and affordable daily rates. Volunteers Daily Rates
This is an adventure travel volunteer holiday, not
employment, without the paying volunteers we could not finance the development
project or be in the position to take in unwanted and injured horses.
Volunteers while you are having fun riding
horses on the beach in the South African sun, playing with your horse
in the sea: You are giving an under privileged black child the chance
to better their lives.
And become involved in our Equine Assisted Therapy at
Cher-a-Don Teambuilding Adventure Centre (Lalapanzi), using horses as a form
of therapy with kids in trouble with the law and at risk teenagers.
• See Equine Assisted Therapy/Learning
* Stay 7 days - one year. We try to accommodate you
with your overseas travel plans and have no fixed dates.
* Full board and lodging included in daily rate.
* Different options and gap year packages to suit you.
* Rates are calculated per DAY or part there of.
* No riding skills required through to advanced riders,
the best volunteer horse back destination.
* Rates include all meals, horse riding and shared
accommodation.
Join us on a horse adventure in South Africa from
one week to a full year, any volunteer may request to extend their stay
or change their daily rate at any stage by giving us 48 hour notice period.
If you are intending to stay for longer than 90 days,
it is worthwhile applying for a visa in your home country before you travel.
Volunteers on a working holiday may request to join
an existing over night trail at a quoted and reduced rate, as a second guide.
For those who are on a 6 months or more gap year, a
four-day overnight trail will be included in your daily rate.
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Working abroad with horses is a great way to see
the world without getting out of pocket, an affordable riding holiday.
See what our previous volunteers had to say. Volunteer Comments
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On a horse riding in Africa experience South Africa's sun,
sand and sea, riding on some of our awesome beaches. Blue sea and sky, sun and a
different lifestyle; experience the day-to-day life at a popular horse riding and
breeding farm. Established in 1998 with over 70 horses of all ages and offering trail
rides and out rides to the public. Cheryl having represented both Zimbabwe and South
Africa on a national and provincial level, is a qualified riding instructor, Friesian
Junior judge and qualified tourism guide invites you in to her home. Get out there and
travel, use your experience and qualifications and make your dream a reality at a busy
a trail-riding centre, riding everyday.
There are so many equestrian working riding holidays and vacations
worldwide, why choose us? |
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Read on to see which of our horse back riding holiday options
suits you, work out your travel dates and plans and contact us by email.
Mkulu Kei horse trails and safari riding exchange gap holiday
opportunity on the Wild Coast in South Africa. Volunteer with us you will not be just
a number, you become one of our family.
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We only invite 1 to 6 volunteers at a time, into our home,
to experience a personalised equine experience, a horse riding working holiday of
a lifetime. The gap year on a working horse riding establishment in Africa and
live your dream. No two days are the same and you can decide what kind of
experience you are looking for. Come during our government school holidays
and you are going to spend many hours in the saddle helping our riding clients,
alternatively come out of season and spend more time schooling horses in the
arena and working with younger horses. A combination of the two will give you
a good equine experience and plenty of time in and out the saddle. We cater for
all levels of horse riders from novice through to experienced, all that is
required is that you are an animal lover, a people person, enthusiastic and
willing to learn. |
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Horse riding gap volunteers on their working travel
vacation in South Africa will get the chance to work with horses of all
ages, ride, learn our natural horse training methods, holistic approach
and could witness a foal being born. This is your first choice in a gap
year volunteering work and travel holiday destination working with horses
and riding. Would you like to have a better relationship with a horse?
Improving the relationship starts with YOU! Your attitude, the way you
touch your horse and how you choose to communicate. Learn how with our
horse training methods.
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A personalized equine environment to be with
passionate, knowledgeable family at a popular riding establishment
and tourism destination. Tourism and equine students; enjoy an
African horse riding experience, South African hospitality, and good
conversation with like-minded people. An excellent opportunity to get
an intensive horse riding experience, learn our "join up"
procedure, natural and holistic approach to horses with lots of riding.
Be a part of our day-to-day care routine of the horses at a busy horse
trail company and riding stable. Help with our development project to
teach the local black children riding skills and the rehabilitation of
rescued and abused horses. With the added extra of a letter of reference
on your completion of your riding working holiday experience and the
chance to join a Wild Coast overnight trail at a substantially reduced
rate. |
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If you are passionate about horses and looking for
a fun and relaxed working gap riding holiday Mkulu Kei Horse Trails is
the one for you. The applicant will be in contact with our riding clients
and must have good people skills, be self-motivated and conscientious.
The riding we can help you with if you are not experienced. Why not join
us on a working riding adventure, a very economical way of enjoying a
riding holiday. By helping us care for the horses and assisting with
riding clients, you will have a superb horse-riding holiday at a fraction
of the rate of a trail client. By joining us on this program you will gain
practical knowledge of horse care and management in a holiday environment,
Mkulu Kei Horse trails is for you, the best of South African tourism. Don't
miss out; our horses are of high standard, our approach to teaching different,
the results of word of mouth extremely high. Being one of the few riding
stables where you can actually learn about horses and how to ride in an
informal environment our client base increases and more trained horses are
required to meet the demand. We need your help to maintain the quality of
our trail horses. Come and put your experience and your skills to good use
on your affordable gap year with horses for a few months or longer and gain
the most from a gap year.
Ever thought you would like to canter along a
beach, sun on your face, wind in your hair or play in the waves with
a horse?
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The sound of the horse's hoofs on the sand or
splash of the water will live with you forever. Combine your dream of
horse riding on the beach on a working holiday in South Africa.
Take a break from work or studies and join us
at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails. A voluntary gap year working with horses
with is us a great way to gain working experience in both the horse
and tourism industry. Although your main tasks will be working with
the horses there will be a lot of contact with our riding guests, a
great way for you to network with South Africans and form contacts
and open doors with people that you can extend your stay in South
Africa with. Applicants must have good people skills and an enthusiastic
outlook on life.
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We are based in a popular seaside town, Morgan
Bay and a high percentage of our riding guests are here on their beach
holiday from all over the country, giving you an opportunity not only
to meet new people but to experience our way of teaching clients how
to ride. Be a part of a busy stable yard and South African tourism
horse trail company. As a helper and second guide get the chance to
go horse riding on the beach and work with horses during your working
holiday abroad.
Organize
Contact us by email for availability for your horse
riding adventure & working holiday. Tell us about yourself, your riding
capability, expectations and length of stay.
info@mkulukeihorsetrails.co.za
This is not a free horseback riding holiday, you
pay a small fee to enjoy our privileged life, learn from our horsemanship
techniques and gain equestrian experience.
See our
volunteer options and affordable daily rates. Volunteers daily rates
This is an adventure travel volunteer holiday, not
employment, without the paying volunteers we could not finance the development
project or be in the position to take in unwanted and injured horses.
Volunteers while you are having fun riding
horses on the beach in the South African sun, playing with your horse
in the sea: You are giving an under privileged black child the chance
to better their lives.
And become involved in our Equine Assisted Therapy at
Cher-a-Don Adventure Centre, using horses as a form of therapy with kids in
• See Equine Assisted Therapy/Learning
Working gap/riding holiday, volunteer programs
with horses. Horse mad! Pony Nuts! Does that sound like you? Most of
us are born horse mad;
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Take a gap between studies or from the office
with our volunteer exchange program. Maybe you are looking at a career
working with horses or tourism? Burnt out and need a totally different
experience, a change in direction. Just want to work with horses outside
in the sun and experience a different culture?
At Mkulu Kei Horse Trails we offer you the opportunity
to work with different aged horses, pass on your knowledge to others by working
at a stud and riding stable. You will improve your knowledge, riding skills
and equestrianism experience and give you the chance to use your qualifications
and gain work experience. Students; this working safari riding gap experience
is for you. Maybe you never had the chance to ride and want to learn, on your
travel adventure we can give you an intensive learn to ride experience.
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Volunteer for a week or longer on a gap year holiday
and you could back youngsters, train green horses, school, lunge and exercise
going trail horses. Learn the day-to-day management of an equine establishment
at a riding school and become a second guide on day rides and experience an
overnight trail. Spend time teaching at the development project or giving riding
lessons, work with foals, abused and rescued horses. Each day is different, no
mucking out stables or endless cleaning of tack, get to the task of working with
the horses both in and out the saddle. Lots of good beach riding on quality horses
and awesome terrain.
While some of us get a chance to ride others never have the
privilege. |
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We would like to offer you the chance to pass on your knowledge
and love of riding to someone who has not had this experience.
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At Mkulu Kei Horse Trails we offer you the opportunity to
work abroad in Africa with different aged horses and ponies at a stud and riding
stable. We have numerous products. Day rides, overnight trails, kids pony camps,
pony rides, lessons and our development project, teaching the local black kids to
ride, help at the camps with "at risk" and troubled kids. You will get
to experience who we are and how our stable is different. We have a holistic
approach to our horses and use natural horsemanship techniques. Cheryl was determined
that she would pass on her equestrian knowledge to others, being one of the few trail
companies that actually teach the clients about Equus, horses and how to ride in an
informal environment. It is our aim to improve the lives of horses generally and if
we can explain how to communicate with horses their lives will be better. We aim to
encourage new riders giving them the basics of riding. |
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On our volunteer opportunities in Africa you will get to
work with foals, working horses, mares and stallions. Where else can you stand
with 21 stallions plus colts in a field as a bachelor herd and feel comfortable?
Or lie down and take a nap with a stallion in the field? Slid off a horses bum
or play follow my leader with kids through the horses legs?
Every day is different. Out of season,
we work more at home (Cher-a-Don) with the horses here on the ground, taking out
rides as and when the clients book but if you choose to join us in a high season
(school holidays) you are going to clock up the hours in the saddle, become a
second guide. Holidaymakers from the local hotels booking for day rides make up a
large proportion of our clientele. Each ride comes with its own dynamics. Our client's
riding abilities vary from beginners having their first try to advanced riders, kids
from 3 years though to 70 year olds, fat, thin and everything in between.
And you can get involved in the camps too.
We work every day Monday through to Monday with little to no
time off; it is a very physical job. However it is extremely rewarding. Each day comes
with its own challenges; learn people skills while assisting, encouraging and often
controlling the ride. Become a leader. Out of season there is time to
go to the beach or just chill.
Helping as an instructor with the development project is fun
work and in the long run the impact on the community will be noticeable. We are
looking for volunteers who want to make a lasting impression on the community; you
will get more than you give. We have taught lots of local underprivileged kids to
ride but four young Xhosa boys, September, Alex, October (nicknames) and Mussa are
extremely talented and we hope they will one day they ride for South Africa. They
are still young but already riding extremely well, and have developed leadership
skills. We are hoping to send September who has been riding with us since he was
six years old, and in a few years October, and later Mussa to jockey school to
further their riding skills and give them a career. Alex may be too tall to be a
jockey so we are looking at the tourism side as a guide or farrier. We believe
we can open doors and opportunities to help them make something of their lives.
You too can make a difference.
This is a Family Run Business and
it is Important to Note
It is a privilege that you are invited as a guest into our
lives and home. We have teenage daughters and their friends and ask you to respect
our home.
Due to the nature of tourism and working with animals
this is no 8-5 job! You could find yourself up early and working until late,
however it balances out, some days we just relax. Go to the beach, town or local
watering hole.
This is not a free holiday, you pay a small fee to
enjoy our privileged life, learn from our horsemanship techniques and gain
equestrian experience.
See our
volunteer options and affordable daily rates. Volunteers daily rates
And become involved in our Equine Assisted Therapy
at Cher-a-Don Adventure Centre, using horses as a form of therapy with kids
in trouble with the law and at risk teenagers.
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See Equine Assisted Therapy/Learning
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Volunteering is an affordable, inexpensive
holiday option; on each ride you are riding a horse that we could have used to earn
revenue. We have done alterations to the house to accommodate you plus there is your
living expenses to consider.
Without your extra pair of hands we would not have successfully
rehabilitated so many abused and neglected horses. It is time consuming to get their
trust and work through issues and they require constant reassuring and handling.
In the high season (school holidays) the
development project must be put on hold, although we invite a few boys to join the
ride depending on the level of ride.
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Please if you are not in a good place in your life and
need a totally different environment, need time to heal. Come but be honest with
us and don't choose the height of our busy season. We would like to help you
and have helped others in the past. One December a lady on anti depressants decided
she was well enough to stop taking her prescription, against her doctors and our
advice and crashed in the height of season impacting on her life and our business!
We are aware that volunteers on your working riding gap
vacation have different requirements and expectations so we are offering different
types of all-inclusive packages at different daily rates.
We try to accommodate you with your overseas travel plans
and have no fixed dates. You tell us which option suits you how long you wish to
stay and which dates. Send us an email. See contact details. Tell us about yourself,
your riding level, expectations, and future plans. Nothing-formal just chat. We can
then advise you when we have available space.
Experienced riders, those that can ride responsibly on their
own will benefit coming any time during the year while those who can't ride would
get the most out of coming during the school holidays. When we are teaching holiday
makers how to ride all day and everyday, your riding skills will improve dramatically
in a very short time. A great way to get horseback riding lessons in a fun and relaxed
atmosphere.
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Horseback riding students and volunteers will be allocated
tasks according to their riding ability. You could work in teams or as an individual on
different projects and could find yourself painting poles and jumps, grooming, halter
training foals through to backing youngsters, schooling going horses with potential,
jumping, helping with medical problems, working with abused and neglected horses,
pulling out foals, helping with teaching in the pony camp, help around the stable
and being a second guide / instructor. You will get lots of time to ride different
horses and you will get to ride horses on the beach regularly. No hours of
cleaning tack or mucking out stables.
Our weight limit restriction is 95 kg (210 lbs) and
you must be fit enough to ride, tack up and fetch horses from the field.
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Different Options to
Suit You
See our
volunteer options and affordable daily rates. Volunteers Daily Rates
For the volunteers who wants the full working with
horses experience or gap year. You must be keen to work, willing to try
anything, and looking to benefit from all that the Mkulu Kei Horse Trails
experience has to offer. These options are for the volunteer who is a good
rider and can work on his or her own without supervision through to a beginner
rider who is willing to learn. We do not expect you to know everything
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The riding volunteer will be allocated tasks according
to their equine experience. If you say you are a good rider we expect you to
be competent to school a horse without supervision and be comfortable enough
in the saddle to assist our clients as a guide. Willing to assist other volunteers
less competent in the saddle and interacting with our riding clients. We take
limited non riding volunteers at a time.
If there is work you are more than happy to help, any
hour, any day. You work with us and play with us and become part of our family
lifestyle. You will be given time off to just chill or visit the beach, local
watering hole etc. It is recommended that you have a valid drivers license.
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Daily rate includes accommodation and all meals with
us. Those who are on a 6 months plus gap year experience a four day overnight
trail will be included in your daily rate.
Please note: all suggestions on training etc
are taken seriously and we thank you for your interest. However we ask you
to respect that we can't change what is working and not to abuse our safety
rules when guiding.
And what better way to experience South Africa's beautiful
coastline than on the back of a horse...
Volunteers on a working holiday may request to join an
existing over night trail at a quoted and reduced rate, as a second guide.
You will be required to assist on trail where needed, with feeding, grooming and
generally as a second pair of hands. The quoted trail daily rate must be paid prior
to departure. Please don't tell us the day the trail starts, we need to book and
pay the hotels prior to departing.
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However should we require and approach you as a guide on an
safari trek either as backup in the vehicle or riding guide, your equine trail
vacation will be included in your daily rate.
This invitation extends only to volunteers that in our
opinion are an asset to Mkulu Kei Horse Trails, our name, and who we are. It
is a bonus not to be expected. The invitation would not necessary be the best
rider but the volunteer who would be the most helpful on trail. Those who are
on a 6 months plus gap year experience a 4 day over night trail will be included
in your daily rate.
Booking Essential
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Tel/Fax: (+27) 043 841 1525
Cell: 083 632 7298
Contact Cheryl with your enquiries.
E-mail:
info@mkulukeihorsetrails.co.za
A horse ride through sub-tropical coastal hills and riverines
to the beaches of the Wild Coast in South Africa, a horse working exchange holiday,
with so much more. Mkulu Kei Horse Trails a riding exchange gap holiday opportunity
on the Wild Coast in South Africa. Volunteer with us you will not be just a number,
you become one of our family.
Come Ride with Us ...
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...and you will see rolling hills, rich Savannah grasslands
and thick-forested valleys with multitudes of rivulets cascading down to rivers that
eventually spill out onto quiet sandy beaches, fantastic high rise cliffs and
spectacular rock formations that make the Wild Coast in South Africa one of the most
beautiful places in the world. An incredible combination of cross-country horse riding
and the exploration of our beautiful coastline.
We at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails, the two and the four legged would
like to say a big Thank you to all our guests for sending us their horse trekking photos,
these are your volunteer working riding holiday memories. Thank You. Cheryl
See you in the saddle soon!
Contact Details:
P.O. Box 25, Haga Haga 5272,
Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Tel/Fax: +27 (0) 43 841 1525 A/H
Fax: 086 523 8259
Cell: +27 (0) 83 632 7298
Skype: cheryl.giacchetti
E-mail:
info@mkulukeihorsetrails.co.za
During the day please contact us
on the cell, we are probably horsing around. Signal can
be irregular, if you cannot get through please leave a message or phone us on the
landline in the evenings. Thanks |
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