1-Day Ride from Mzamba, Port Edward

The trail begins at Mzamba Craft Centre, where visitors meet their guide. After a 2.5km stroll down the beach, the group arrives at Mzamba River, the starting point of the horse trail. Here the local ferry canoe operator energetically paddles visitors across the river to the horses on the other side. Of particular interest in this area are the Mzamba fossil deposits. Long regarded as a palaeontologist's treasure, the site is specially protected and includes spectacular examples of giant clams, ammonites and massive petrified trees.

After crossing the Mzamba River, visitors mount their horses and the group heads south along the beach. The coastline is dominated by sweeping bays bounded by lush coastal dune forests. After 3km, riders reach the winding Mpahlana and Mpahlayana estuaries, where a stop can be made to examine more fossilised crustaceous deposits - and to take a swim.

From here the trail heads inland through dense coastal forest and into rolling grasslands. Mud huts nestled neatly into the landscape mark the land of the AmaPondo, a people renowned for their hospitality and whose lifestyle has remained largely unchanged for the last century.

After about 4km the party reaches the destination of the days ride - a series of spectacular waterfalls and natural pools with crystal clear waters that are ideal for swimming.

The return trip can be varied according to visitors' energy levels - either taking the shorter route back to Mphahlana, or a more lengthy route via Mnyameni river mouth, before riding the 7km back to the Mzamba River along the beach.

Wild Coast Community Tourism Initiative

Postal Address: PO Box 18171, Quigney 5211, South Africa

Physical Address: Tourism Centre, Eastern Cape Tourist Board, Quigney, East London 5211, South Africa

Telephone: +27 43 7222203
Fax: +27 43 7222219
info@wildcoast.org.za