Bhangazi Horse Safaris

We are a Horseback Safari Company operating in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in Zululand, South Africa. This is an incredible corner of Africa, so fantastic it is a classified UNESCO World Heritage Area. The Park covers a mosaic of landforms that have created a vast array of biomes to support a very wide variety of animals, plants and birds.

We have the highest bird count in all of Africa, the southern-most breeding spots for turtles in Africa, Africa's tallest forested dunes, the largest remaining stands of sand forest, the biggest peat beds in the Southern Hemisphere and vast wetlands.... and all of this runs alongside 220 kilometers of pristine beaches and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, where turtles nest, whales often pass on their way to breed just a little further north in Mozambique and dolphins play in the surf.

True Horse Safaris

This is a completely luxurious safari. The tents are large old style colonial tents with headboards for storage and a kist at the end of each bed to put your bag on. There are kilims over the tent base and large screened windows along each side to let in light and views. The front tent flaps also roll back to hook at the sides to give an even wider view. The beds are made up with pristine beautiful heavy white cotton linen, duvets and pillows and covered with soft cotton spreads. Big, thick fluffy towels are at the ready too. Each tent has a verandah with canvas chairs in which to relax and watch the bush go past.

Shampoo, body lotion, shower gel, soap, mosquito repellent and torches are supplied. There is a zippered door between the main bedroom and the en-suite bathroom. The bathroom is roofed and private but partially open so you can still gaze at the trees while you shower. A bucket shower can be filled with hot water whenever required. The bathroom has a chemical toilet which can be augmented by the 'long drop loo' during the day.

The food is sumptuous and of a world class standard. We use as much local produce as we can source and often use local seafood as well. Meals are served with silver and crystal, beautiful cloths and napkins and at night the table and mess tent are candlelit. We supply a range of spirits and a choice of different varietals of South African wines.

Adventure Horse Safaris

A simpler safari, great for families or for backpackers or those who just like it a little more rustic. This is a basic but comfortable safari. Accommodation is in large (3m x 3m) dome tents with beds and all linen and towels are included. The toilet facilities are a shared bucket shower area and a "long drop loo". Hot showers are available whenever anyone asks. The food is good simple fare and we use as much fresh local produce as we can source. For the drinks inclusive safaris we have a choice of white and red South African wines and local beer. The usual array of soft drinks is also on ice.

Horse Safaris - Daily Rides

For novices or 'old hands' there are few places in the world you can ride in an area as unspoilt or beautiful as this. From the edge of the Indian Ocean to the shores of St Lucia Estuary there are many things to discover on every ride.

Beach Rides

We take the horses out along Iphiva Beach at the northern end of St Lucia where there are many kilometres of clean white sand with the Indian Ocean rolling in alongside. During the whale season (May-Nov) we sometimes see humpbacks breaching out in the deeper water on their way to the breeding grounds in Mozambique and from Nov to March we search for the tracks of turtles who dug their nests above the high tide mark in the warm sand the night before. The rest of the year we have to make do with dolphins playing in the surf or just the amazing views along the beach to the highest forested dunes in Africa.

Our beach rides are low tide dependent so we can ride on the hard sand and so neither damage anything living in the soft sand nor possibly harm the horses.

Game Rides

Our game rides begin at the Iphiva Campsite in St Lucia and ride in the Nature Reserve on the southern end of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Here we often see zebra, wildebeest, bushbuck, warthog, duiker and impala while riding. This is the perfect start for a novice as it a gentle ride with lots of interest along the way. On the Beach and Reserve rides we cannot take riders less than 8 years of age or over 100kg.

WHERE: iSimangaliso Wetland Park in Zululand