Carriage Drives in South Africa is one of the fun things to do when visiting us. Where can I go for a carriage ride in SA?
Horse drawn carriages conjure images of Victorian England or the Wild West but in South Africa you can find a group of nomadic people-descendants of the bushmen- who still use this method of transport to criss-cross between the vast arid lands of the interior and the coast. These are the Karretjie people. They use donkeys to pull their Karretjies (carts) and have a…
Carriage Drives in South Africa is one of the fun things to do when visiting us. Where can I go for a carriage ride in SA?
Horse drawn carriages conjure images of Victorian England or the Wild West but in South Africa you can find a group of nomadic people-descendants of the bushmen- who still use this method of transport to criss-cross between the vast arid lands of the interior and the coast. These are the Karretjie people. They use donkeys to pull their Karretjies (carts) and have a rich tradition of storytelling.
Though proper coach horses like Percheron’s are now used for commercial offerings, the influence of the Karretjie people can be sensed in the way that many of the carriage drive excursions are accompanied by guides whose wealth of local knowledge is expressed in their colourful stories and friendly banter with passers-by.
Carriage Drives are offered in diverse locations across South Africa; from vibrant urban areas to tranquil country environments. Journey to the heart of South Africa’s political history with a carriage drive through the township of Soweto in Johannesburg, where your guide will introduce you to his neighbours and you’ll visit the house where Nelson Mandela lived from 1946 to 1962. A carriage drive is so much more inclusive than staring through the glass barrier of a tour bus. Take a gentle and relaxing horse drawn ramble through the fynbos covered foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains stopping at wine estates along the way. Breathe in the aromatic air from your perch in the back of a donkey cart as its pulled along the historic donkey trails of the breath-taking Cederberg Mountains. Experience the hustle and bustle of the mother city with a carriage drive through Cape Town-the horses hooves clip-clopping on the old cobblestone streets of the Malay Quarter.
With South Africa’s predominantly sunny weather, hospitable people, cultural richness and glorious scenery a carriage drive tour is the perfect way to explore and experience it all- up close and in comfort.
