This post is the 3rd Part of our Grootbos Family Adventure! As I mentioned a great location and good service is definitively important, when selecting a travel destination but as important, when travelling with a family, are age appropriate activities! There is nothing worse than a bored child!

One of the great things about Grootbos is that they offer a host of great activities, which appeal to guests of all ages, from exploring the natural wonders of the reserve, to beauty treatments, horse riding, exploring the caves at De Kelders as well as the more extreme activities like shark cage diving!

When I mentioned the prospect of visiting Grootbos, my girls had quite a few questions! They wanted to know where Grootbos was, what the accommodation was like and what activities they offered! They are not fussy at all, I promise Well at the mere mention of Grootbos offering Horse Riding, the girls were sold! What I have come to realise, with both my girls, is that when they are around horses the outside world is forgotten! No thought is given to the internet, playing computers games or watching TV! They are totally in their element, it is their happy place if you like, something every parent wishes for:)

When we arrived, at Grootbos, on Friday the girls wasted no time at all booking themselves a horse ride, for the Saturday afternoon. They both love horse riding and could not wait to get down to the stables to meet the horses!

“The 2500-hectare Grootbos Nature Reserve provides excellent opportunities for Horse Riding. Grootbos has its own stables with 20 well-trained horses. Experience the beauty of the fynbos from horseback, surrounded by the flowers and birds unique to the mountains of the Cape Coast. To expand the horse riding experience at Grootbos we are now also offering 3-hour beach horse riding excursions to the Walker Bay Nature Reserve.” ~ Grootbos

On Saturday after a pamper session at the Spa and a scrumptious lunch we made our way down to the stables, where we were greeted by Sam, who runs the stables. After signing the necessary paper work, the girls were fitted with their riding hats and introduced to the horses, that they would be riding.

We opted not to join them on the ride and felt completely confident leaving them in Sam’s capable hands. We went off to enjoy a glass of bubbly for some quality alone time.

“When I went to Grootbos we went for horse rides. I rode Dapper and Presence. Dapper was cute but naughty and Presence was older but he had a lot of energy! Sam who runs the stable was very nice and she loves horses just as much as I do! On the whole I really liked it and did not want to leave ” ~ Jess

“When we went to Grootbos my sister and I went on two horse trails on the Reserve. My horses name was Calypso and I loved her! The horses at Grootbos were so pretty and so well looked after. We had a great time feeding them and grooming them! We would have loved to stay at Grootbos and look after the horses but sadly we had to come home.” ~ Ally

I could not resist taking a photograph of the resident “stable” cat who was taking a nap when we arrived at the stables, she did not look very impressed that we had disturbed her!

The girls had such a great time on their ride on Saturday, that they were determined to ride again on the Sunday morning before we left to come home! They set their alarm for 7am and went down to breakfast on their own and then straight off to the stables, with apples in hand to feed the horses They help feed and groom the horses before their ride at 9am, which they both loved!

It was hard to leave Grootbos and the peace and tranquility of the Reserve but I think the girls were most upset, about having to say goodbye to the horses!

For more information or to make a booking at Grootbos you can visit their website by clickinghere.

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