Polo in South Africa

[Amrita Bilimoria]

Hello - if anyone knows a great place to polo in South Africa which I could combine with a safari holiday around Nov/Dec- please let me know.

[Diana Adriaensen]

Hallo Amrita,

before we decided to visit Federico again this year we were thinking of going to the Uitgedacht farm in South Africa.

http://www.poloafrica.com/pdf/PoloafricaBrochure.pdf

We don't have any experience with their facilities but what we read about it looked really good.

Groetjes uit België,

Diana

p.s. We will follow this discussion as we plan to go ever there some day too :)

[Gemma Williams Fox]

Where abouts are you travelling to?
Gemma

[Amrita Bilimoria]

Happy to go anywhere in SA where the ponies and polo will be good. Looking to go somewhere relatively small and run by a family. I've read about a place in the Free State called Uitgedacht but have also been told its better to go to Kwazula Natal or near Cape Town.

[Michael Pugh]

Hi there, a great place to be in November/December in South Africa is Plett (Plettenburg Bay). I had a great time training with Buster McKenzie earlier this year. Let me know if you'd like to know more. I think you'd need to travel a little way from Plett for the safari.

Michael

[Jo Lister]

Hi Michael and Amrita, I know this was over a year ago, but if anyone is looking for polo in South Africa, the Val de Vie Polo School is open, just outside Cape Town, it is very easy to visit and fit in with Safari plans anywhere else in South Africa. Next time you are in South Africa, come and try us out. We have a great selection of ponies, world class facilities and experienced coaching from John Lister. See what our guests say about us on www.valdevie.co.za or contact me - Jo on [e-mail]
Look forward to meeting you!
Jo

[Tomasz Krowicki]

Further to Michael Pugh's reply re Plettenberg and Kurland Polo with Buster McKenzie (which I have done as well in Feb this year), you should consider safari in Shamwari Game Reserve. Great place, fantastic sights/animals, great service. It is 4 hours drive from Pletts towards east. The area is malaria-free, which is a bonus. Contact me if you would like to know more / see photos at http://web.me.com/tkrowicki/Stronka_Gosi_i_Tomka_/RPA_2009.html.
Rgds,
Tomasz

[koins]

hi, i will also be in SA in september, does any1 know where i can go to play/get lessons? any help will be highly appreciated, thanks

[bruce cowley]

Koins, where will you be in SA?

It's not season in the Cape, but weather permitting I'll be joining in for some pre-season stuff at Jo & John's place (see Val de Vie post above). Great place, great people - drop her a line.

If you're in the transvaal - I can put you in touch with some people in Johannesburg.

I believe you guys are getting very serious in Nigeria.

[koins]

hi bruce, thanks for the reply, yes we are, i've seen shelby , and richard pol play in lagos also attended some of gavin's clinics any assistance u can help with is highly appreciated... i usually stay in midrand when i come over, was even plannin to mk it in tiume for the BMW international at inanda, but now i doubt it. if u dont have any links there, how much do u think it will cost me to get to val de vie?
thanks again

[bruce cowley]

Hi Koins - I can put you in touch with someone at 'rocking 4' or 'East Rand polo club' (which are across a dirt road from each other) and shouldn't be too hard to reach from Mid-Rand - not as fancy as Inanda, but very good polo. Costs vary - but if you're just after some fun chukkas it won't break the bank.

What dates are you there - there's a tournament weekend 18 Sept, which I decided was a bit pricey as I'm really just popping in and out to visit family.

You can pick up cheap flights to Cape Town and I'm sure the folks at VdV will be able to make a plan to get you riding very reasonably.

I'm having a knock around in Johannesburg on afternoon 17th Sept - then flying down to Cape Town that night.

Be more than happy to personally show you round a bit and introduce you, if our dates match.

[koins]

will be more than happy to hook up with you, will see if i can alter my travel details, can one get lessons at east rand as well? chukkas will be a plus, but lessons are really what i am after... thanks again

[bruce cowley]

if you're after lessons, you can get in jhb - BUT, John, the guy who runs Val de Vie was 1 of the people who taught Selby Williams..... enough said!

He's an excellent polo and riding coach, and if you're focussing on improving your game, it won't matter if the fields a bit too wet to play.

tell me when you know your dates.