Germany | Switzerland | Umbria / Italy | Latium / Italy
Camargue / France | Andalusia / Spain | Cyprus | Sweden | Iceland | Namibia | South Africa

Germany

More and more Germans discover their home country as a holiday destination, with good cause! Germany has a lot to offer: its nice destinations along the North and the Baltic Sea, hilly regions in the low mountain range and diversified landscape at the foothills of the Alps.

Our farm and riding holidays partners are located on the North Sea coast - very close to the border to Denmark -, in the Eifel - very close to Belgium and in the Hessian Odenwald. So come to Germany and find out more about the home country of DoppelReiter-Reisen!

 

Did you know that... ? On a square meter of mudflat there are living more than 100.000 animals... During a stay at our farm on the North Sea coast you should not miss out to go on a guided mudflat hiking tour. Attention: we strongly recommend not to go out on your own. At the coast the fog often arrives very quickly and it makes you lose the orientation. And did you know that the tallest tree of Germany can be found in the Odenwald? It is a Douglas fir, which has a height of more than 60 meters. You can go visiting this amazing tree in the municipal forest of Eberbach.

 

Temperature:
Average day temperature in Hamburg in °Celsius

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
3	4	8	13	18	20	22	22	18	13	7	4

Average day temperature in Frankfurt in °Celsius

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
3	5	10	14	19	22	25	25	20	14	8	5

Language:
Like in almost every country in this world you also find lots of dialects besides the High German in Germany. This can cause that Germans have difficulties understanding people from their own country. But isn't this the nice thing about travelling?

to the top

Switzerland

Beautiful Switzerland in the heart of central Europe is full of beautiful landscape. Impressive mountains, pictorial lakes and regions with undulated hilly landscape. Among the latter is the region Franches-Montagnes in the canton Jura. It belongs to the French Switzerland and the here flowing river Doubs is consistent with the border to France for kilometers. The region is characterized by grassland and forests and you can go for long rides. In the Franches-Montagnes was introduced a well developed bridle path network – the Franches-Montagnes is generally a very rider-friendly region and is strongly affected by horses.

Did you know that... ? The Tête de Moine is a swiss cheese with a trademarked indication of origin and comes from the town Bellelay in the Franches-Montagnes. It is produced exclusively with cow milk from the place of origin, the swiss Jura. For producing 1 kilogram of Tête de Moine 10 litres of milk are required. The Tête de Moine doesn`t get cut, but scraped off! In the form of rosettes the cheese developes its full flavour. Since 1981 there is a special tool for this – the Girolle – which makes the scraping off much easier than with a knife.

 

 

Passport and visa regulations:
For entering Switzerland German citizens need a valid identity card or passport.

Health regulations:
At the moment we are not aware of any health regulations that apply for (German) visitors going to Switzerland. But please consult a doctor concerning recommendable shots. For a possibly necessary treatment you should bring along the european health insurance card (EHIC). We recommend to Germans to conclude an International Health Insurance, because it covers services, that "normal" Health Insurances don't pay when you are abroad.
Please check out the webiste of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated health advices, see Links.

Safety:
Please check out the website of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated safety advices, see Links.

Language:
In Switzerland there are four national languages: German, French, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic. The Franches-Montagnes are situated in French Switzerland, so the people speak French here. But lots of Swiss people in this region do speak German as well.

Currency:
The Swiss currency is the Swiss franc, divided into 100 centimes (1 Euro = approx. 1,29 Swiss francs, September 2010).

Temperature:
Average day temperature in Zurich in °Celsius

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2	5	10	15	19	23	25	24	20	14	7	3

Time zone:
Switzerland is located in the same time zone as Germany (CET).

Schwyzerdütsch:
If a German meets a „German“ speaking Swiss, it doesn´t mean that both speak the same language! In German-speaking Switzerland many different dialects are spoken; in contrast to Germany speaking a dialect is common in every social level and in every situation. Swiss „standard German“ is mainly used for written texts.

to the top

The Cheval Franches-Montagnes

The Cheval Franches-Montagnes is the last Swiss horse and the lightest cold blood in Europe. It comes from the Jura in western Switzerland and was delevoped by interbreeding local mares with stallions mainly imported from France. The real selection began not long ago – at the end of the 19 th century. The Franches-Montagnes have a size from 1,50m to 1,60m and are mainly bay horses or chestnuts. They are tough all-round horses and have a very good character. In Switzerland this horse breed is eminently respected and is used in agriculture and forestry as well as for recreational riding. Every august in Saignelégier in the Franches-Montagnes the so-called Marché-Concours takes place – a big festival dedicated to the horses from the Franches-Montagnes.

Umbria / Italy

Umbria is the green heart of Italy – the only region of the „boot“ with no coast at all. But therefore lots of other things! Umbria has a green landscape with hills and valleys and wonderul medieval towns, which are built proudly on top of the hills. There is for example Perugia – the capital of Umbria – whose Old Town is situated majestically on top of a hill, reachable amongst others through underground escalators. By the way: the famous „Baci Perugini“ – the blue pralines with a small worldly wisdom– come from Perugia. Another highlight is the town Assisi, the place of birth of Francesco d´Assisi. The double church „San Francesco“, which was seriously damaged by an earthquake in 1997, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For visitors who are less interested in culture, the Lago Trasimeno is a good destination for taking a bath or going for long walks along the waterside.

to the top

Latium / Italy

Italy – the country in which the citrons are blooming. Just like in Goethe`s times Italy still today is worth a visit. Italy – the country in the form of a boot with never ending coasts and a world-famous cuisine.
Italy is a country with exceptional nature and distinctive culture. The capital Rome is a very lively but also very cozy city with a fantastic scenery.
As lively as their capital are also the inhabitants of the “boot”. It is fun to see them discuss with everything that is available (and certainly to also hear them). Their language is one of the nicest languages at all, maybe you feel like learning it after your holidays?

Did you know that... ? Famous but as well very disputed is the horse race on the Piazza del Campo in Siena – il Palio. Here the districts compete against each other; everybody rides bareback and everything is allowed. Quite often horses are falling with no good result for them. The Palio has a long tradition and a victory is a big honor for horse and rider and the respective district.

Our partner is located in the region Latium. This is the region also Rome belongs to.

Passport and visa regulations:
For entering Italy German citizens need a valid identity card or passport.

Health regulations:
At the moment we are not aware of any health regulations that apply for (German) visitors going to Italy. But please consult a doctor concerning recommendable shots. For a possibly necessary treatment you should bring along the european health insurance card (EHIC). We recommend to Germans to conclude an International Health Insurance, because it covers services, that "normal" Health Insurances don't pay when you are abroad.
Please check out the webiste of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated health advices, see Links.

Safety:
Please check out the website of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated safety advices, see Links.

Language:
The national language is italian, but there are some more regionally official languages. In Italy you cannot expect, that people generally speak english or German.

Currency:
Italy participated in the Monetary Union and replaced the Lira by the Euro.

Climate:
In the alps in northern Italy there is mountain climate, in southern Italy however mediterranean climate. In the region Tuscany the winters are mild and in summer it can become very hot.

Temperature:
Average day temperature in Rome in °Celsius

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
11	13	16	19	23	28	31	30	27	21	16	12

Time zone:
Italy is located in the same time zone as Germany (Central European Time CET).

Meals:
In few coutries you can eat as well and healthy as in Italy. Italians soever take their time to eat. A meal is usually served in the following order: antipasto (starter), primo (1. course; Pasta or Risotto), secondo (2. course, fish/meat and vegetables), dolce (dessert) and certainly the caffè!

to the top

Camargue / France

When reading a list of French regions you get the impression of going through a travel catalogue. France is a country with lots of very interesting travel regions: Burgundy, Alsace, Provence, Champagne, Bretagne - to name just a few of them.
At the southern coast the beautiful Provence is situated, which is not only adored by artists and writers. The Provence is one of France's regions famous for lots of sunshine, it is the country of the cicadas and umbrella pines, of olives and the Pastis. But don't forget the Mistral, which blows in this region!
The Camargue is a part of the Provence and is well known not only amongst riders. At the border of it our partner is located.
The Camargue is a unique natural preserve with herds of bulls and horses, flamingos, half land and half water. In Camargue lots of rice is cultivated and salt is taken from the sea water. The residents of the Camargue are closely connected to their land, their horses and their bulls. There is an old riding tradition and many festivities have to do with these animals, like e.g. the Festival d´Abrivado. During this festival different groups of riders drive a small group of bulls along the beach and to the arena of Saintes Maries de la mer.

Did you know that... ? Because of the conditions in their homeland Camargue horses have the unique ability to close their nostrils for being able to eat underwater.

Passport and visa regulations:
For entering France German citizens need a valid identity card or passport.

Health regulations:
At the moment we are not aware of any health regulations that apply for (german) visitors going to France. But please consult a doctor concerning recommendable shots. For a possibly necessary treatment you should bring along the european health insurance card (EHIC). We recommend to Germans to conclude an International Health Insurance, because it covers services, that "normal" Health Insurances don't pay when you are abroad.
Please check out the webiste of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated health advices, see Links.

Safety:
Please check out the website of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated safety advices, see Links.

Language:
The national language is French.

Currency:
France participated in the Monetary Union and replaced the Franc by the Euro.

Climate:
There are 4 main climes in France: the atlantic zone (moderate sea clime), the continental zone (distinctive differences in the temperature, particularly in the East), the mediterranean zone (moderate, warm sea clime) and the alpine zone (rough mountain clime).
The Provence is known for having dry hot summers and mild sunny winters.

Temperature:
Average day temperature in Marseille in °Celsius

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
12	13	15	17	20	24	27	27	25	21	17	13

Time zone:
France is located in the same time zone as Germany (Central European Time CET).

to the top

The Camargue horse

The Camargue horse is one of the oldest breeds at all and lives in the marshes of the Camargue since thousands of years. Because of the living conditions there it is very resistant and frugal. In summer it has to deal with heat and in winter with a cold and humid ground.
The Camargue horse is admired for its calmness and its compliancy. The Gardians - the "Cowboys of the Camargue" - work on horseback with the typical small black bulls, supported by the Camargue horse, that cooperates actively because of its native instinct.
The fillies of Camargue horses are born grey, brown or dun. They get their typical white colour over the years. If a Camargue horse stays a dapple grey horse forever, its blood wasn't pure.

Camargue horses in parts are still living in complete freedom in their homeland. If these horses are being catched, it is quite difficult to domesticate them. But if this is successful, Camargue horses become very loyal and reliable companions.

to the top

Andalusia / Spain

With Spain people do associate sun, corridas and flamenco. All this can be found in Andalusia, one of the most famous regions of Spain. Andalusia is as well a special term among riders; the Andalusia-based horse breed is world-famous. In Jerez is located the Spanish Riding School as well as the Carthusian Stud, in which thoroughbred Andalusian Horses are bred since centuries.

But this region has not only a lot to offer for horse lovers - travellers interested in culture and cities will enjoy Sevilla, Cadiz, Cordoba, Malaga, Granada,... People looking for relaxation will certainly find their perfect spot along the different beaches of the Costa de la Luz or the Costa del Sol. For fans of Kitesurfing or Windsurfing we recommend Tarifa.
And don't forget to taste some of the famous Tapas and a good Sherry from Jerez!

Did you know that...? In Andalusia African and Arabian influences are clearly noticeable. The Moors dwelled in Andalusia for centuries and they left their mark in the architecture of many buildings. The name of the region as well derives from them: They called Andalusia Al Andalus - the land of the vandals - and this name is common until today. The add-on "de la Frontera" of many towns derives as well from the special history of this region. These towns were located in the hard-fought and permanently changing frontier (frontera) between Moors and Christians.

 

Passport and visa regulations:
For entering Spain German citizens need a valid identity card or passport.

Health regulations:
At the moment we are not aware of any health regulations that apply for (German) visitors going to Spain. But please consult a doctor concerning recommendable shots. For a possibly necessary treatment you should bring along the european health insurance card (EHIC). We recommend to Germans to conclude an International Health Insurance, because it covers services, that "normal" Health Insurances don't pay when you are abroad.
Please check out the webiste of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated health advices, see Links.

Safety:
Please check out the website of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated safety advices, see Links.

Language:
The national language is Spanish, but in the respective autonomous region the languages Catalan, Basque, Gallego and Valenciano do have an official status.

Currency:
Spain participated in the Monetary Union and replaced the Peseta by the Euro.

Climate:
In Spain you find a different climate depending on the region. At the Costa de la Luz in Andalusia it gets really hot in summer because of its southern position. In winter it is relatively warm, whereas it is cooler along the Atlantic Coast than along the Coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It rains mainly in spring and autumn, in july and august you rarely find any rain.

Temperature:
Average day temperature in Malaga in °Celsius

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
16	17	18	21	23	27	29	29	27	23	19	17

Time zone:
Spain is located in the same time zone as Germany (Central European Time CET).

Frontier:
In Andalusia you can even see the vicinity to Africa. The andalusian town Tarifa, which is located at the Strait of Gibraltar, is at only 14 km distance to Morocco / Africa.

to the top

The Andalusian Horse

The Andalusian Horse or Spanish Horse is a very old horse breed and in the course of time did have strong influence over european and american horse breeds. Andalusian Horses are precious and tough and represent the sunburnt ground of Andalusia. The most common colour is the white horse, but there are as well Andalusian Horses with different colours! Characteristic is a relatively squared body, a strong neck with a voluminous mane (at least the stallions) and a mid-sized head with a convex profile. Andalusian Horses are very expressive and that's why well qualified for High School Dressage. On the other hand they have an even-tempered character, so they are as well appreciated by leisure time riders.

In the Carthusian Stud in Jerez Andalusian Horses are purely bred since centuries. (tip: visit of this stud!) Since the beginning of the 20th century there is constituted an official breeding standard under the name PRE (Pura Raza Espanola); the term Andalusian Horse nowadays is often used for horses, that are not really purely bred.

to the top

Cyprus

For those who are greedy for the sun this island is absolutely recommendable. 340 days of sunshine each year do almost guarantee continuously good weather. But this is not all that expects you in Cyprus. Cyprus stands for high hospitality, historical places, steep cliffy coasts, different wonderful beaches, green hills and so much more.
This mediterranean island is divided - the frontier between northern and southern Cyprus also divides the city Nicosia. But since Cyprus became a member of the European Union, visitors can move quite freely on the whole island. At the beginning of the year 2008 Cyprus introduced the Euro, what makes a visit even more easy for EU citizens. Just try it! Experience and discover this versatile island and take back home lots of sunshine!

Did you know that...? Cyprus was a british colony for a long time and this influence is still very noticeable. Usually there is no problem getting along with the english language, most of the signs are bilingual and you meet quite a lot of british people, who chose the island as their principal residence because of the climate. They say that in Cyprus Aphrodite stepped on land for the first time, right at the "Cliff of Aphrodite" at the western coast.

 

Passport and visa regulations:
For entering Cyprus German citizens need a valid identity card or passport.

Health regulations:
At the moment we are not aware of any health regulations that apply for (German) visitors going to Cyprus. But please consult a doctor concerning recommendable shots. For a possibly necessary treatment you should bring along the european health insurance card (EHIC). We recommend to Germans to conclude an International Health Insurance, because it covers services, that "normal" Health Insurances don't pay when you are abroad.
Please check out the webiste of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated health advices, see Links.

Safety:
Please check out the website of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated safety advices, see Links.

Language:
The inhabitants of southern Cyprus speak Greek, but (according to locals) with a strong dialect. Anyway due to the colonial period it is no problem to get along with english language.

Currency:
Cyprus introduced the Euro at the beginning of the year 2008 and replaced the cypriot Lira - also called the Pound.

Climate:
Mediterranean climate; as a result of the southern position the temperature is higher than in the northern part of the Mediterranean Sea. In summer it gets very hot and there is almost no rain. The winters are mild and in this period there usually are some rainy days. In the Troodos mountains (whose highest mountain - the Olymp - has an altitude of almost 2000 meters) there can even be snow in winter. The water temperature around Cyprus is the highest in the whole Mediterranean region - in august it can reach 28° C.

Temperature:
Average day temperature in Nicosia in °Celsius

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
15	15	19	24	29	33	37	36	33	28	23	17

Time zone:
Cyprus has a time difference of 1 hour (compared to Germany), and that year-round. On the outbound fligth you "lose" an hour and on the return flight you "win" it back.

Electricity:
In Cyprus there is alternating current of 220 V - like in Germany. But German plugs don't fit, so that an adapter is needed. Mostly you can borrow such an adapter at the reception of your accomodation.

Traffic:
In Cyprus you have to drive on the left side - the driver is sitting on the right side of the car. At the beginning this manner of driving is very confusing, but you get used to it stunningly fast. But it is important to watch out in hectic driving situations, because it happens quite easy to fall back into the familiar way of driving and to chose the wrong lane after a turn.

 

to the top

Sweden

Many visitors come to Sweden in search of the moose. But there is a lot more to see! Sweden is one of the biggest countries in Europe, although its population of about 9 million inhabitants is quite low. 1,8 million live in the capital Stockholm. Stockholm is considered to be one of the most beautiful towns at all, is built on 14 islands and has one of the biggest and best preserved medieval city centres.

Because of the large North-South extension Sweden has numerous different landscapes – from the winterly Lapland in the North to the long sandy beaches of the southern coast.
The landscape in the area of our partner in southern Sweden is characterized by ample forests and countless lakes.

The Swedes are very hospitable people. Comfortable for visitors is also, that the Swedes are very well trained in foreign languages (whereas a Swede once told me, that Swedish people might only speak foreign languages so well, because european films don’t get synchronized, but are always broadcasted with subtitles.)

Did you know that… ? In Sweden a rule applies called the Allemansrätt. Everybody is allowed to move or stay on public or private land – including hiking, bathing or camping for a night. But it is presumed that one is considerate of other persons, animals and the nature and doesn`t leave any rubbish behind.

 

 

Passport and visa regulations:
For entering Sweden German citizens need a valid identity card or passport.

Health regulations:
At the moment we are not aware of any health regulations that apply for (German) visitors going to Sweden. But please consult a doctor concerning recommendable shots. For a possibly necessary treatment you should bring along the european health insurance card (EHIC). We recommend to Germans to conclude an International Health Insurance, because it covers services, that "normal" Health Insurances don't pay when you are abroad.
Please check out the webiste of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated health advices, see Links.

Safety:
Please check out the website of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated safety advices, see Links.

Language:
The national language is swedish. But most of the Swedes speak english very well and some of them also German.

Currency:
Sweden didn't introduce the Euro, the currency is the Swedish crown, divided into 100 Öre (1 Euro = approx. 9,3 crowns, September 2010).

Climate:
Moderate climate; in summer it can become quite hot, but rain is always possible. In autumn and winter there can be big differences between the temperatures of the specific regions.

Temperature:
Average day temperature in Stockholm in °Celsius

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
-1	-1	3	8	14	19	22	20	15	9	5	2

Time zone:
Sweden is located in the same time zone as Germany (Central European Time CET).

Midnight sun:
Because of Sweden`s northern position in summer the days are very long and at midsummer it almost doesn’t get dark at all. In winter it is the opposite, at this time of the year the Swedes don’t have much sunlight.

to the top

The North Swedish Horse

Besides the Gotland pony the North Swedish Horse is the only swedish horse breed. It is a very tough, frugal and long-living horse, which is famous for being almost resistant against most of the known horse diseases. With a height of 155cm to 160cm it belongs to the middle-sized cold bloods.
Maybe you still remember the performance of the North Swedish Horses on the Equitana 2005 next to the swedish pavilion? The diversity of this horse breed was demonstrated impressively. These powerful cold bloods are also very agile and spirited, so besides their usual work in the forestry they can also jump under the saddle or pull a gig without any problems. The North Swedish horse is a horse breed to enjoy and that is reliable!

Iceland

Iceland – only a 3-hour-flight away and however a completely different world! Huge glaciers next to wild rivers, steaming thermal areas and spitting geysirs. In summer the midnight sun – and therewith the possibility of living around the clock. In contrast in winter impressing northern lights, otherwise few light.
And in between and everywhere one of the specialties of Iceland – the Icelandic Horse. There are few countries in which the horse plays such an important role than in Iceland. In some schools it is even possible to choose a course in riding.
The Icelander feel like real descendants of the Vikings, who came from Norway and settled down on the island to live autonomous and freely. Iceland has a very young and lively culture, which fascinates lots of visitors. Paired with the stunning nature it makes this country one of the most interesting countries at all.

Did you know that… ? In Iceland all names in the telephone book are ordered by the first name, because the last names change with every generation. The last name of an Icelander goes by the name of the father; attached to his first name is – son in case of a son and –dóttir in case of a daughter… completed is the last name! A second curio: In the building authority of Reykjavik an elf agent is employed, who marks the spots in the street-map, where elfs are living according to the tradition. At this spots it is not allowed to build houses for not disturbing the elfs.

Passport and visa regulations:
For entering Iceland German citizens need an identity card or passport, that is valid at least 3 more months after the return journey.

Health regulations:
At the moment we are not aware of any health regulations that apply for (German) visitors going to Iceland. But please consult a doctor concerning recommendable shots. For a possibly necessary treatment you should bring along the european health insurance card (EHIC). We recommend to Germans to conclude an International Health Insurance, because it covers services, that "normal" Health Insurances don't pay when you are abroad.
Please check out the webiste of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated health advices, see Links.

Safety:
Please check out the website of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated safety advices, see Links.

Language:
The national language is icelandic.

Currency:
Iceland`s currency is the króna. (1 Euro = approx. 164 Icelandic kronas, September 2010). The price level is noticeably higher than in Germany.

Climate:
Oceanic cool, rain/snowfall up to 2000 mm per year; cool summers and quite mild winters.

Temperature:
Average day temperature in Reykjavik in °Celsius

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2	3	3	6	10	12	13	13	10	7	4	2

Time zone:
Iceland is located in the time zone "CET minus 1 hour".

Special custom regulations:
Because of its isolated position Iceland`s animals are almost free of virus deseases. Riding clothes therefore have to be new or desinfected before entering Iceland. Used leather riding boots and chaps are not allowed to be imported at all. Please protect Iceland´s animals and respect these regulations!

to the top

The Icelandic Horse

„A good horse has no colour“ says an icelandic proverb. The disposition of gaits and the character are more important features than the colour. Therefore you find Icelandic Horses in almost every colour. A special advantage of these horses are their five gaits; besides walk, trott and canter they possess the pass and the very famous tölt (a very comfortable four-beat gait).
In Iceland horses are indispensable companions of the people. For a long time they were the only means of transportation and they are still used therefore. They are also loyal companions for the round ups and certainly for recreational riding.
There is a strict law in Iceland against importing horses of any kind, so that the Iceland Horse is kept in its archetype. One of the main breeding regions is the Skagafjördur (National Stud Hólar); the region, in which our partner is located and in which one of the yearly horse round ups takes place.

Icelandic Horses are tough, don’t avoid rough grounds, steep hills or rapid rivers. These qualities paired with temperament make the riding tours in Iceland become an exceptional riding adventure in impressing landscape!

Namibia

Namibia – a sparsely populated country with great landscapes! It is more than twice as big as Germany but has only about 2 million inhabitants. While driving through Namibia you become aware of the wideness of this country; roads, that go straight until the horizon and very often there is no other car in sight.
The name Namibia derives from the Namib desert, which stretches out along the whole coast of Namibia.

For its visitors Namibia has a lot to offer, you just should not underestimate the distances! In the South the second biggest canyon of the world is located, the so called Fish River Canyon. Impressive as well are the phenomenal dunes in the Sossusvlei and certainly the Etosha national park, which attracts many visitors, who are interested in animals. Experience this wonderful and wide country on one of our trail rides or during a stay on a guest lodge with the possibility to go on many different excursions.

Besides the attractive countries themselves an arguement for a trip into Southern Africa is the fact, that you have no or just a little time lag. This makes such a long-distance trip less exhausting than a trip towards West or East (valid for visitors coming from Central Europe).

Did you know that... ? In many people's minds Namibia is saved as German Africa. This is based on Namibia's history; Namibia was a German colony. Still today you meet many German speaking Namibians, who live here in the 3rd or 4th generation. In the course of time they (or rather their ancestors) changed their passport, thus the nationality, several times without ever moving house. Until its independency in the year 1990 Namibia went through a very changeful history.

Passport and visa regulations:
For entering Namibia German citizens need a passport, that is valid at least 6 more months after the return journey and which has at least two spare pages. German tourists can enter Namibia without a visa, if their stay does not last longer than 90 days and if they don't take up employment. Germans are recommended to check the updated travel advices of the German Federal Foreign Office, see Links.

Health regulations:
We recommend concluding an International Health Insurance. Please see your doctor for advice concerning special shots and a possible malaria prophylaxis (depending on region and travel time). Germans are recommended to check the updated travel advices of the German Federal Foreign Office, see Links.

Safety:
Please check out the website of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated safety advices, see Links.

Language:
official language: English; other languages: Cape Dutch, Oshivambo, Otjiherero, Nama, Damara, German

Currency:
Namibia Dollar (N$) (1 Euro = approx. 8,97 Namibia Dollar, September 2010). The Namibia Dollar is linked 1:1 to the South Africa Rand. In Namibia you can pay almost everywhere also with Rands.

Climate:
arid climate; rainy season: January to March/April.

Temperature:
Maximum temperature in Windhoek in °Celsius:

Jan	Febr	März	Apr	Mai	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Okt	Nov	Dez
30	28	27	26	23	20	20	23	27	29	30	31

Minimum temperature in Windhoek in °Celsius:

Jan	Febr	März	Apr	Mai	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Okt	Nov	Dez
17	16	15	12	9	7	6	9	12	14	16	17

Time zone:
Namibia is located in the time zone "CET".

to the top

South Africa

South Africa – the country of high variety... in every respect. South Africa is the african country with the highest percentage of inhabitants of European descent. South Africa´s population generelly consists of inhabitants of many different colours and origins – that´s why Nelson Mandela called them the “rainbow people”.

South Africa has a multitude of climes and is habitat for about 20% of all existing plant species; an area in the region Western Cape is considered as the place with the highest ecological multitude of our planet. The fauna is very species-rich as well; in hundreds of national parks and game preserves lots of species besides the „Big Five“ can be seen. The capital is Pretoria, the best known towns are Cape Town and Johannesburg.

During our trails you get to know the surrroundings of Cape Town, for many people one of the most beautiful regions throughout South Africa. Cape Town is often called the “most beautiful town in the world”, South Africa the “most beautiful end of the world” and Sir Francis Drake in 1577 during his circumnavigation of the Cape of Good Hope said: “This is the most beautiful cape we have seen on our circumnavigation around the world.”
So what is to be said against a trip to Cape Town?!?

Did you know that...? Township is a term that again and again turns up in connection with South Africa. In the time of the apartheid the residential zones were separated according to the colour of the inhabitants. There were white, coloured, indian and black districts, although the boundaries blured more and more, especially in the big towns. Nowadays the mostly huge suburbs are often called Townships, the 32 townships south of Johannesburg merged to the megacity Soweto (South Western Township) long ago. Many student demonstrations came from here – Soweto became the symbol of the fight against the apartheid.

 

 

Passport and visa regulations:
German citizens for 90 days are basically exempted from the South African visa obligation and they can be given a visitor´s permit for this period, provided that the German citizen can submit the following documents to the immigration officer at the airport of arrival:

• a passport that is valid at least 30 more days after the departure from South Africa and that has at least one more spare page for a visa (better two pages)
• documents that confirm the purpose and the duration of the stay, if applicable;
• proof of a valid return ticket or payment of a cash deposit (or both), that is paid back after the final departure of the foreign citizen or after the issue of a permanent stay permit.

(Germans are recommended to check the updated travel advices of the German Federal Foreign Office, see Links)

Health regulations:
We recommend concluding an International Health Insurance. Please see your doctor for advice concerning special shots and a possible malaria prophylaxis (depending on the region; Cape Town is considered a non risky region). (Germans are recommended to check the updated travel advices of the German Federal Foreign Office, see Links).

Safety:
Please check out the website of the (German) Department for Foreign Affairs concerning updated safety advices, see Links.

Language:
South Africa has 11 national languages; english turned out to be the main language. Additional 14 languages make part of the languages supported by the constitution (amongst others German).

Currency:
The currency is the South African Rand (1 Euro = approx. 9,25 Rand, September 2010).

Climate:
From extreme deserts to subtropical climate… in South Africa you can find everything. In Cape Town there is moderate subtropical climate without big fluctuations of the weather, what makes it similar to the mediterranean climate. Therefore Cape Town is an interesting destination at every time of the year.

Temperature:
Average day temperature in Cape Town in °Celsius

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
28	28	27	25	22	18	17	17	22	23	25	26

Time zone:
South Africa is located in the time zone "CET plus 1 hour".

Crime:
Crime is an important issue in South Africa. It generally is quite high, but for the most part takes place only in the townships of the big cities. As a participant of our trails from Cape Town airport you are in constant company of our guide, who will lead you through Cape Town and South Africa.

to the top

The Cape Boerperd

The Cape Boerperd is a South African breed, that descends from different horse breeds. That is connected with the former settlers and the Dutch, who imported different horse breeds and breeded them into the Cape Boerperd. After 1945 the breed was almost extincted, but was then renewed and a breeding standard was established. In 1981 the Boerperd Breeders Association was founded and the stud book, that was closed from 1964 to 1981 was opened again. Selected stallions were used for the improvement and the imprint of the breed and the breeding standard was reestablished.
The Cape Boerperd is a willing, tough and a persistent middle-sized farm and riding horse. Its specialty is the “trippel” (tölt), accomplished with zestful movements.