Nicky Hoseck

Revealing the First
Wild Coast Horse Ride of 1842

It's 1842, and the Wild Coast is at its wildest. In the north, crocodiles languish in the rivers, and lions prowl the grasslands while elephants and rhinos slip silently through the coastal forests, belying their potentially lethal bulk. For most, this is the equivalent of no-man's land, but for Englishman Dick King, it was a place full of promise and adventure.

Before embarking on a journey into South Africa's history books, King was already acquainted with the rugged terrain and life-threatening challenges of the Wild Coast. At 15 years old, King moved with his family to the frontier region of Port Natal and soon embarked on elephant hunting excursions that quickly familiarised him with the wilderness around modern-day Durban.

Setting the Scene for an Epic Wild Coast Adventure

As tensions grew between the Afrikaners and Zulus, and subsequently the Afrikaners and the British, so King’s excursions took on a more ominous dimension. After the Piet Relief massacres at the hand of Zulu chief Dingane in 1838, King and several local adventurers embarked on a 200 km journey inland to warn others of the potential threat.

Without stopping to rest, the group walked day and night for four days, arriving just as the Zulus launched their attack on the next camp, situated close to present-day Estcourt. This journey marked the beginning of King's reputation as an intrepid adventurer whose knowledge of the land and physical endurance would later prove invaluable.

Boers And Brits Clash Over Strategic Territory

Fast forward four years and the primary cause of unrest shifted away from the Zulus and landed heavily on the emerging British occupation. While the British claimed the strategically significant coastal region, the Voortrekkers had firmly established the Natalia Republic some distance inland.

The two sides were destined to clash, and when the Boer forces decided they needed a port of entry free from British rule, they attacked the British, hoping to gain control of the strategic port area.

The resulting skirmish hit the British hard, and the need for reinforcements was abundantly clear as they were forced to retreat. With a sense of foreboding, they huddled in their tented camp valiantly attempting to withstand the Boers’ relentless artillery attack.

Embarking on the First Wild Coast Horse Trail

Searching for an answer to his problem, Captain Smith sent a message to the Mazeppa, a ship docked at the harbour and aboard which Dick King was presently sleeping. Understanding the urgency of the situation, King and his companion Ndongeni, quickly dressed and, retrieving horses from Salisbury Island, slipped past the Boers before daybreak. The journey they embarked on was, perhaps, the first real Wild Coast Horse Trail!

With 950 kilometres of wilderness to cross, King and Ndongeni rode quickly, averaging around 100km a day — a distance our horses cover in two to three days. Heading south along the coastline, the riders not only had to contend with rugged and unfamiliar terrain but between them and their destination lay over 100 rivers and several nerve-wracking crossings, including one early in the journey at the Umngazi River.

Braving the Depths of the Umngazi River

Fortunately for King, he embarked on the ride in May — a traditionally dry month on the Wild Coast when the rivers stay obediently within their banks. Despite that, records show that Ndongeni, or NaGenjo as he is called on The Long Riders Guild Academic Foundation website recalled several nerve-wracking moments as they navigated the treacherous waterways.

According to this version of events, on arrival at the river, Ndongeni recalled,

As we plunged into the water, which was high on account of the tide, it seemed in the dark as if we were crossing a river in flood. Dick, regardless of crocodiles, swam in his shirt, leading both his and my horse.

Ndogeni, unable to swim, stayed mounted on his horse, clutching his mane for dear life. From his precarious position, he admired King’s bravery and fearlessness, saying, “He feared neither lions on land nor crocodiles in water."

Courage in the Saddle is Easier with Stirrups

It wasn’t only King’s bravery that saw him complete his epic journey, but also the addition of stirrups on his saddle and clothing on his body. His companion wasn’t quite so fortunate and rode either without stirrups or clothes, depending on which version of events you read.

Ndongeni only completed the first 200 miles of the journey before King ordered him back to the camp at Umngazi, just south of Durban. For the rest of the trip, King had only his horse for company.

Somerset: A Horse With "Hooves Of Steel", Heart Of Gold

Of course, any horse capable of completing a 950 km trip without any formal conditioning or training is one worth celebrating, and yet little is known about the famous Somerset, who carried King to his destination. There is, for instance, much doubt about his colour, with some suggesting he was a bay, others a palomino and still others saying he sported a dun-like “band of black [that] extended from shoulder to croup.”

Somerset was no giant, standing approximately 15 hh, with a short back and small head. Over the years, Somerset has developed almost legendary status with various documents referring to him as having “hoofs of steel” (he obviously wasn’t a Thoroughbred!) And the perfect conformation for a long-distance equine athlete: “Chest broad, girth deep, with rounded flanks, hocks well under, forelegs straight.”

Whatever breed he was, Somerset was as brave as his rider and furnished with similarly outstanding endurance and stamina. The pair completed their epic ride in just 10 days — a record that would prove difficult to beat when modern-day adventurers attempted to recreate the journey 170 years later.

A Humble Hero: The Man Behind The Legend

Despite being celebrated for his bravery and stamina, King remained surprisingly humble about his achievements — a trait rarely exhibited by South African adventurers. In her article, Jacqueline A. Kalley highlights his modesty with King’s own words: “… what is there to tell? I did no more than any Englishman would do for his country. I said I would get the message through, and I did it, and that's all there is to say.”

An Epic 950 km Ride That Shaped History

Needless to say, King was successful in his mission. His message was delivered to its destination in time for its recipient Colonel Hare to dispatch reinforcements that would change the course of the entire siege, leaving the Boers floundering and retreating to their inland camps.

In due course, the two sides negotiated a tenuous peace agreement, and British control over the region was consolidated. However, tensions between the Boers and the British would continue to simmer, eventually culminating in further conflicts that shaped South Africa’s turbulent history just as Dick King’s epic ride became a defining moment, symbolising the enduring spirit of endurance.

A Tale of Two Journeys: The Ride of the Peacemaker

While this marks the end of Dick King’s journey, it is truly only the beginning of ours. Not only can we trace a direct line from King to the Wild Coast Horses and the trails we now ride, but some of our own horses have also played a role in recreating King’s historic ride.

In 2012, modern-day adventurers Barry Armitage and Joe Dawson set themselves a remarkable challenge—to ride Dick King’s epic route from Durban to Grahamstown and break his historic record of 10 days.

With urban sprawl to navigate, gates, fences, and more modern obstacles, the pair’s ride was certainly different from King’s, but the spirit of adventure remained the same. Though they may have encountered fewer lions, the terrain was still a formidable challenge, as they set out to honour King’s incredible journey and push the limits of endurance.

Some of our Wild Coast horses (past and present) helped them achieve this goal — and that’s what we’ll explore in our next blog, “Wild Coast Horses and The Ride of the Peacemaker.”

History isn't just something you read about—it's something you ride through.

I want to make history on the Wild Coast