Countryside Chukkas

Regarded as KwaZulu-Natal's premier polo event, the Karkloof Classic has grown into one of the largest spectator tournaments in the country and the biggest polo tournament in Africa. Hosted by the historic Karkloof Polo Club, founded in 1886, it attracts more than 140 players, top horses and visitors, highlighting the Midlands’ enduring place at the heart of the sport. Few regions in South Africa have such a strong connection to polo as the Midlands does. The combination of open farmland, established equestrian culture and generations of horsemen has made the area a natural home for the sport. Today, the Karkloof and Lions River clubs remain among the most active polo communities in the country, helping to keep a long-standing tradition alive.

The Midlands’ connection to polo runs remarkably deep. The Dargle Polo Club, founded in 1886, is regarded as South Africa’s first civilian polo club, giving the region a polo history stretching back almost 140 years. Beyond the tournaments themselves, this area has also long been one of the country’s most important breeding and training grounds for polo ponies, with generations of horsemen and women helping shape the sport nationally.

At the centre of the season sits the Karkloof Classic Polo Tournament, which was held this year from 26–28 June 2026, attracting visitors from across South Africa and beyond. 

Hosted by the Karkloof Polo Club, the event continues a long tradition of excellence and regularly attracts leading players from across the national polo circuit. Established by pioneering farming families including the Shaws, Mackenzies and Bensons, Karkloof has produced generations of Springbok polo team players and remains one of the country’s most respected polo clubs. The club’s four playing fields are unusual even by international standards, allowing it to host some of the largest tournaments on the continent. Often described as the second-fastest ball sport in the world after ice hockey, polo is considerably more exhilarating in person than many first-time spectators expect. It is also one of the few sports where several generations of the same family often compete, spectate and socialise together, a tradition that remains particularly strong in the Midlands.

For many residents, polo is as much a part of winter as frosty mornings and crackling fires. While the sport may carry a reputation for glamour elsewhere, in the Midlands it remains refreshingly down-to-earth. Spectators gather alongside the field with camping chairs, picnic baskets and dogs in tow, creating a distinctly local atmosphere that combines top-level sport with a family outing.

Accommodation establishments, restaurants, farm stalls and local businesses all benefit from the influx of visitors who arrive for the Karkloof event each year. Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and enjoy the beautiful setting while indulging in delicious food available from KZN Spitbraais throughout the weekend.

The Classic also marks the beginning of an exciting polo season in the Midlands, with several other tournaments following throughout the winter and spring calendar. The Lions River Polo Tournament took place from 19–21 June. Polo enthusiasts can also look forward to the Karkloof Spring Tournament from 28–30 August, the renowned Queen of Africa Ladies Tournament from 4–6 September, and the Lions River Mini Tournament from 11–13 September.

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PHOTOS: SARAH WHITE