Overview
If one of your dreams is to gallop across some of South Africa’s most spectacular scenery, amongst wild game, then working on a horse safari will not disappoint.
Either venture out on your own to a horse safari camp/lodge OR head out with a team of Leap volunteers to KWA, a private reserve outside the Kruger National Park to combine working on the horse safari with conservation and community projects.
Our Favourites
KWA - Horse safari, Conservaion and Community
Our team destination based outside the Kruger on a Big 4, private game reserve. Help with all aspects of the horses in the morning and with teaching and conservation in the afternoons.
Horizon Horseback Adventures www.ridinginafrica.com
Horizon Horseback Adventures lies at the heart of the UNESCO recognised Waterberg Biosphere Reserve on Triple B Ranch. It is a wonderful lodge on a private reserve that boasts a spectacular wilderness plateau with rolling vistas, rivers, plains and valleys, abundant in game including the black rhino, elephant and leopard. It is also a bird watcher’s paradise.
The Horizon portfolio offers a number of riding options including horse riding with game, cattle mustering, polocrosse, swimming with horses, gymkhana, western games, cross country jumping, a two-day riding safari and a variety of outrides across miles of unspoilt and picturesque savannah. This makes it one of the most varied and action-packed horse safaris anywhere in the world with a herd of over 70 much loved horses.
Ants Nest www.waterberg.net
Ant’s Nest is situated on a private game reserve, also in the Waterberg region, 3 hours north west of Johannesburg and 5 hours west of Kruger. It specialises in riding safaris amongst the wildlife across their beautiful ranch, which again is abundant in game, including the black rhino, elephant and leopard. There are two unique and beautifully designed bush homes called Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill on the ranch, each with its own character, between which guests ride and stay.
How you help
KWA - Team horse safari
With the horses
Every morning, venture out on a horse back safari, help the rangers track injured game and help with any reserve management issues.
Conservation/community projects
Help teach in the orphanage.
Build animal hides, help with the elephant back safaris.
Horizon
In the lodge
Horizon runs with a small team and as such you should be prepared to help out in any which way you can - helping with guests on safari or with general maintenance.
With the Horses
On a daily basis you'll be involved with horse management: feeding, grooming, hacking, schooling, tacking up, riding with clients, teaching, acting as a back-up rider/guide on safari, exercising horses, cleaning yards....
They don’t do mobile camping but you will go out on their 2 day rides where you stay in another lodge over night before returning to Horizon.
Community
If there's time, you can help at the community youth club, built by Laura to provide somewhere for the staff children to play and socialise.
Ants Nest
In the Lodge
Here you will help the friendly team of local staff in every aspect of running the two lodges. Typical responsibilities include: hosting, trips to town, operational duties, some office work, IT data entry, stock requisitions, catering and guest relations. If there are children amongst the guests, you’ll be asked to help keep them busy between activities.
With the Horses
Your main responsibility is working with the horses which includes: overseeing some of the grooming, looking after horses, riding and exercising, stable work, schooling, lunging and giving riding lessons to the staff. You will also act as a back up safari guide taking clients out on rides around the ranch amongst the wildlife. Qualified safari guides always lead the rides.
Your base
Your Team
You will be joining the dynamic camp and safari teams who are made up of both African and European staff.
Accommodation and Food
KWA
You will live in Gazebo Lodge, a thatched house specially built for our Leap volunteers. It overlooks the watering hole where animals come to drink, perfect for sundowners. You have the added comfort of a games room with pool table, table tennis, darts, TV/DVD and a swimming pool. You will share an en-suite room with up to six other volunteers. There are showers, baths and basins with hot and cold water and sit down loos! You will need a sleeping bag for sleeping out on the reserve and optional excursions.
Meals will be provided by the lodge staff or cooked on an open fire. The food is very tasty and vegetarians are easily accommodated. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and clean drinking water are included in the cost.
Horizon
A staff chalet with shared bedrooms and bathroom. Meals with the guests when working, otherwise you’ll eat at the house where you have unlimited access to food taken from the Lodge or from a shopping list which is bought in town once a week. The house is 8 kms from the main Lodge by car and 3 kms by horse.
Ants Nest
The accommodation is basic, but comfortable in A-frame staff/ranger bungalows with outside shower and basins, with a staff kitchen.
Weather and Seasons
The north and east is warm and dry all year apart from June and July. It also has afternoon showers around October - December. The busy season is generally from August – October.
Time In/Out
Time In
These will vary but expect an early start, a midday rest and working late. There will be time off at the discretion of the Managers, usually when the camp is low on guests.
Time Out
KWA
Walking and vehicle safaris, microlighting, rifle shooting, swimming.
Horizon
Walking, game drives, swimming, tennis, mobile safaris and horse riding safaris.
Ants Nest
Riding safaris, walking safaris, game drives.
Costs/Dates
Team Horse Safari - click here
Solo Horse Safari
Flexible departures dependent on local weather/seasons. Placements are for 3 months but can be extended when on the ground.
Cost
£2400 current until 31st August 2009.
In rare circumstances there may be an increase in cost, such as when the hosts are unable to get local park fees. In these cases the cost will be confirmed on application.
Includes:
UK
Interview and consultation.
Briefing and Training Course
Organisation and preparation of entire placement from start to finish.
Exclusive access to researched work placements.
Supporting travel documents including effective fundraising guide.
Management, advice and 24-hour backup and support.
In-country
Management and support by an in-country director and placement manager.
24-hour emergency backup and support.
Living allowance of £40 per month - varies from camp to camp.
Payment to the host towards your management care.
Airport pick-up and transfer to and from the placement.
Full board and accommodation.
Access to amenities at staff rates.
Not included:
International and internal (if applicable) flight, visas, medical expenses (recoverable through travel insurance) and inoculations, personal expenses – such as drinks etc and any independent travel at weekends, UK travel costs to the Briefing and Training Course and to the airport for departure, travel insurance.
