Horse Safari Team: What sets us apart?

filed in Announcements, South Africa on Dec.23, 2009

Team horse safari, a unique way of experiencing African wildlife!

As you might be able to tell we are all VERY excited about the new Horse Safari Team project. It’s the first placement of it’s kind, offering volunteers equal involevement in equine activities and incredible volunteer experiences that make a real difference to local lives.

Unlike other horse riding safari placements, offered by Safari lodges, where volunteers generally work in the stables and escort guests on rides for the majority of their stay a team project offers much more scope. In addition to riding each day and spending a few hours caring for the beautiful “Boereperde” horses this project also gives Leapers a chance to experience a wide variety of community and conservation project work in a fun and social environment…where a work hard play hard attitude to life will go a long way!

Working at the local orphanage in the afternoons

Horse Safari is a unique experience in itself- combining the pleasures of long distance riding with the thrill of wildlife encounters and stunning African bush scenery. Approaching animals on horseback allows riders a much more natural and exciting safari experience (as well as being more eco-friendly than bombing around in a vehicle!) and is less disruptive to the natural environment. Horse and rider become one with the environment- sharing the same sounds, scents, sights and excitment of the African wilderness.

Every weekday morning our Safari Horse Leapers will be saddling up and setting out into the bush. Some days this will involve escorting the lodge guests out on their horse safari around the game reserve in search of game and learning the art of following game downwind to get an even closer to the wildlife. You will also be taught to look out for anything that needs mending (fences) or given care (injured game). You will also help with the horses upkeep and stable maintenance – on average you spend, if you are not on a morning game drive, approximately 2 hours with stable management and 1.5 hours in the saddle.

In the afternoons, it’s a completely different ball game, as out Horse Safari Team link up with other Leap volunteers in the reserve for a combination of community and conservation projects:

Conservation

If not on horse safari then join the morning or evening vehicle or walking game drives (helping with the spotlight at night).
Reserve management – fencing and bush clearing.
Construction and/or repair of hides and viewing decks to help monitor animal movements.
Interaction and assistance at the elephant back safari programme. You will get to ride the elephants and help look after their diet, enclosures and general welfare.
Spend a day in the life of an elephant groom.
Try out rifle target shooting.
Be introduced to 4 x 4 driving and a course will be conducted covering the basic skills and aspects of 4 x 4 driving.
Microlight aerial perspective/game viewing (insurance permitting).

Community

Help in the nearby children’s orphanage at Thembalethu School, a centre for victims of AIDS. This is an amazing place, you can teach and play with the kids, who are very energetic and fun. In addition we have painted murals and carried out maintenance – like building a stage ( which they love!) Community leaders will decide what projects are relevant. In addition income is generated by micro enterprises like making gifts, cards – recycled paper, seedling projects to improve diet etc.
Various township community visits with possible activities including: teaching English and playing sport, including football matches in local Swazi secondary and primary schools, a witch doctor visit and a visit to a community clinic.

Here’s a little taste of what’s in store on a Team Horse Safari: