Volunteering on a horse farm in South Africa
- In the middle of nature
- contact with horses
- Work outdoors
Do you have experience in handling horses, do you like horseback riding and would you like to help out on a horse farm abroad? Then a volunteer project on a horse farm in the middle of the breathtaking landscape of South Africa is just the right thing for you! The horse farm is close to the famous Kruger National Park - one of the highlights of any trip to South Africa. In your day-to-day life on the ranch, you take care of the free-roaming animals and you can enjoy the untouched South African landscape on regular rides.
South Africa East
from 18 years
2 - 8 weeks
/ from €1.650
Monday
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
What's the matter?
The volunteer project takes place on a horse farm. However, most of the animals live there in the wild. You have the freedom to roam through the beautiful landscape while enjoying the care and attention of the farm team. For guided tours with tourists, the animals are also saddled and ridden. The farm has extensive grounds on which there is a main building and a rider's room for the horse's needs.
During your work as a volunteer, you will gain an insight into everyday work at an international horse farm and gain valuable experience abroad. It is important for the project that you already have experience in handling horses, enjoy working outdoors and have advanced riding skills.
You will learn first-hand about the work processes on a horse ranch, improve your language skills and acquire intercultural skills through contact with tourists from all over the world!
Your tasks as a volunteer
The area of ​​activity as a volunteer includes taking care of the horses, accompanying them on rides and maintaining the equipment. Of course, you will also be supported and looked after by other volunteers and permanent employees.
Your daily tasks include, for example, feeding and watering the horses, mucking out the stables and keeping the grounds clean. You will also take on activities when working with the guests and will be at their side as a contact person on horseback rides, for example.
Among other things, there is also a community garden project in which your active participation is desired by helping to grow food.
The early bird catches the worm - or rather the horse! Your day at the horse farm starts early, because by 07:00 you should already be with the horses and start working in the stable. Together with the other volunteers, you will be taken to the horses in an all-terrain vehicle every morning. Once they are well taken care of, you devote yourself to cleaning out the muck, grooming and cleaning the riding utensils.
If a horseback riding tour with the guests is planned that day, you will prepare the horses for the ride. You tie them up, put the bridle on them and saddle them up. Then you help the guests to get on and later on to dismount again. During your ride, you also support the group with questions or concerns and your attention stays with the guests, so you make sure, for example, that the horses always walk in a row.
At the end of the ride, you will help unbridle the horses and clean and tidy up the riding equipment (halter, bridle and saddlery, brushes, helmets, etc.). As the day draws to a close, everything should be put back in its proper place and when the horses are well taken care of, attend to any household chores that may arise. Together with the other volunteers you prepare a delicious dinner for all of you.
Accommodation Catering
Volunteer apartment on the horse farm
Your accommodation is located directly on the premises of the horse farm and you share it with other volunteers. The apartment has two bedrooms, in which a maximum of four volunteers live together. From the bedroom you can go directly to the bathroom. A kitchenette and washing machines are also available.
Full board is included in our services. You prepare your own breakfast and lunch. Dinner is usually cooked together.
Location
South Africa East
Variety and adventure are waiting for you! Our outback horse farm is located in the northeast of South Africa, not far from the Kruger National Park. Here you can spend time with the horses in a beautiful setting.
The region impresses with its mountains, the green valleys and a number of small, tranquil towns that invite you to take a stroll. Located in the heart of the homeland of wild horses, our horse farm in the South African Outback is approximately 17.000 hectares in size - so there's lots to explore!
Horse fans who are ready for new adventures will get their money's worth here! Take care of the horses, enjoy the wonderful landscape and exchange ideas with like-minded people from all over the world!
Your free time in South Africa Northeast
You should definitely use your free time to discover the extensive and diverse landscape in the area: from pretty granite rocks to tropical forests to mighty rivers, everything can be found here. These are ideal for wild quad tours, turbulent white water rafting, relaxed canoe tours or extensive bush walks - outdoor enthusiasts are in good hands here!
A highlight of the region is definitely the Kruger National Park, which stretches between the Crocodile River in the south and the Limpopo River in the north and, with an area of ​​20.000, is considered the largest nature and wildlife reserve in South Africa. Here you can observe the so-called Big 5 and countless other wild animal species up close on a safari. Don't miss out on this experience!
Another natural wonder of Africa not to be missed is the nearby Blyde River, the third largest canyon in the world. With its imposing green rock formations and numerous waterfalls, the gorge offers you some of the most spectacular panoramas in the country. Enjoy the breathtaking view from one of the vantage points and in some places even look as far as neighboring Mozambique.
Small, tranquil towns in the area also invite you to stroll - but adventurers and nature lovers in particular will get their money's worth in the north-east of South Africa!
On-site procedure
Arrival in South Africa
After your landing, the horse farm team will pick you up at the airport and take you straight to the farm. You then have time to move into your room in peace and recover from your journey.
Orientation program in the horse project
After you have settled in, your orientation program begins. This consists of getting to know the farm and its employees. You will receive an introduction to the project work, the rules of conduct and farm rules.
There is no fixed process or start for orientation. You can use the possible free time to settle down further or to explore the area.
Your first day in the project
After the orientation you start working on the horse farm. You will receive a detailed introduction to the individual tasks from the team and can thus quickly get involved in the activities.
Pricing
-
2 weeks of participationbase fee€ 1.650, -
-
up to 6 weeks respectivelyextension week€ 490, - / week
included
Services
Before departure
- Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
- Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
- Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
- Non-binding flight advice
- Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
- RGV t-shirt
On site
- Orientation program with the team on site
- Support and guidance from the on-site team
- RGV 24h emergency number
- Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities
- Airport transfer on the agreed arrival and departure days
- Meals: Provision of food for cooking
After return
- Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
- Reflection course on your experiences abroad
- Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion
not included
Services
- Round trip
- Private expenses on site
- Excursions with microlight flights
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Visa and Vaccinations
- All nights outside your agreed accommodation
- Public transport and extra transfers
Individual
Recommended additional offers
& must-haves
Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?
With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.
The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.
These special tariffs give you special added value:
- maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
- generous baggage allowance
- Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.
The following building blocks are included:
- Health Insurance
- Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
- Travel insurance
-
Two tools to get you started on your personal developmentPersonal development introductory courseFree of charge
South Africa East
Team
site
With his own farm has become a horse lover and Project founder Christo fulfilled a lifelong dream. Along with his long-time collaborator Mariska he oversees the project on the horse farm in South Africa.
Mariska is primarily responsible for stable management and looking after the volunteers and visitors. Both live their passion for horses and nature - every day anew. Our team at the horse farm is looking forward to sharing exactly this enthusiasm with you and other like-minded people.
Volunteers talk about their experiences Joint commitment - big impact!
Volunteering on a horse farm in South Africa
It was just a really nice time that I would love to repeat if the opportunity arose!
12.08.2020
Manyana
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RGV
FAQ
to the project
How far in advance do I have to register?
Ideally your registration takes place at least 3-6 months before the desired departure date, But also short-term registrations are up 1-2 months before the planned departure is possible.
But it could be that your dream project is already booked. In this case we will try together to find a suitable alternative for you.
Can I travel with a friend or in a group?
Yes! On request we enable a double room if you for two with a friend or a friend, or an apartment or other suitable accommodation for groups.
We are very happy to enable our participants to go on a project and share accommodation with friends. Shared accommodation is usually possible both in the volunteer house and with the host family, although the room in the volunteer house may also be shared with other participants. In some locations there is also the option of sharing an apartment.
When registering, please always mention the person(s) traveling with you!
Can I combine projects?
Yes! You can combine projects at one location, at different locations, but also in different countries. It is also possible to combine a project with a trip. You can specify your desired combination directly when registering.
Combination options at a glance:
- Combine programs in one country
- Combine programs across countries
- Combine a program with a language course
- Combine a program with ours Adventure & Trips
There are a few things Project combinations to note: The minimum length of stay per project must be observed and you may incur additional costs for country combinations, for example for an intermediate flight.
What are the project fees used for?
Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.
What visa do I need for South Africa?
You can apply for a tourist visa for South Africa when you arrive at the airport. This is valid for 90 days.
What language skills do I need for the project?
In order to be able to communicate well with the team on site, you should definitely have good English skills.
What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?
If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.
We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.
You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.
Are there age restrictions for the project?
Volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 can take part in this project.
What are the requirements for the project?
You should have good riding skills and experience with horses (should be evident from your CV);
maximum 70 kg body weight.
What do I have to bring?
You must bring your own riding equipment.
What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?
Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.
For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.
Ready to get involved as a volunteer in South Africa? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!
Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.
You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.
Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.
RGV
Your way
to the volunteer
1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.
2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.
3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.
4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.
Gallery
Impressions &
Impressions
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