WILD INSIDE ADVENTURES
HORSE SAFARI
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Based between Mauricedale Game Reserve and Nkomazi Private Game Reserve, in Mpumulanga, South Africa, this working riding holiday gives equestrian enthusiasts the opportunity to live life, for a few weeks, behind the scenes of a horse-riding establishment in South Africa.
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Take part on out rides on the farm as a back-up rider, care for the herd of safari trail horses, get up close and personal with wildlife, and make some everlasting memories!
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Develop your riding skills, discover South Africa, and witness some of the most beautiful scenery and wildlife on earth.
Volunteer caring for highly trained trail horses, in return for plenty of riding and wildlife viewing!
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Discover a different world and way of life, and really get to one with nature.
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Stay between two different reserves, home to elephant, lions, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, , hippos, crocodiles, eland, wildebeest, warthogs and several species of antelope.
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Both reserves offer endless beauty, with a mixture of open plains, hills, rocky koppies, rivers and mountains.
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The herd of safari horses live out on the reserve and need continued attention and care.
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Volunteers become part of the family, and establish deep bonds with each of the horses.
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Volunteers make incredible memories; from cantering across the plains, climbing hills to get the best views, falling in love with the horses, to riding alongside giraffe and zebra!
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Riders must be over 18 years old, and experienced riders.
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THE PROGRAMME
You will be volunteering with ‘The Horse Safari Company’, owned by Tamlyn Whitebread. The Horse Safari Company is based between Mauricedale Game Reserve, and Nkomazi Game Reserve. Mauricedale is 6500 hectares, and hosts a variety of species of wildlife.
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In South Africa a smaller reserve is referred to as a game reserve. Many people panic when they hear this term, as they think this means that animals are being raised for hunting, but this is not always the case. This is a generalised term used by South Africans for any property with larger wildlife species on it, otherwise referred to as ‘game’. We would like to assure you that neither property is a hunting lodge.
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Mauricedale hosts a variety of wildife species to view from the saddle, including buffalo, hippos, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, many different species of antelope such as impala, bushbuck, wildebeest and nyala.
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Volunteers will also spend a week at Nkomazi Private Game Reserve, famous for it's amazing, up-close cheetah encounters from horseback!
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Nkomazi is a 15,000-hectare reserve, where lowveld meets highveld. Home to lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo and elephant, riders can get some great wildlife viewing and personal encounters with many of the more exciting larger game species.
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Plains wildlife include giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and hartebeest to name but a few! The reserve offers endless beauty, with a mixture of open plains, hills, rocky koppies, rivers and mountains.
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One of the highlights at Nkomazi Game Reserve are the close encounters with the resident cheetahs. ‘Stompie’ tends to be the star of the show. Stompie and the other cheetahs on the reserve are very laid back and allow the horses to get very close, giving some breath-taking experiences, and some great photo opportunities. ​
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Volunteers can expect to split their time between the two reserves, usually alternating weeks at each location.
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Mauricedale and Nkomazi are not Big five reserves, so we do advise to not arrive expecting to see every single species of wildlife, although the range of species between the two reserves is very diverse. The idea is to give riders a budget riding safari, at a much-reduced rate, and allow riders to immerse themselves in the African way of life and nature.
Visits to Kruger National Park nearby to take part on game drives can be arranged to fill in the gaps of species that are not on the property.
Expect to ride for around 3-6 hours per day during your stay, split between two rides; one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
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Daily horse care duties are very light, as the aim is to provide volunteers with a budget riding safari, in return for some help with the horse in between rides.
ACTIVITIES
Due to the fact that you will be riding in open areas, and in the bush, this experience is only for experienced riders. You must be in balance and in full control at all times in all four paces, and able to handle a variety of different horses.
As you will be representing The Horse Safari Company, you will be expected to follow a few simple rules during your stay:
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- Always be friendly, polite and professional to all co-volunteers and staff.
- Dressing appropriately while riding and working with the safari horses.
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Activities are listed below:
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Grooming and Tacking Up
Daily grooming of the horse you are riding before and after rides. This is a great way to form a bond with the horses in the herd. As part of the daily grooming, you will check the horses over for any sores or wounds, and help with keeping them in top condition. In South Africa, horses also need to be regularly 'dipped' to prevent tick infestations, and the nasty diseases they can carry. You will also need to help tack up for rides, and untack at the end of the day.
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Tack Cleaning
Important for keeping the horses happy and healthy, volunteers assist with cleaning tack after rides, and checking tack over for wear and tear.
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General Husbandry:
The horses all live out, so there is no mucking out! But you will bring in the horses twice daily for feeding.
As the riding establishment in South Africa is family run, your assistance and help is greatly valued.
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Every day is different, and usually contains some kind of adventure!
ACCOMMODATION
​Volunteer accommodation is at 'Zebra House', in the heart of Mauricedale Game Reserve, and at the tranquil 'Boulders Lodge' at Nkomazi Game Reserve.
While staying at both locations, you can at times hear the wildlife around you at night, and see various species of wildlife passing by during the day.
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Both locations have a pool area to relax by in-between rides, a shared living room area, and 2-3 bathrooms.
​Rooms are usually shared with two people per room.
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You will have access to a fully equipped kitchen where you will be expected to do your own cooking and food preparation.
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You will be taken on a weekly shopping trip in to town to buy groceries and other supplies.
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Wi-fi is available at both locations.
