Overview of the project

This exciting and privately-managed game ranch is approximately 28 km from the Kruger National Park Gate. The ranch – just over ten (10) square kilometers in size – doubles as a ranch offering horseback-riding as well as an environmental education centre for students. The ranch is surrounded by the world-renowned and well-established “Big 5” private reserves with elephants and lions often observed patrolling and pacing the bordering, electrified fence. NOTE: the electric fences DO however ensure a high level of safety for participants at the ranch.

The ranch itself boasts some of the most diverse, amazing wild species such as: giraffe, kudu, wildebeest, zebra, nyala, duiker, impala, warthog, waterbuck and a large variety of smaller animals such as porcupine, monkeys, bush-babies, anteater and various wild cats. In addition, there are several species of birds, reptiles and mammals. This particular project has the capability to accommodate up to sixteen (16) volunteers in significantly comfortable facilities. Participants are housed inside log cabins with en-suite bathrooms. Additional amenities include an indoor entertainment area with couches as well as a bar and a beautiful swimming pool in addition to the facility’s amazing stables. Meals are served buffet-style (inside) or cooked around the camp fire (outside). The facility’s warm, caring and qualified staff guides participants – orienting them to the project’s amazingly-unique African horseback experience. Occasionally, the facility’s wild-roaming, but friendly, inhabitants greet guests and visitors.

Ongoing Activities

This project teaches participants all the essential tools pertaining to equestrian care in addition to elements of conservation and wildlife/environmental preservation. This project is specifically designed for individuals who possess a passion for horses as well as desire to experience, and learn about, the intriguing African bush. Participants will spend their days caring for and riding the horses about the reserve – amongst a cornucopia of wild game species while simultaneously participating in a thorough, well-structured and extremely informative equestrian and conservation project.

The equestrian project consists of the following:

• Stable yard routine and maintenance
• Grooming
• Breeds and markings
• Hoof care
• Tack and equipment
• Equine nutrition
• Basic veterinary skills
• Dipping for ticks
• Bedding
• Dentition
• Exercising
• Riding skills – all students (beginners and advanced) start off in the lunge ring doing exercises, posturing, balancing and communicating with the horses
• Rides out on the ranch

Projects/Volunteers’ life

Participants can enroll in the local conservation course specifically designed by qualified educators. This course introduces students to South African wildlife, plantations, history and more. Students completing this course are awarded a certificate at the end of their stay, fulfilling the course’s conservation-based requirements.

NOTE: students receive valid references – certifying their participation in the program which supplying them with a qualified understanding of African Horses and Conservation in Southern Africa.

Basics of Duties Performed:

• Anti-poaching tracking & control
• Animal, insect, plant and bird identification & tracking
• Basic First Aid
• Alien plant identification and control
• Constructing bird hides and decks
• Assist in building lapas, bomas and stables
• Assist in water and waste management
• Power sources and utilization
• Fauna and flora management
• Animal care
• Fence patrol on horse and on foot, fence repair/maintenance
• Tracking and monitoring of animal movement between reserves, animal density & movement mapping
• Road clearance, soil erosion control
• Ecology and man’s role in the environment.
• Orientation
• Sleep-outs under the stars
• Food and medicine from the bush
• Ecological surveys on large and small mammals and reptiles, which includes:
  

  - distribution and tracking
  - feeding
  - behavioral patterns

A Typical Day’s Work at the Project:

A Typical Day’s Work at the Project:

(NOTE: the following is a list of typical, everyday activities but, depending on the field conditions, changes CAN be made to suit individual groups)

7:00am-9:00am: this session usually consists of at least one of the following:

• Stable yard routine, which includes: fetching horses from stables, grooming,    veterinary checks and hoof care
• Riding lessons
• Tacking up and going for an outride
• Fence patrolling on foot or by horseback
• Bush walks and game drives

9:00am-10:00am: Breakfast

10:00am-12:00pm: this session will ordinarily consist of at least one of the following:

• Lectures on relevant topics – books and pictures are shown to illustrate subjects, discussions, taking notes and working in your study guides
• Out rides/game drives/bush walks
• Various projects on the farm – soil erosion control, road maintenance, fence repairs, planting indigenous trees, control of alien plants, etc.

12:00pm-3:00pm: Lunch (Siesta): During this time, participants have a few hours to enjoy themselves – relaxing and, during the warm summer months, taking a relieving plunge in the facility’s swimming pool.

3:00pm-6:00pm: the afternoon usually consists of at least one of the following:

• A Traditional Shangaan village is set up within the gates of the Ranch where participants can visit. This intriguing village – often frequented by visitors from neighboring lodges – offers an opportunity to experience the Shangaan culture filled with campfire stories under the stars, tribal Africa dancing and an authentic Shangaan meal offering a taste of the local cuisine.
• Preserving our Culture: the village is not only a tourism business but also a village built by Shangaan people for Shangaan people as well as anyone interested in their culture. The goal of this particular project is to encourage people from rural townships to remember their roots, culture and traditional values in the midst of adapting to a modern lifestyle. Children from the surrounding villages visit the Shangaan village for weekends in hopes of acquiring some interesting information about the Shangaan culture. The children practice Shangaan traditions and gain cultural knowledge to pass on to younger generations.

Benefits to Volunteers

The emphasis of this program to offer a unique, African bush experience where attention is paid not only to the African horse and wild animals but also to aspects of the local communities and the area’s culture. This project offers a variety of studies and activities allowing equestrian enthusiasts and keen conservationists of all levels the enjoyment of working and learning in a natural environment. NOTE: comprehensive lectures and study guides are provided.

Fees and Dates

Start Dates (2007): 04 and 18 June; 02, 16 and 30 July; 13 and 27 August; 10 and 24 September; 8 and 22 October; 05 and 19 November; 03, 17 and 31 December

Start Dates (2008): Jan 7th, Jan 21st, Feb 4th, Feb 18th, Mar 3rd, Mar 17th, Mar 31st, Apr 14th, Apr 28th, May 12th, May 26th, Jun 9th, Jun 23rd, Jul 7th, Jul 21st, Aug 04th, Aug 18th, Sep 1st, Sep 15th, Sep 29th, Oct 13th, Oct 27th, Nov 10th, Nov 24th, Dec 8th, Dec 22nd

Please note that participants can join any project for any length of time, however we recommend (from experience) that volunteers should not stay longer than 4-6 weeks at a project. Should you wish to stay for additional weeks, we suggest selecting a few, different projects and even trying different regions in Africa (Kenya, South Africa and Namibia). This allows volunteers to enjoy the different cultures and people in these wondrous areas.

What does the program fee cover?

• Airport reception/pick-up
• One-night stay in a local backpackers’ lodge (meal excluded)
• Transfer to project (mostly by local city, bus-liner or project vehicle)
• Introductory training course prior to the start of project
• Accommodations at the project site
• Meals at the project site
• Transfer to/drop-off at airport

Additional costs to volunteers:

• Additional accommodations/meals before and after the start/close of the program
• Personal expenses
• International airfare
• Visa
• Insurance
• Immunization
• Laundry
• Communications (phone, email, fax, etc.)