Horse Riding Working Holiday Zimbabwe

HORSE RIDING WORKING HOLIDAY ZIMBABWE

2 Weeks: From GBP £1589

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WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING TO VOLUNTEER, ON YOUR GAP YEAR OR ENJOYING A CAREER BREAK – COME JOIN US!

Working with horses abroad is one thing, volunteering with horses at an African stables is a unique experience, unlike anywhere else in the world.

Abroad in Africa, the vet doesn’t live 5 minutes down the road, medicine and equipment isn’t always readily available and tack can’t be ordered off the internet. As a result, working abroad at an African stables requires imagination (improvisation often being a necessary tool!), confidence, hard work and determination. You will receive a hands-on experience, helping to manage the stables, trying your hand at basic veterinary tasks, shoeing horses and gaining experience you often won’t get when working in other countries. Possibly a great addition to a gap year?

As an intern you will gain experience in the daily running and management of a Zimbabwean stables. The stables caters for horse-riding lessons, horse safaris, jumping, dressage, carriage safaris and polocrosse, while soaking up the essence of the African bush. You will get the opportunity to ride alongside plains game such as zebra, giraffe and wildebeest in the game park, take that giraffe selfie, swim with horses, learn polocrosse and participate in hands-on work with 10 or more horses.

Based on a beautiful lodge, this project runs alongside several other volunteer and gap year programmes, including a lion release programme and community projects. As a result, they are lions on the property, 4 resident ellies and there are plenty of other volunteers to interact with.

QUICK FACTS

	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
	Harare/Bulawayo International Airport
	Open All Year
	2 – 12 Weeks
	Group Size: Max. 16
	Minimum of 2 guests
	All Riding Levels

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Get to know the African bush, and ride alongside plains game, while exploring the savannah grasslands on horseback
Learn and play polocrosse
The opportunity to ride through dams and swim alongside the horses
Getting to help and join onto the infamous overnight safaris which include a game ride, horse swim and sleeping out in the bush under the stars
Staying at Antelope Park and being able to enjoy its other activities, such as its lion research and release project, elephant herding and of course on hot days – the swimming pool!
Experience local Zimbabwean culture by meeting and working with the local community
Optional trips are available to see more of Zimbabwe’s natural wonders and wildlife areas such as the world famous Victoria Falls, Matopus National Park, and the ruined city of Great Zimbabwe
Make friends for life with the other international volunteers and interns

THE DESTINATION

As you turn off the main road through Gweru, heading for Antelope Park, you enter beautiful, untouched bush country. In every direction, as far as the eye can see, are vast grass and scrub lands dotted with Africa’s iconic acacia trees.

This large piece of paradise will provide the base for your horse placement. Antelope Park itself has its own private game reserve which is home to giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, impala and several other types of plains game. The reserve and the surrounding country makes for excellent riding terrain and there is nothing better than setting out each morning at sunrise and watching the sun’s rays light up the long grasses.

Antelope Park itself provides shelter for 4 rescue elephants. There is often a large group of volunteers from across many projects and you will eat and sleep alongside them – making friends from all over the world. Zimbabwe is a stunning country with spectacular sights that should not be missed. Options for excursions to Victoria Falls, Matopus National Park and Lake Kariba are available and highly recommended!

DATES & RATES

Arrivals every Monday – get in touch to find out about available dates.

2023 RATES
2 Weeks / 3 Weeks / 4 Weeks
£1589 / £2158 / £2708

5 Weeks / 6 Weeks / 7 Weeks
£3208/ £3708 / £4208

8 Weeks/ 10 Weeks / 12 Weeks
£4708 / £5708 / £6708

Any stays over 4 weeks also require a Temporary Work Permit. This is easy to organise once in Zimbabwe but does cost USD$500

Budget USD800 – USD1500 extra for trips to Victoria Falls, Activities, Day Trips, Snacks and other personalIN expenses.

INCLUDES & EXCLUDES

Price Includes

Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at our Safari Camp dining area
Unlimited tea and coffee throughout the day
Weekly laundry service during your stay
The service of a cleaner
All riding activities on site: polocrosse, horse swims, carriage rides, trail rides etc
Elephant interaction
The chance to experience community projects

Excludes

All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other)
Return flights to Harare or Bulawayo International Airports
Any Visas required
Your first overnight horse safari – after that it’s free
Any activities and excursions outside of your planned itinerary in Zimbabwe e.g. visit to the Victoria Falls
Personal insurance cover for the duration of your placement, which is expected to include cover for repatriation
Soft drinks and other food items not included in your meals

YOUR ITINERARY

** Due to the flexible nature of the placement, and the joys of working at an African stables, a fixed routine isn’t always effective. However, listed here are some of the activities that will make-up your placement and become part of your ‘every day’.

Induction to the stables

You will partake in an induction to the horse-riding safety guide lines, guiding conduct, lesson guidelines, schooling of horses. Meeting and greeting with the horses and learn about their unique traits, characters and levels of schooling. Learning and assisting in management of tack, in particular saddles, fittings, and uses for Polo, Safari or different breeds.

Sunrise Rides

There is no better way to start the day than riding out into the bush as the sun rises over the horizon, its rays lighting up the tall grass. Some morning’s you have the option to go on a sunrise ride, cantering across the plains and keeping a careful eye out any game.

Daily Running of the Stables and Activities

At any time, there may be 10 to 30 horses of all temperaments and levels, from calm schoolmasters to lively youngsters that need additional training. Daily activities depends on which horses are at the stables and what their needs are.

Assisting initially as a back-up guide on guest safari rides and sometimes working towards acting as lead guide, depending on your length of stay. You will participate in creating a visible presence on the reserve by helping on guest rides. You will also have the opportunity of taking out some of the younger horses to help train them up for out rides and getting them used to the wildlife. These rides also allow you to enjoy some faster riding and canters.

Ability dependent, you may have the opportunity to instruct horse-riding lessons for groups of volunteers from our other projects at Antelope Park.

Schooling and fitness training of the polocrosse horses and practicing the sport yourself – stick and balling and preparing the Saturday matches!

There is the opportunity, depending on your level and which horses are available, to either practice you own jumping on the experienced jumpers, or help bring on some of the youngsters. There is a cross country course too.

You will usually ride twice a day. Each day, you will also assist with the stable and horse management – Cleaning tack, turning the horses in and out of the fields, grooming, tacking up, helping to feed etc.

Veterinary Experience

With over 30 horses it is likely you will get the chance to help with basic veterinary care and gain a greater understanding of caring for horses, particularly in Africa.

Club Competitions

You may get the chance to attend club competitions around the country depending on whether Antelope Park plan to compete. Depending on how long you are staying, you might get the opportunity to join and compete in one of these competitions. This would be at an extra cost.

Overnight Safaris

Overnight safaris are always a highlight of the placement. You will spend the day riding alongside game in the reserve. At the dam in the reserve, you get the opportunity to swim with the horses and cool off before heading towards camp. Your camp for the night is based out in the bush. Enjoy sleeping under the stars and wake up to a cooked breakfast as the sun rises over the water nearby – stunning. This is at an additonal cost of USD90 per person.

Tours and Trips

Victoria Falls – 4 days/3 nights USD400 pp

Victoria Falls is the adventure capital of the world, plus it is situated on the border of the world’s largest conservation areas! From jumping off bridges to cruising down rivers, you’ll be able to tick a number of items off your bucket list from this incredible destination.

Motopos National Park – USD150

This is your chance to see the amazing white rhinos on foot in the stunning hills of Matopos National Park. You will learn everything there is to know about the fauna and flora from your professional safari guide as you trek through these historic lands of Zimbabwe.

Free To Be Wild – USD120

Spend the day in Bulawayo at this wildlife rehabilitation centre, specializing in primate rescue and rehabilitation. You will have a tour of the sanctuary, have the opportunity to walk with baby baboons and interact with the various animals including Monkeys, Bushbaby’s, Klipspringer & Impala

THE ACCOMMODATION

One of the highlights of this internship is that you will be based at Antelope Park Private Game Reserve providing you with a full-time nature and wildlife experience throughout your stay.

You will be sleeping in twin or quad room thatched accommodation at the main reserve camp. Here you are situated next to a beautiful dam and will have the opportunity to use the guest facilities which includes a swimming pool, canoes, sundowner deck, bar and coffee shop.

Interns have separate shower & toilet facilities to the rest of the camp which are located adjacent to the sleeping area. Your room will be cleaned daily by the housekeeping staff, and free use of the laundry service is available to all interns. You will also enjoy 3 wholesome cooked meals a day prepared for you by the camp staff.