Moolmanshoek Wildlife Working Holiday

Early morning routines would include assisting with feeding and checking on horses around the stable yard, helping with grooming and turning out the stable horses that will not be in work for the day.

Daily riding includes natural horsemanship with Monde, swimming on horseback in the dam in the summer, trying your hand at triple training with some of the gaited horses, and joining the endurance training. On days that there are guests heading out on trail rides, you will need to help saddle up the horses and help the guests mount, and ensure they are happy with their horse and comfortable with the tack. You may be be given the opportunity to join these rides through the reserve. Being habituated to the wildlife, the horses get unbelievable close, creating some great photo opportunities. Experience the thrill of steep mountain trails, with breathtaking views over the valley!  Join our guests on full day picnic lunch rides, or day rides to the little hamlet of Rosendal where we enjoy a lunch and immerse ourselves in the life of a small country town, taking in the art gallery and surrounds. On occasion, horses need to be moved which gives those wishing to join to become involved in “mustering” the herd.  Very exciting, fast riding to help you live the Cowboy dream!

After returning from rides, horses need to be hosed down, and tack cleaned and checked, and packed away neatly into the tack room on the labelled stands and hooks. Tack is checked after every ride and thoroughly cleaned once a week.  Saddle blankets are washed once a week and volunteers are expected to help with this as well as being proactive to ensure that the stable and guest areas are kept clean and tidy at all times.

If the weather is good, you can also take the horses out for a swim in the dam or head out for a hike to the caves on the reserve. There is also the option of accompanying any guests that book one of the overnight horse trails on the reserve if these bookings are made during your stay. We have the option of overnighting in a Hiking Cabin in the mountains or a Sandstone Cave – a unique experience!

During your stay, you will be accommodated in the beautiful Sandstone lodge in a twin room, sharing with another volunteer. Each room has a bathroom-en-suite.  This is a short walk from the stables and equestrian club house, and the main reception and dining area of the lodge.  Every day, you will join the staff for lunch up at the main lodge or in the equestrian club house, while ingredients will be provided for you for self-catering for both breakfast and dinner.

Situated in “The Mews” building next to the stable yards, there is a small kitchenette for breakfast and dinner preparation.  You will be supplied with ingredients for preparation of your own breakfast and dinner.  Volunteers put their order in every Monday morning – any items that are not on the prescribed shopping list of ingredients will be for your own account, payable before your departure. These are things like soft drinks, snacks, specialty food, etc.

In the main lodge next to your accommodation, there is also a billiard room, TV lounge and small library for you to make use of.   An upstairs terrace and sunroom also are great spaces to enjoy the views over the reserve.  There is an honesty bar in both the lodge and the Equestrian club house –  volunteers keep a record of any drinks/chocolates/snacks that will be added to your bill before your final departure.  These facilities are shared with other guests – please be mindful of respecting the guests’ needs in these shared spaces. Occasionally, social evenings are planned with either a BBQ or dinner hosted by one of the staff members that you are welcome to join.

There are over 240 horses on the farm, mostly living out as a herd, with the freedom to roam across the ranch. Horses have always been a big part of Moolmanshoek, first being used on the farm as workhorses to herd cattle, check livestock and do fence sweeps. In 1990, Wiesman’s grandfather selected a top English breeding stallion, Olford Silver Tu Penny. This phenomenal stallion sired, amongst others, Sweep, Pula and Moya, Arabians that ranked in the top 5 in the world in Dubai.

When Wiesman took over the farm, he became good friends with Leon Liversage and they developed Moolmanshoek Endurance Horses, selecting and breeding horses for export and endurance racing. Over 20 of the horses they bred were exported to Dubai for endurance. In 1997, Wiesman registered his own Boerperd Stud, and has since been breeding both Arabians for endurance and Boerperd horses for trail and safari horses.

You will be introduced to the tack the team uses, which might be quite different to what you have used before. Wiesman was instrumental in the testing and upgrading of the legendary Trail Rider, and Kentucky Saddles designed and developed by Leon Liversage – These are used in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Asia by some of the top endurance riders.

Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve not only breeds phenomenal Arabs and Boerperd horses, but is also an incredible destination for discerning travellers that want to experience life in the African bush from horseback. The plains game found on the reserve include Black Wildebeest, Impala, eland, ostrich, red hartebeest, water buck, springbok, lechwe, oryx, warthogs, blesbok, black backed jackal, caracul, and the more elusive aardvark and aardwolf. Long stay interns can also opt to add on a 3-night stay in a nearby game reserve to get the opportunity to see elephants, buffalo and big cats.

For those that are staying longer, there is the chance to head to the nearby Nambiti Reserve. Springbok Lodge offer guests a chance to unwind in a picture-perfect setting while getting the chance to head out on twice-daily game drives. The Nambiti Private Game Reserve is a conservancy offering 22 000 acres of pristine, Malaria-free bushveld. The Reserve is home to the Big Five, as well as Cheetah, Hippo and over 30 species of plains game.

Head off on an open game-viewing vehicle before sunrise or in the afternoon with your field guide who will ensure that you get the most out of the experience and enjoy the abundance of wildlife and unspoiled African vistas. There’ll be a chance to quench your thirst and stretch your legs during the drinks break while enjoying the sounds and silences of the bush. The memory of sipping a steaming cup of Amarula coffee or enjoying a G & T with the sunset in such humbling surroundings is one that will be remembered forever.

3-night package from GBP345* per person sharing