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South Africa

South Africa is truly one of the most special horseback riding holidays I have ever done. Here you live for a few weeks on a horse farm in the middle of a nature reserve. Your days consist of horse riding, spotting zebras and giraffes, game drives by jeep and cooking with the other volunteers in the evening. It feels a bit like you are actually living there instead of being on holiday, which makes this trip so special. Important to know: this trip is for participants aged between 18 and 40 and you will stay at least 2 weeks on the horse farm.

During this trip, you’ll be staying at a horse farm, where you’ll be helping out as a volunteer. This means you’ll occasionally help with small tasks — such as checking that the horses have enough water in the evening — but otherwise you’ll mainly be riding and enjoying yourself. You’ll be living with other volunteers and sharing a room with an en-suite bathroom with one other person. There’s also a communal kitchen and living room where everyone gets together. You’ll sort out your own breakfast and dinner, but lunch is cooked for you every day and your room is cleaned.

You’ll receive show jumping and pole work lessons and go on regular trail rides. And that’s what makes this place so special: you’ll be riding in a nature reserve where you might well come across zebras and giraffes along the way. Don’t worry, though — there are no dangerous animals here.

As well as the lessons and scheduled rides, you can often do some extra riding. This is because the horses need to be exercised every day, so you’ll agree with the other volunteers who rides which horse. For example, you can ride in the arena, lunge the horses or go on a trail ride together (you’re not allowed to go out on your own). And as if that weren’t enough, you’ll go on a game drive in a jeep almost every day to spot wildlife — this time, the Big Five. This is simply included in the price. On Sundays, you can optionally take part in extra activities, such as a visit to Kruger National Park, an elephant sanctuary or beautiful nature walks. You’ll be given a list of these with prices, and you can choose whatever takes your fancy.

Prefer to do nothing for a change? That’s an option too, of course. Relax by the pool or pop into the nearby town during the day for some shopping, to visit the shops or grab a coffee. The accommodation is situated in a secure reserve, so it’s safe and you’re free to come and go as you please during the day.

You stay for a minimum of 2 weeks, but you can extend your stay for up to 3 months. The longer you stay, the better value it becomes per week. For example, you pay £1,975 (approximately €2,270) for 2 weeks, and £9,870 (approximately €11,350) for 3 months.

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DAY 8

Sunday

Sunday is the travel and arrival day. You fly to Hoedspruit Airport, where you are picked up and taken to your accommodation. This is usually a quiet day to arrive, check out your room, meet the other volunteers and get used to life on the horse farm.

Monday

The group will be divided into two groups so that everyone has plenty of riding time and can join the game drive. In the morning, one group goes on game drive while the other has a polework lesson. Later, the groups switch. In between, you help a little in the stable, there is theory, lunch and free time to relax. In the afternoon, one group goes on an outdoor ride and the other group again on a game drive. In the evening, you can optionally join the night check to make sure all the horses are okay.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, you will go on an outdoor ride with the whole group. Then you will help with the outreach, helping dogs in the area with food and medicine. After lunch and some free time you will help with the horses in the afternoon. Also this evening, you can join the optional night check again.

Wednesday

Wednesday looks a bit like Monday. The groups are again divided between game drives and jumping lessons. In between, you help in the stable, there is theory, lunch and free time. In the afternoon, one group goes on an outdoor ride and the other group again on a game drive. In the evening, there is another optional night check.

Thursday

Thursday you help with the horses in the morning and then it's Thursday Funday: fun activities with the horses, often games, riding without a saddle or other fun things. After lunch you can go to the tourism centre or the town to do some shopping, look around or have a coffee. Later, you'll help with the horses for a bit and in the evening there's another optional night check.

Friday

On Friday, you will start by helping in the stable and then go on an outdoor ride with the whole group. In the afternoon there is time for stable work, theory, lunch, free time or possibly a visit to the town. Later in the afternoon, the whole group will go on game drive together. In the evening, there is another optional night check.

Saturday

Saturday is usually excursion day. What you will do depends on that weekend, e.g. a market, event or other activity. In the evening, the whole group often goes out for dinner in a restaurant. This evening, too, there is an optional night check.

Sunday

Sunday is a day of rest. This is also the day when new people arrive and others leave. You can spend this day relaxing by the pool, reading a book or going on an optional excursion, such as a day trip to Kruger National Park. In the evening, there is another optional night check.

Accommodation

Accommodation consists of double rooms shared with another volunteer, each with their own bed. You have your own shower and toilet in the room and large windows with a view outside. And by view I mean real view - it is quite normal for animals to walk by. Once we even had zebras in the garden. You would be wise to close your windows when you leave though, as the monkeys have been known to come and "clean up" your room. There is a common living room and kitchen where you get together a lot with the other volunteers and there is a swimming pool where you can relax after riding. The accommodation is right next to the horses' paddocks, so you can walk straight from your room to the stables.

Available dates

Please choose a date to book.

South Africa

The guides on the South African safari trail whisper about the "Memory Pools," hidden watering holes that are said to hold onto the sounds of everything that has ever drunk from them. They say the water doesn't just quench your thirst; it shares its secrets.

During a long ride through the bushveld, Susja's horse, a sturdy Boerperd named Kalahari, suddenly veered from the path, pulling her toward a cluster of ancient Marula trees. Tucked behind them was a small, perfectly still pool, so clear it looked like a piece of the sky had fallen to earth. Trusting her horse, she dismounted and let him drink.

As Kalahari's muzzle touched the surface, the water didn't just ripple; it seemed to hum. When Susja squeezed and cupped her hands to drink, the world went silent, but her mind filled with sound. It wasn't a sound that reached her ears, but one that bloomed directly in her thoughts. She heard the thunder of a thousand wildebeest hooves from a migration long past, the low rumble of a lion's content sigh from the night before, and faintest of all, the rhythmic beat of ancient drums from a people who had danced on that very spot centuries ago.

Kalahari lifted his head, his ears twitching, listening to the same silent symphony. For a moment, they weren't just a rider and a horse in the present; they were visitors to all of the moments that had ever made that piece of Africa what it was, a land that remembers everything.

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Overview

14 days / 14 riding days
85
Riding level:
Beginner
Accommodation, a kitchen full of ingredients for self-catering, unlimited tea, coffee and water, horseback riding (lessons and outside rides), game drives in the Big 5 reserve, washing your clothes, wifi and transfers to and from Hoedspruit airport.
Flight to Hoedspruit, extra drinks outside tea/coffee, outings and activities you book yourself, such as the Kruger Park, the Big Swing or other excursions, and eating out.
Date Select
From €1975
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