Volunteer Encounter

I did the compilation project of Wildlife and stables and it was amazing! There we so many activities and communities to choose from and I meet so many people along the way, making plenty of life long friends

Had the time of my life at Antelope Park! Such nice people there, very warm and welcoming and so fun! Found friends for a lifetime from all over the world. The horses are so sweet and it was the perfect combo of work and fun - whereas the work was as fun as the activities in the afternoon. All in all I'd wish for everyone to experience this once in their life, it is truly unreal!

I had the most amazing week ever and wish I could have stayed longer! The staff are all lovely and couldn’t be anymore helpful and the other volunteers were all lovely to. The animals are so well cared for and it was great to learn so much about them and be hands on. Highly recommend if you are thinking about it, book it! You will have the best experience.

I had such an incredible time at antelope park on the stables project (with a couple days on wildlife). Everyone was so friendly, it felt like one big family and have definitely made friends for life. The project was run so well, with Martha as the Vol coordinator she was so organised and very very lovely!! Skye and Ted who ran the stables project were just so great. I learnt so much from them and they are the kindest people. The food that we had was so good! I will definitely be returning.

My stay with Volunteer Encounter in Zimbabwe Antelope Park this summer was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. I joined the wildlife conservation program, which was already incredible, but there was so much more to the experience than I expected. Seeing wildlife almost every day was surreal. It’s not an exaggeration! You regularly see rhinos, elephants, lions, zebras, and wildebeest. I even saw a kudu, which was really special. One of the absolute highlights for me were the sunrise rides with Ted. Those mornings were unforgettable. Ted is genuinely one of the nicest, most wonderful people I’ve ever met. Sky, one of the interns, was also fantastic, and honestly all the interns were amazing such fun, kind people who really make the whole experience even better. Massima is amazing and Marta is fantastic as well. There are also many opportunities to get involved with the local community. You can teach at the school, help with the soup kitchen, or join other community activities. Dancing with Sue and Tana during the community moments was such a fun experience. Tana is basically the community queen! Another huge highlight for me were the friendships I made there. In just the first few weeks I met people who became friends for life. We all live in different parts of the world now, but we still see each other and stay in touch, which makes the experience even more special. I would recommend Volunteer Encounter to anyone. It’s an unforgettable experience! Incredible wildlife, amazing people, and a community that welcomes you with open arms.

I had a fantastic 3 weeks at Antelope Park on Stables and Wildlife in Sept 2025. I thoroughly enjoyed all activities, especially sunrise and safari rides. I also enjoyed the optional activities on offer, e.g. Matopos. Antelope Park is a very special place, and all the people are amazing.

So everyday I tell my mum about my day and everyday I say the same thing “I’ve had the most amazing day” because everyday here is so magical I don’t think there has ever been a day where there’s not a smile on my face. Every single intern, member of staff and volunteer has been so welcoming and I’ve gotten on so well with every single person it feels like a family. I am volunteering on the stables and not only are all the horses so patient and so talented at what they can do from doing safari rides to polocross and cross country but all the stable staff like Skye and Ted are incredible too they’ve helped me grow as a person an become such a better rider teaching me so many things and growing my confidence. My highlight is the morning rides waking up in the morning and schooling the horses and going for a ride in the park whilst the sun is rising and all the animals are waking up the world feels quiet and so peaceful. I have learnt polo cross here which I never thought I would love as much it’s so much fun and so nice to get a bit competitive. I also really enjoy the parties we have on the weekends everyone getting together and having a few drinks and playing games together. I have loved every minute here and never want to leave it has truly been the best 4 weeks of my life and I wish I could never leave

The horses were great, the work was fun and meaningful. The accommodations were very good, the food was nice and the housing perfect. The people who were in charge were great. Il loved doing soup kitchen for the homeless and going to the orphanage was very sad but it made so much sense. Overall I felt like I was on another planet than mine, completely overwhelmed by Zimbabwe and it’s reality. I definitely recommend this trip.

I’ve been to AntelopePark for two weeks and they have been life changing. Truly one of the best experiences of my life. The staff is amazing, you have 24h assistance and they will make sure everything is fine. The horses are angels, you will fall in love with all of them

Antelope Park is truly one of the most memorable places I have ever experienced, and I can honestly say it changed me as a person. I was mainly involved in the community projects and wildlife work, and both were incredibly rewarding. The community initiatives felt impactful and well thought-out, and it was great to be part of projects that genuinely support local people rather than just observing from the outside. The wildlife side was equally memorable, giving real insight into conservation work and the challenges involved. I originally went for three weeks and ended up extending my stay for an extra week, which says a lot about how much I was enjoying the experience. I met some amazing people and made some amazing friendships. I also had some horse riding lessons with Ted, and I can't thank him enough for his patience - especially for putting up with me and the diva I definitely was at times. The staff I worked with on these projects were knowledgeable, supportive, and clearly passionate about what they do, which made a big difference to the overall experience. There's a real sense of purpose at Antelope Park, and you really feel that your time there is being used well. Since getting home, I've realised just how much I miss Antelope Park — the lifestyle, the environment, and especially the people. I left feeling like l'd gained a lot personally, and I already know I'll be back so I can get even more involved. Thank you for an incredible experience!

Almost a year after returning to the US, I'm still trying to hold on to Africa and relive the amazing experience I had at Antelope Park with some of the best people know. The staff at Antelope Park are truly wonderful people and care deeply about the work they are doing in their local community and with lion conservation. As Rosine says, "this isn't just a job, it's a calling". I'm so grateful that I had the rare opportunities to interact with African wildlife that I did, but also, to experience the love and hospitality of the people of Zimbabwe. I was also VERY fortunate to share this experience with some other amazing volunteers who made my time at Antelope Park so much fun! 10/10 recommend to anyone thinking of doing this, don't wait, just go!

The whole idea of volunteering with animals right outside your room was amazing! The property was huge and beautiful. The food was delicious (especially surprising for us because we were vegetarians). The staff and volunteers made the whole experience even better. 0 complaints! I would really go back if I had the chance to!

My week in Zimbabwe on the horse project was nothing short of incredible… short but so, so sweet. One week honestly wasn’t long enough; I’d recommend at least 2–3 weeks to truly soak it all in. Working alongside such amazing people made it even more special. Skye and Ted were the dream team - a wonderful duo who made sure every volunteer was involved in the care, the daily jobs, and the full experience. The variety of activities each day kept things exciting, and my confidence grew, whilst doing XC, more than I expected. I even got to try PoloX, which I absolutely loved. Seeing the safari animals up close was surreal such a special experience and I’ll never forget everyone going out of their way to make sure I saw a giraffe before I left. The evenings were just as memorable, especially the scavenger hunt and spontaneously jumping into the pool fully clothed (maybe not the wisest choice the night before a flight!). Missing the horses, the people, and the feeling of being there. I’ll cherish that time forever. I truly hope one day I’ll be back to make even more memories.

I truly had the time of my life at Antelope Park. From the beginning I knew this would be an experience I would never forget, and it turned out to be even better than I imagined. The staff were an absolute delight to work with, the volunteers were the most vibrant group of people I’ve ever been around, and the wildlife and horses were breathtaking. I don’t know any other place quite like Antelope Park. I would recommend it to anyone looking for adventure and one hell of a time :))

My experience at Antelope Park was nothing short of amazing. I was able to engage in various projects, meet wonderful people, and learn so much about the African culture and about myself as well. I enjoyed every minute of my stay there and cannot wait to come back soon!

I had the greatest time of my life! I have travelled a lot and never experienced a place that makes my heart feel fuller or been happier than AP! The staff the place the animals everything is incredible! I met the most amazing people and contributing to the program was an experience I will cherish for life!

Great place run by a team of amazing people passionate about what they do. Overall definitely recommend! Fantastic experience! While the horse programme does not include active daily engagement with the local community or focus on the wildlife, one is frequently given opportunity to participate in community projects and wildlife observation should this be one’s preference! I would certainly recommend this part as it is highly rewarding.

I loved this trip so much I was so gutted to go home I wish I could have stayed longer. From the activities, people, wildlife everything was amazing I had so much fun. The AP team were so good at looking after us and putting in effort to ensure we had the best time possible. I had to pinch myself on a daily basis ! I couldn’t recommend this trip more, I’m already planning to come back. If you’re someone looking for new experiences, loves horses, loves adventures and meeting some incredible people this is the place for you x

If you're considering the trip just do it. Don't overthink it, it was the best trip I've been on and I'm already planning to save and go back. I'm still in contact with some of the best people I met on the trip and the interns really helped the place feel like home. Riding everyday was such a gift and all the activities varied day to day, (show-jumping, safari rides, Polocrosse, cross country, horse swim, drop off ride, boundary patrol, carriage ride etc. ) I was never bored. I thought I'd be ready to go home after a month but I definitely wasn't, there was still so much to experience there. The atmosphere at AP is incomparable and the pool is such a luxury after stable chores. The cafe also saved me so many times when I needed a coffee or sugar fix and I spent way too much as the gift shop is so so lovely. The optional wildlife and community activities were a bonus I wasn't expecting - I did the lion encounter which was so fun and a day at the orphanage. The horses at AP also suit everyone from beginners to very advanced riders and I learnt so much from being able to ride different horses (I rode about 12 different horses whilst there). You can go into town and see the flee markets and I'm craving the bubble tea shop there, it was just a complete all round experience, it has culture, adventure (Vic falls trip), relaxation, so much laughter and beautiful sights to wake up to every morning. I cannot recommend this trip enough!

Visiting Antelope Park was truly an experience that I’ll never forget. Coming from Canada I wanted to see some nature and wildlife that may not be visible from where I live and I was amazed by the beauty of the park, definitely a once in a lifetime experience. What made it even more special was the warmth and dedication of the staff. Everyone went out of their way to make me feel welcome and cared for. Although it is nerve-wracking going to a new place with people you don’t know, I felt like I was at home within the first day of arriving. I was on the wildlife program and Jono was not only incredibly knowledgeable about wildlife but also had a great sense of humour that kept the energy high and the group engaged. Whether he was sharing stories, teaching us something new, or just cracking a well-timed joke, he made every day fun and memorable. His enthusiasm for the animals and the work being done at the park was contagious, and it made the whole experience that much more rewarding. Pip, who was also absolutely wonderful — so organized, approachable, and genuinely kind. Her passion for the park and the people in it really showed, and her presence made a huge difference in making my stay smooth. Antelope Park isn’t just a place to visit — it’s a place that stays with you with memories that will last a lifetime. I’m so grateful for the experience.