Equestrian Volunteering in South Africa

Volunteer at a premier game reserve that is home to the Big 5 and other majestic wildlife, including endangered species like cheetahs and white lions, as well as domestic animals like horses and sheep. This conservation project offers an incredible opportunity to witness animals in their natural habitats. As a volunteer, you’ll participate in vital day-to-day activities, which in turn broaden your knowledge of veterinary diagnosis and treatment. The reserve’s conservation work and habitat maintenance are essential in ensuring the safe coexistence of humans and wildlife. Contribute to their initiatives by assisting with primary and secondary (preventative) activities. Tasks depend largely on current needs during your stay. You could conduct general health checks, treat wounds and parasites during game capture, monitor lion kills found (which are rare!), and monitor behavioral characteristics among others. This program is available all year round. To be eligible, you need to possess an interest in wildlife and conservation. It is recommended that you bring your own laptop for documenting your learning. This is an ideal project for veterinary and animal science students.

Our exciting Endurance Training Programme based at Moolmanshoek, with over 240 horses, is waiting for you! Ideal for those passionate to learn about the sport, whether you are a seasoned professional, or you’ve never experienced an endurance race – this is a great adventure for intermediate plus and advanced riders. You'll train intensively across breathtaking landscapes, testing both mind and body. Under the mentorship of Wiesman Nel, an internationally acclaimed endurance rider, you'll learn the intricacies of the sport and prepare for competitions. Whether you aim to compete internationally or simply wish to experience endurance riding in South Africa, this program offers an unparalleled opportunity for growth, adventure, and bonding with exceptional Arab Endurance horses. Intermediate plus and advanced riding abilities accepted.

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love Volunteer! Love Volunteers is the most affordable way to volunteer and help local communities in developing countries! Why are we cheaper than other organisations? Firstly, we are just a handful of passionate people working hard to help volunteers and local communities around the world. We don't have huge overheads - no company cars, no downtown office - we're just volunteers who knew we could do a better job. Secondly, we work with local organisations wherever we can to keep administration costs to a minimum and also to feed as much money and skills into the local communities where we operate. All of Love Volunteers partner organisations have been fully vetted to ensure that, not only does a genuine need for assistance exist, but that the environments that we place our volunteers are safe and of high quality. Choose from one or more of our 200+ amazing community-based programs in 37 developing countries around the world. Every program has been personally visited by one of our dedicated staff members and is regularly audited to ensure it meets our high standards in terms of safety, sustainability, and local impact.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

Make a meaningful impact while gaining international experience with Connect-123’s Human Rights internship program. With placements available in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin, and Sydney, you’ll have the chance to contribute to organizations working on some of today’s most pressing human rights challenges. Our network includes watchdog groups, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, lobby groups, and think tanks. Depending on your placement, you may help develop educational workshops for immigrants, conduct peer education training, monitor and evaluate community-based initiatives, research political or gender rights issues, or contribute to reports on human trafficking, child labor, and other critical topics. Each internship is tailored to your background and interests, giving you the opportunity to build practical skills, expand your global network, and contribute to work that truly makes a difference. With flexible start dates and customizable program lengths, your life-changing global internship begins on your schedule.

Do you love horses? Then, volunteering at a Horse Ranch on the beach at one of South Africa's most beautiful landscapes is your dream placement! Tasks at the ranch include feeding, grooming, and caring for the horses, riding the horses, preparing rides, saddling and removing saddles, welcoming guests, and cleaning the equipment. The stables and paddock are also cleaned, plastic waste is removed from the beach and riding trails, minor repairs are made, and young and new horses are possibly trained. Before coming to the ranch, many of these horses were rescued from being mistreated by their previous owners. Their new owners at the ranch have over 30 years of practical experience in providing riding lessons, natural horse training, and rehabilitation for abused horses. Horseback riding tours with small groups of tourists are done daily, except when bad weather occurs. You can join tours along the beaches, dune forests, and typical fynbos landscapes of the Western Cape. You can learn a lot about the fascinating nature of the Western Cape. If you're lucky, you'll even spot Southern Right Whales while riding on the beach or swimming with the horses on warm days!

If you love equines, both horses and ponies, then the Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation project is the perfect volunteer project for you! Assist a dedicated team of horse rescuers with their work in an equine sanctuary in South Africa, from daily care and socialization to treatment and occasional rescues that take place across the country. Although experience is a huge plus, it is not a necessity and you will learn a lot about basic horse care while helping out on this project. Your role and the work/activities you are given while on the Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation project may vary and depend on certain factors, such as what is required at the time, weather, rescues, and others. You could take on these tasks: Feeding Grooming Cleaning tack and equipment Walking, socializing, and hacking Maintenance General farm work Volunteers with riding experience and who weigh under 70 kg may ride some of the safe horses on hacks and trails.

Join us for a unique volunteer experience where you'll work with horses, engage with local wildlife, and support the community through after-school programs, helping children with homework and meals. Located just 30 minutes outside Hoedspruit, Thandolwami Bushlodge spans 70 hectares of wild savanna, home to giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, elands, ostriches, nyalas, impalas, jackals, duykers, and sables. Our nine well-trained horses roam freely among the animals and are cared for in stables where volunteers help feed and tack them for outrides. Bambelela Horse Safaris offers immersive Volunteer Horse Safari experiences with a minimum commitment of two weeks. We welcome volunteers aged 18 and older, with group sizes limited to 4–5 people for a more personal experience. Riders must be at least intermediate level, as we do not accept beginners or novices. A weight limit of 80 kg applies.

Brand new for 2023, this program offers the incredible chance to work at a top-level showjumping yard, receive coaching from a professional showjumper, train horses at the yard, and learn from experts in all aspects of the professional equestrian field—all while soaking up wildlife opportunities in South Africa! Plus, have the opportunity to shadow some of the very best equestrian, wildlife, and sport veterinary experts in the country, gaining hands-on experience in different fields. Internationally acclaimed showjumper and FEI Qualified Coach Charley Crockart will show you the ropes and become your mentor during your time in this program. She will also become your coach, delivering lessons to improve your jumping skills. Gain invaluable competition experience with numerous show venues within a few kilometers of CC Equestrian and a number of options for show attendance each weekend. Local transport to shows is included in the package! An Equine Spa, which helps with soft tissue repair, is available for horses that need to recover after shows or that are undergoing rehabilitation. This program is perfect for aspiring equine vets and physios who want to gain hands-on experience!