top

Horse Rehabilitation Center Program

  • The best price guaranteed– starts at $950.
  • Pay your fees directly to the project
  • Help preserve the Big 5 wild animals of Africa
  • Immerse in authentic local culture, travel and get an experience of a lifetime

The Horse Rehabilitation Project is perfectly suited for horse lovers, those who want to learn about the various aspects of equine rehabilitation. Volunteers can help these horses improve with patience and kindness. Horses respond to gentleness while handling them, are forgiving and willing to please.

Volunteers can expect to get involved in regular riding, irrespective of their ability to ride. They may receive horse riding lessons or take part in riding trails on the Wildlife Care Center Adjacent to the Rehabilitation Center. During their daily activities, volunteers can possibly catch a few white rhinos, giraffes, hippos, warthogs and antelopes within sight.

Volunteers in this project are required to engage themselves in the activities with hands on approach. Volunteers will also be responsible for lunging, backing of young horses, feeding, grooming, tack maintenance, general care of the horses and general yard care.

This program is informal and relaxed, and volunteers are supervised throughout their stay. Volunteers are also given the opportunity to see places and do activities of interest in the area.

A Typical Day at the Horse Project

Volunteer with a horse

The day starts with grooming of all the horses. Then, depending on the volunteers’ skills, it is time for lessons or outride (2 – 3 hours, depending on level of fitness and competence).

This is followed by riding and/or lunging of problem horses and leading out of horses recovering from disease or abuse, and old horses. Included in the day’s activities is backing of young horses, which is dependent on the volunteer’s skills. The day ends off with grooming and checking of all the horses. Volunteers get breaks for lunch and tea during their busy schedule. Should there be horses needing vet care, then this takes priority and the other activities are arranged around this.

Fees and Dates

Except our registration fee of $299, our fees are as affordable as $950. The detailed fee structure of the Horse Project is as follows:

Duration Projects
1 Week N/A
2 Wks $950
3 Wks $1,400
4 Wks $1,850
5 Wks $2,300
6 Wks $2,750
7 Wks $3,200
8 Wks $3,650
Extra Week $500

Volunteers can arrive any day of the week, but it is better if they can arrive on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursdays and Fridays are a bit too close to the weekend (i.e. volunteers are hardly at the project, and they are then having time off).

Room/ Food

lunteering for this project. Beddings and blankets are provided, but you are required to bring your own bath towel as this is not provided.Volunteers are provided with room accommodation. 2 to 4 volunteers of the same gender are allotted with one room each. Rooms are also available for couples wanting to stay together, but this is subject to bookings and reservation – we cannot guarantee rooms as there are many volunteers volunteering for this project. Beddings and blankets are provided, but you are required to bring your own bath towel as this is not provided.

Volunteers are given 3 meals per day – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Snacks are not provided by the staff. Meals are given on the Forest Camp Lodge, which is located near the centre. It only takes 10 minutes to walk from the bush to the lodge, or you can hitch a ride on local vehicles passing by the lodge.

Examples of Meals are:

  • Breakfast (between 08H30 – 09H30) - toast, cereals, yoghurts, tea and coffee.
  • Lunch (starts at 13H00) - sandwiches, hamburgers, rolls and cold meat, pastas, salads.
  • Dinner (meet at the Rangers Cottage at 18H45, from where they depart for dinner) – lasagnas, roasts, vegetables, salads, pastas

Free time

Every week, volunteers can take a break from their daily routine and daily activities and participate on other activities. However, volunteers should remember that participating in these activities is not covered by the project fees and as such, they will have to participate in these activities using their own money. Some of the activities they can go to are:

  • Abseiling
  • River rafting
  • Hot air balloon flights
  • Bungee jumping
  • Biking
  • Visiting scenic spots such as the Blyde River Canyon
  • And many others

Major FAQ's

  • Where do I need to fly?
  • Those who want to volunteer should go to Eastgate Airport to take a trip to Hoedspruit

  • How can I get to the project?
  • Once the volunteers arrive at Eastgate Airport, they will be picked up by one of the project staff. They will then be taken to the project site immediately

  • What vaccinations do I need?
  • It is important that volunteers take their vaccine shots, especially malaria. While most of South Africa is free from malaria, the Kruger National Park isn’t. Therefore, it is advised that you take a malaria vaccination shot before you go on to participate in this project.

  • How can I communicate with family?
  • Volunteers will only be able to communicate with their families and friends through the Internet every once in a week, when they go out for shopping in the nearby town.

    For those looking to get in touch of their families and friends at all times, it is advised that they bring a mobile phone with them as this is more reliable. Be sure to take a SIM card that is capable of roaming services. Be sure to bring enough mobile credits as well, as you will not be able to replenish mobile credits while you are in the project area. However, you can buy and replenish your mobile credits by visiting the town once a week.

  • How safe is the project?
  • The project is very safe. However, when dealing with horses, it is advised that you be gentler and more patient as these horses have been subjected to neglect and abuse. Be sure to bring the proper equipment when going out with these horses and always follow the safety rules set by the project leaders.

  • Will there be someone to guide/supervise us?
  • Volunteers will be supervised throughout their participation in this project. Feel free to ask them any questions regarding the project.

  • Will there be other volunteers?
  • As this is a small project, there are only a small number of volunteers participating in this project, usually around 1-5. If you don’t like to feel alone, we can always contact you and have you partnered with another volunteer (or let you join with other volunteers).

  • Any other important information to consider?
  • Once you are done with your volunteer experience, you can go on various tours such as:

    • 7-day trip to Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls
    • 7-day trip to Okavango Delta
    • 5-day trip to Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls
    • 10-day trip to Okavango Delta and Chobe and Victoria Falls

NOTE:  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is derived from generic information about the country, and should not be used as a definitive travel guide. Travel information and situations abroad change constantly, and the information contained here may not be up to date. Participants should consult Helping Abroad staff or travel advisors to verify this information