Horse Volunteer Quick Guide

You have one day off a week, which you can request if you have a specific booking for an ac:vity or would like to rest.

Your everyday duties:

  • Morning Routine:
    Feeding 7 AM
    Checking Water, Remove dirt from water po0on, check water level & temperature
    Check Hoofs regularly, Check Horses for Ticks daily, Check for bruises, injuries or strange behavior – Report any observations to Cherise
    Grooming especially if horses are booked for a trail ride with guests
    Apply Fly Spray & Tick Repellent (if instructed by Cherise)
  • Evening Routine:
    Feeding 4.30 PM
    Checking Water again
    Ensure Saddle Chamber + Horse Food Storage is locked and safe for the night (windowsclosed)
    Ensure Water Tap is closed, no pressure on the water hose

After dinner meet Cherise (guide/manager) for the evening briefing. Note your additional duties for the next day.

Photo credit Lotty van Hulst

The following duties/experiences are conducted under mentorship:

  • Lunging the horses in round pen
  • Desensitizing Training (with mentorship)
  • Ground work, (Natural horsemanship principle)
  • Ride horses in the reserve with Cherise (see animal list)
  • Washing Saddle Pads
  • Prepare horses for Trail Rides booked by Guests
  • Tick Dip Spray or Oil weekly (as instructed by Cherise)
  • Taking horse temperature regularly and report to Cherise for protocol

ANIMAL LIST

Aepyceros melampus melampus  | Common Impala
Alcelaphus buselaphus caama  | Red Hartebeest
Connochaetes taurinus taurinus  | Blue Wildebeest
Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi  | Blesbok
Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus  | Common Waterbuck
Tragelaphus angasii  | Nyala
Tragelaphus oryx  | Common Eland
Tragelaphus strepsiceros  | Greater Kudu
Giraffa giraffa giraffa  | Southern Giraffe
Equus quagga burchellii  | Burchell’s Zebra
Struthio camelus  | Common Ostrich

Furthermore, to the above list of controlled species, there are also a number of uncontrolled species on the reserve such as Common Warthog, Common Duiker, Caracal, Serval, Scrub Hare, Cape Clawless Otter, Slender Mongoose, Banded Mongoose and the odd Leopard and Brown Hyena.

Activities you can book: (this can be paid at the lodge directly and booked on site)

Game Drive on Tractor & Trailer R170 per person
Nature bush walk with snacks R230 per person
Big 5 game drive R690 Oper person on Donokeng game reserve (note they have on included on the itinerary)
Fishing R220 per person (catch and release)
Reptile center R60 per person
Mountain biking R300 pp per hour
Kayak: R230 pp p/h
SPA (depending on treatment).

 

Financials/Rates:
2 week placement 800 Euro per person
Minimum stay requeirement 2 weeks
Maximum stay 3 months
Includes:
All riding activities and mentorship thereof
Accommodation
Horses
Transfers within the reserve
Excludes:
Food/Drinks
Additional activities listed (to be paid at the lodge directly)
Any meals outside the volunteer accommodation (for example at a lodge on the reserve, or on a town trip)
Transfer to and from the airport:
Our preferred supplier is STEPHENSON ADVENTURES who we book for you, at an additional cost. The transfer to and from the airport/reserve is 150 Euro door to door service.
Arrival Airport:
Your arrival airport is OR Tambo, Johannesburg
Please inform us on your arrival time to arrange the transfer

The reserve and accommodation

The reserve is conveniently situated just 30km from Pretoria and 85km from OR Tambo International Airport and is home to a variety of non dangerous animals.
There are four unique lodges on Zebra Nature reserve: Zebra Mountain Lodge, Zebra Stables, Zebra Bush Lodge, and Zebra Villa, offering a total of 63 en-suite rooms furnished with double or twin beds. Each lodge boasting its own swimming pool, restaurant and African boma.
Guests staying at the Zebra Nature Reserve can look forward to a range of fun family activities.
Enjoy nature drives and walks, mountain biking, kayaking or a visit to The Ndebele Cultural Village. This can be booked on site and paid separately.
Your accommodation is at a shared cottage, with shared accommodation with same sex, living room and kitchen. The facilities at the lodges can be used, and are in walking or riding distance .