Horseback Safari & Wildlife Conservation | A perfect way to explore the un-spoilt savannah game trails
With daily horse rides and hands on conservation work, this project is an absolute must for anyone who wants to combine horse riding with volunteer work.
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Duration
2 Hours
Tour Type
Nature and Wildlife
Group Size
17 persons
Location
Wedza, Mashonaland East - Zimbabwe
Overview
The project
Live and work in the heart of a 10,000 acre family-owned game park in the heart of Zimbabwe, and get involved in a world-renowned black rhino breeding and release programme. The conservancy has supported Zimbabwe's black rhino population since the mid 1980s, releasing 12 rhinos back into the wild to breed.
You can play a key role in securing the future of this endangered animal as you work alongside anti-poaching rangers, monitor wildlife herds and patrol the game park, all on horseback. You will also get involved in the daily care of the resident black and white rhinos, track and monitor two cheetah, and interact with the conservancy's elephants.
With daily horse rides and hands on conservation work, this project is an absolute must for anyone who wants to combine horse riding with volunteer work.
Horse riding volunteers experience a different Africa from other visitors, as they explore the game park on horseback, undertake fence and boundary monitoring and join the dedicated anti-poaching team for moonlight snare patrols. Camp out with your horse as you drive cattle around the game park, and interact closely with wildlife who not afraid or threatened by horses as they sometimes are by people or vehicles.
You will experience the amazing animal sitings, enjoy the African bush and do essential volunteer work, all on horseback, as well as having the opportunity to interact closely with rhinos and elephants and monitor other wildlife on the reserve.
The aim of the programme is to assist the established black rhino breeding and release programme, undertake patrols to better secure the conservancy and protect the animals, and collect meaningful information relating to rhino and wildlife conservation. You will also help educate the local children about the importance of protecting the natural environment and how they can play their part in conservation.
2 hour sessions are available daily throughout the year.
We guarantee that your experience on the programme will be life-changing!
Requirements
This is not a teaching programme - all volunteers must be able to ride when they arrive. No volunteer is allowed to ride without a helmet and there is a weight limit of 80kg. You must be able to confidently carry out a rising trot and canter and have had a number of years of experience of handling different horses. You must be confident you can handle a horse on your own and get out of potentially difficult situations.
Especially suitable for
Highlights
Food & Beverages - You will have three meals per day prepared by the staff and served buffet-style. Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements can be catered for.
Accommodation - Your home will be at Imire Lodge. A classic farm-house offering welcoming family style hospitality, fine home cooking and unsurpassed game viewing. The property has a dormitory sleeping five and four twin / double rooms. There are three bathrooms with shower, bath and toilet plus three outside solar showers.
The house is fully equipped with a kitchen, laundry, solar lighting, small generator for power outages, bar and verandah. There is a large garden with outside pool. There is no WiFi at the volunteer house, but there is 3G signal and a local SIM card can be purchased on arrival into Harare International Airport.
What's included only for participants who choose the Voluntary Equine Care Program
Whats not included
Wildlife conservation goes hand-in-hand with community education and we believe that a sharing of knowledge and culture is key to the future of our wildlife heritage. Volunteering with us is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a new country and culture and experience day-to-day life in Africa, while giving back to an important conservation cause.
Details on arrival
The project runs every Monday throughout the year. Note that inclusive transfers are at 1500 from Harare International Airport for arrivals, and return flights should be booked for after midday.
If you would like to stay more than two weeks, you can combine the Horse Riding Programme with our Rhino & Elephant Conservation Programme.
The riding programme has set start and end dates throughout the year.
Enrollment availability for 2023 is as follows:
October 9th-23rd: 9th-16th FULL, 16th-23rd one space available
November 6th-20th: 6th-13th one space available, 13th-20th FULL
December 4th-18th: four spaces available
2024 availability is as follows:
January 8th – 24th
February 5th – 19th
March 4th – 18th
April 1st – 15th
May 6th – 20th
June 10th – 24th
July 8th – 22nd – FULL
August 5th – 19th
September 2nd – 16th
October 7th – 21st
November 4th – 18th
December 2nd – 16th
Payment terms
Important information
1. Our services are free of charge for volunteers! All program fees are charged directly by Imire Rhino Conservation. Africabooking receives a commission from Imire Rhino Conservation to run the platform. So ensure that you have read and accept the Terms and Privacy Policy as this document contains important information (e.g travel insurance, visas, your money, health etc) you need to know before you depart on tour.
2. This service can be linked with a number of our other services, including car rental options, Victoria Falls tours, Local Events among many add-ons. If you are interested to enhance your tour further, please contact us to receive a list of all the available options to suite your time frame and budget.
3. All information provided in this dossier is subject to change without prior notice. Changes would always be in consideration of your safety first and a better quality experience where possible. Overnight accommodation stops can change without prior notification, depending on road or weather conditions or any unforeseen circumstances.
4. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the properties listed in this dossier, these are to be used as a guideline only. We recommend that you understand the most up to date version of this tour dossier one week prior to your tour attendance date, however, changes are possible within 7 days prior to your tour departure.
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Itinerary
Details on arrival
Admissions run every Monday throughout the year.
Details on arrival
Admissions run every Monday throughout the year.
Note that inclusive transfers are at 1500 from Harare International Airport for arrivals, and return flights should be booked for after midday.
If you would like to stay more than two weeks, you can combine the Horse Riding Programme with our Rhino & Elephant Conservation Programme.
The riding programme has set start and end dates throughout the year.
A Day in the Life
Voluntary Equine Care Program
A Day in the Life
Voluntary Equine Care Program
Horse riding volunteers will usually get up around 6.00 - 6.30am to get started before the day heats up.
Have breakfast and pack your water bottle and a packed lunch; feed and groom the horses and head out into the game park to locate the sable and blesbok antelope. Count the size and composition of the herd, assess the condition and number of any babies and check the health of mothers.
Locate one of the baby giraffes and check the health and location of baby and mother.
After a packed lunch and a short rest, sitting under the shade of the msasa trees, or on top of one of the viewpoints, get back onto your horse and head to one of the far-flung areas of the park, checking for snares, fence damage and evidence of fires or traps. Make your reports to the Game Park Manager who may task you with fixing any broken areas or repairing fireguards.
Then its time to drop the horses off, feed and groom, before heading back to the volunteer house for an evening swim to cool off before a much needed and hearty dinner!
Typical day
You're guaranteed to acquire hands on skills through this Voluntary Equine Care Program
Typical day
You're guaranteed to acquire hands on skills through this Voluntary Equine Care Program
There is no such thing as a typical day, but swipe next to learn about some activities which you will almost certainly be involved with during your stay:
Horse management and general equine care:
Learn to ensure the overall wellbeing of horses in a variety of situations, such as boarding, training, transport, and breeding
Horse management and general equine care:
Learn to ensure the overall wellbeing of horses in a variety of situations, such as boarding, training, transport, and breeding
Horses need daily care to stay healthy, including access to clean water, food, and turnout someplace safe with shelter.
Anti-poaching support:
Reduction in poaching rates through fundraising and support. – Supporting revenue streams for the continuation of the conservation through traversing fees
Anti-poaching support:
Reduction in poaching rates through fundraising and support. – Supporting revenue streams for the continuation of the conservation through traversing fees
Ensure the conservancy is a safe and secure environment through regular and extensive horse patrols
Undertake anti-poaching patrols on horseback, conduct snare sweeps and boundary patrols
Undertake moonlight patrols and camp-outs
Assist with the communication of conservation messages to local children
Game park work:
Park rangers perform a variety of tasks and functions depending on the needs of the area within which they find themselves. By joining this program, your helping hand will be required in assisting these heroes.
Game park work:
Park rangers perform a variety of tasks and functions depending on the needs of the area within which they find themselves. By joining this program, your helping hand will be required in assisting these heroes.
Provide daily assistance to the Game Park Manager to ensure the effective running of the reserve
Assist in horseback game counts and animal welfare monitoring
Locate and assess specific herds around the game park
Endangered species conservation work:
Learn to track collared rhino and cheetah using Learn to track collared rhino and cheetah using telemetry.
Endangered species conservation work:
Learn to track collared rhino and cheetah using Learn to track collared rhino and cheetah using telemetry.
Observe social interactions and monitor the behaviour of the black and white rhino, cheetah and elephants
This part of the programme is not always done on horseback
Carry out research projects and data collection on their feeding behaviour and movements
Cattle ranching:
Patrol the park to find lost cattle and check for new calves, assist with cattle counts and dipping
Cattle ranching:
Patrol the park to find lost cattle and check for new calves, assist with cattle counts and dipping
Monitor the welfare of the cattle herd and move cattle to different sections of the reserve
Work with the Cattle Team to conduct health inspections
Free-time activities:
Explore this national monument and marvel at ancient rock art paintings that date back 2000 years
Free-time activities:
Explore this national monument and marvel at ancient rock art paintings that date back 2000 years
During your leisure time you may go on walks and hikes around the reserve or to local places of interest; go fishing or canoeing on one of the many dams or swim in the pool at the volunteer house.
We highly recommend a weekend visit to Victoria Falls (a 1 hour flight). This can be organised when you are at the programme
Travel Styles
Nature & Adventure
Activities
Facilities
Wifi
Gymnasium
Mountain Bike
Satellite Office
Staff Lounge
Aerobics Room
Tour Location
With daily horse rides and hands on conservation work, this project is an absolute must for anyone who wants to combine horse riding with volunteer work.
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