Are
you an adventure seeker, outdoor enthusiast & want to experience
a piece of the wild & untamed Africa, all whilst being able to
follow your passion for horses and riding & general Farm life? Then we have just the
right spot for you!
Whether
you are taking a gap year, a break from your busy job / career or
just lust for something new, we can accommodate you into our program
& guarantee a once in a lifetime experience!
Our Volunteers are part of the day to day Ranch life here in Namibia. Be assured to get a hands
on experience with the wide range of exciting activities:
- Ranch drives to our wild & free living horse herds
roaming around on the farm lands.
- Help out with the weaning process of the foals, halter - taming &
marking.
- Learn about the traditional way of colt starting & fine art of
horsemanship.
- Or do ground work and learn the basics of western riding.
- Take part in a daily training and schooling routine up at the cowboycamp.
- Cattle working: driving, sorting, roping, doctoring & branding!
- Join in on our cowboy trail
or star tours.
- Help us to keep our horses healthy and be there when there is a need.
- Sometimes of course you have to work from the ground, but 80% of your tasks will be directly related to horses.
What´s the emphasis of this program?
The emphasis of volunteer duties rely mostly around working with the
wild horses - assist with training and take part in general ranch work.
Where will the volunteers work?
The volunteers will word at the so called 'Cowboycamp'. The name comes from the former cowboy who used to life here. The Cowboycamp has many paddocks where the horses stay during the working days. It also has a big riding arena and 3 round-pens. There are enough possibilities to bend your horse up for cleaning and saddling and were having a small tack room with enough western saddles, bridals, halters and so on. If we have tour guests one task of the volunteers is it to help them to saddle up their horses, teach them what to pay attention to and of course to accompany the tour. Even if we have big tours for over a week, the volunteers are welcome to participate in every ride.
With whom will the volunteers be working with?
Your going work with the Saloon & Cowboy-camp Managers, and the Staff that helps out at the respective venues.
How old is the volunteer program?
Ranch Koiimasis has been accommodating volunteers regularly for the last 18 years.
How many volunteers may participate at once?
Up to 7
How much may the volunteers ride?
As
much as you possibly can & want. Most of the work gets done on
horseback, some days more, some days less. You will ride a variety of
different horses and will be able to learn a lot during your time.
What other tasks can wait for the volunteers?
- Feeding & watering Horses
- Cleaning & brushing
- Cleaning, oiling and repairing riding equipment; bridals, saddles, pads etc.
- Paddock cleaning
- Assist with any medical emergencies that horses may experience.
- Random Farm related activities.
Who are we looking
for? What do we expect from our volunteers?
The minimum age is 18 years. As the volunteers are
self-sufficient in their accommodation, i.e. cooking, washing etc. you should
be able to do this yourself. Otherwise, you should be open-minded and
adventurous to fully engage with life here. You don't have to be a horse trainer or
successful tournament crack to apply. Nevertheless, you should have a
certain basic experience, be safe in the saddle and not be afraid. You also
don´t have to be a western rider. We teach you all you have to know about
riding in western style and ranch working on horseback.
Why pay for volunteering?
Your payment funds go straight back into the program but mostly the
horses, this way the ranch can afford to keep a unique program like this
going especially during years of bad drought and thus ensure volunteers
have an experience of their lifetime!
What to take along & what to leave at home?
Here is a small, certainly not quite complete, packing list:
- Clothing: Practical & sturdy clothing &
solid shoes. If you do visit between the months of May - October don`t
forget to pack something warm, the desert nights are known to drop down
to chilly temperatures.
- Riding clothes: Jeans / riding pants, boots, riding
helmet / cowboy hat. Long sleeved shirts.
- Optional: small pouch for
camera or phone.
- International travel insurance (!)
- Hats: any kind of hat(s) that will cover most of your face & preferably ears too. The desert sun is harsh!
- Toiletries & other hygiene products
- Handy traveling medical aid pack
- Swimsuit / trousers & swim towel in case you want to take a dip in the lodge pool.
- Sunscreen (can be bought in Windhoek too but it`s cheaper at home!)
- Sleeping bag
- Mosquito net & Mosquito spray
- International plug (South African compliance)
- Torch
- Something to read, as there is no TV in your accommodation.
- A good pair of sunglasses that will stay on your nose whilst galloping through the middle of nowhere.
- Any other optional items eg: Camera, laptop, music box, powerbanks etc.
- Unfortunately any Hair driers, hair straighteners
or any other high power consuming devices won`t work on the ranch &
might as well be left at home.
(13)
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+
