GoEco > Africa > Zimbabwe > Horse Management and Lion Rehabilitation

Zimbabwe – Horse Management and Lion Rehabilitation

Fast Facts

Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in Africa or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.

This unique project combines both Horse Management and Lion Rehabilitation, providing volunteers with the opportunity to learn about the inner-workings of an African stable and participate in a world renowned rehabilitation program. The horse management program specializes in the training and managing of 40 cross-breed and thoroughbred horses for professional polo, polo crosse (a combination of polo and lacrosse), horse safaris, private lessons and game rides.

The Lion Rehabilitation Program works for the protection, conservation and rehabilitation of lions on the reserve. The African lion population is declining at a disturbing rate, so the goal is to reintroduce the offspring of captive-bred lions into the wild.

Location of the Project: Antelope Park, 10km from Gweru, Zimbabwe Midlands

Project length: Min 2 weeks – Max 8 weeks

Arrival Airport: Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport, Bulawayo (BUQ) or Harare International Airport (HRE)

Volunteer Work: Animal Care, Park Management and Conservation Education

Age: 18-60. Age Exceptions: Volunteers aged 17 may apply with parental consent. Volunteers over the age of 60 require a medical certificate.

Number of Volunteers: Up to 12 international volunteers

Important Note: Volunteers staying longer than five weeks will require a “temporary residence permit.” This costs an additional $500-600 USD, to be paid upon arrival.

What’s Included

Accommodations: Twin or quad rooms at volunteer camp

Food: Three meals per day are provided

Airport Transfers: Airport transfers are included on both arrival and departure days

Orientation: Orientation upon arrival to Antelope Park includes introductions to the park, stables, lion rehabilitation portion and project overview.

Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

What’s not Included

Flights, business visas (between $30 – $75 USD depending on nationality), travel health insurance, personal expenses

Location

Antelope park is a private game farm located 10km from Gweru town center, in the heart of the Zimbabwe Midlands. Covering 3000 acres, this game reserve is home to an incredibly diverse array of African wildlife and is best known for its African Lion and Environmental Research.

Volunteer Work

Horse management: As a volunteer, you will be responsible for the following tasks:

Guiding horse safaris for guests in the Reserve
Leading horse-riding lessons for groups of volunteers
Schooling and fitness training of the polo cross horses
Preparing polo cross horses for matches
Playing in club practices
Assisting with managing the stable
Attending or competing in club competitions around the country

Lion Rehabilitation Program: Your duties on this project will include the following:

Management activities such as fence maintenance
Species counting on the reserve
Food preparation
Making enrichment toys out of natural materials
Enclosure maintenance
Research on the release site

A typical day: Your day will start at 7:30 am when you will muster the horses into the stables from the reserve grounds, feeding them and checking for injuries. After taking a break for breakfast around 8:00 am, you could teach a horse-riding lesson, help with horse training, or guide a horse safari on the reserve. Lunch is at 12:30 pm, followed by learning or playing polo or polo cross. After feeding the horses and mustering them back to the reserve grounds, you will be free to spend your afternoon as you like.

You will volunteer in the stables from Monday to Friday, two of which will be half-days so you can enjoy some afternoons off. On Saturdays and Sundays you will be participating in the Lion Rehabilitation Program.

Living Arrangements

Internet icon Internet: WiFi is available for a small fee, though can be sporadic due to the remote location.

Laundry icon Laundry: Weekly laundry service. Laundry service is provided at an additional fee.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: You will be staying in comfortable twin or quad rooms at the volunteer camp, which include a swimming pool. Showers and toilet facilities are located separately and adjacent to the sleeping area. Accommodation upgrades are available for an additional fee.

Food icon Food: Volunteers are provided with three meals a day served at the main camp area.

Requirements

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

Minimum age of 18 (or 17 with parental consent)
Police clearance
Basic level of English
Good physical fitness
Open-minded and flexible attitude
Motivation to work with horses
Patience and enthusiasm
Immunizations (please consult your local travel clinic)

Travel Highlights

The Horse Management staff at Antelope Park are all competitive riders. There will be occasions where they will need to travel to compete around Zimbabwe. Previous volunteers have been eager to attend these competitions and are allowed to join at an extra cost. If you are an experienced rider there are opportunities to participate in club-level competitions too. During the polo crosse season, from April to September, you can also compete at various clubs, if you are interested.

The opportunities for traveling outside the reserve are endless. For example, you can take a day trip to Granite Ridge or the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. For a longer stay experience, you can spend three nights on a houseboat on the stunning Lake Kariba. For an excursion before or after your volunteer placement, you should consider a four-day trip through Miombo to visit Victoria Falls or to try out bungee jumping or white-water rafting.

Project Orientation (Included):

Upon arrival to Antelope Park, the following orientation will take place:
Introduction to the park, stables, and the Lion Rehabilitation Program
Meet and greet with all stables and park staff
Familiarization with where you will be staying
Full introduction into your role as a volunteer at Antelope Park

4-Day Victoria Falls Excursion Trip (Not Included):

During the low season, for an additional fee, volunteers may have the opportunity to participate in a 4-day/ 3-night trip to Victoria Falls. This trip to one of the Seven Wonders of the World offers the chance to bungee jump, go white water-rafting, ziplining, sunset cruising and more!