Zimbabwe – Horse Management and Lion Rehabilitation

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.

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.

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

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

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

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)

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!