My daughter and I are from the UK and came to AP as volunteers for the ‘holiday of a lifetime’ this summer. She’s 21 and I am 56 years (young), we are both experienced riders and came primarily for the horse’s option. What a fantastic experience! Ted and his team at the stables are excellent hosts and the horses are well-kept, well-trained and suited to all disciplines from dressage and jumping to mounted games and polocrosse.
As a seasoned happy hacker at home, I chose the safari rides mostly, it was amazing to ride alongside zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and impala out in the bush at sunrise or during the cooler afternoons. It was fast and furious at times! (although novices are looked after and a gentler option is always available).
We occasionally dipped into the wildlife and community volunteering options for a change, visiting a soup kitchen and a dog shelter in town which were interesting and rewarding experiences. The weekly lion feed is a must-see opportunity, as are the nighttime game drives.
The accommodation for volunteers is comfortable and all the staff are friendly and helpful. We enjoyed meeting other volunteers from all over the world during our stay and have made some lifelong friends – even though I am considerably older than the average age!
