Mkulu Kei Horse Trails

Working Holidays

Equestrian students, pass on your equine knowledge by teaching, guiding and helping our riding clients on the out rides and an opportunity to transfer your skills to underprivileged local black children in our development programme. During your working/gap holiday put your horse riding and equine knowledge into practice and gain experience with sick or injured horses and work with abused and rescued equines.

This is a "hands on" equine experience; no hours of cleaning tack and mucking out stables get to the part of working with horses and learn learn natural horse behaviour and "join up" techniques. Volunteer work with horses at Mkulu Kei horse trails and you could help lunging, halter training young horses, schooling in an outdoor arena, ride through game or horse ride on the beach out ride helping clients.

A South African working riding holiday opportunity on the Wild Coast, Eastern Cape. Mkulu Kei horse riding holidays a gap year safari with lots of horse riding both in the game and on the beach. A very affordable option of a holiday with horses and hours of riding on the beach. Small groups of students, working and riding with horses of all ages. An opportunity to see our holistic approach to horses and learn how to communicate with horses and join up. On a horse back riding holiday, learn equine skills and use your equestrian knowledge to teach clients and underprivileged black children to ride or get horse riding lessons. Work with rescued and abused horses. Gain work experience for tourism and equine related jobs on your gap year or career break. Have a home base and network with South Africans to extend your holiday in South Africa. A letter of reference on your completion of your riding working holiday experience and the chance to join a Wild Coast overnight trail at a substantially reduced rate.

Gap year adventure students can volunteer to help with school and children groups at the adventure centre with activities, obstacle course, abseiling and paintball and be involved with hiking and other eco adventure tourism experiences.

* Stay 7 days - one year. We try to accommodate you with your overseas travel plans and have no fixed dates.

* Full board and lodging included in daily rate. See below.

* Different options and gap year packages to suit you. Rates are calculated per DAY or part there of. See below.

* No riding skills required through to advanced riders, the best volunteer horse back destination.

* Rates include all meals, horse riding and shared accommodation.

Join us on a horse adventure in South Africa from one week to a 90 day period, any volunteer may request to extend their stay or change their daily rate at any stage by giving us 48 hour notice period.

If you are intending to stay for longer than 90 days, it is worthwhile applying for a visa in your home country before you travel.

Volunteers on a working holiday may request to join an existing over night trail at a quoted and reduced rate, as a second guide.

For those who are on a 6 months or more gap year, a four-day overnight trail will be included in your daily rate.

Contact us by email for availability for your horse riding adventure & working holiday. Tell us about yourself, your riding capability, expectations and length of stay.

cheryl@mkulukeihorsetrails.co.za

This is not a free horseback riding holiday, you pay a small fee to enjoy our privileged life, learn from our horsemanship techniques and gain equestrian experience.

This is an adventure travel volunteer holiday, not employment, without the paying volunteers we could not finance the development project or be in the position to take in unwanted and injured horses.

We only invite 1 to 6 volunteers at a time, into our home, to experience a personalised equine experience, a horse riding working holiday of a lifetime. The gap year on a working horse riding establishment in Africa and live your dream. No two days are the same and you can decide what kind of experience you are looking for. Come during our government school holidays and you are going to spend many hours in the saddle helping our riding clients, alternatively come out of season and spend more time schooling horses in the arena and working with younger horses. A combination of the two will give you a good equine experience and plenty of time in and out the saddle. We cater for all levels of horse riders from novice through to experienced, all that is required is that you are an animal lover, a people person, enthusiastic and willing to learn.

A personalized equine environment to be with passionate, knowledgeable family at a popular riding establishment and tourism destination. Tourism and equine students; enjoy an African horse riding experience, South African hospitality, and good conversation with like-minded people. An excellent opportunity to get an intensive horse riding experience, learn our "join up" procedure, natural and holistic approach to horses with lots of riding. Be a part of our day-to-day care routine of the horses at a busy horse trail company and riding stable. Help with our development project to teach the local black children riding skills and the rehabilitation of rescued and abused horses. With the added extra of a letter of reference on your completion of your riding working holiday experience and the chance to join a Wild Coast overnight trail at a substantially reduced rate.

Come ride with us....

• See Working holiday comments
• See Working holiday photo gallery
• See Riding development programme
• See Day Rides
• See Day Rides Photo Gallery
• See Pony Camp
• See Pony Camp Photo Gallery
• See Overnight Trails
• See Our Horses
• See our Geldings and Stallions
• See our Mares
• See our Homestead and Stud
• See Humorous Photos
• Lalapanzi Adventure Centre (New)
• Activity Photos (New)

The sound of the horse's hoofs on the sand or splash of the water will live with you forever. Combine your dream of horse riding on the beach on a working holiday in South Africa.

Take a break from work or studies and join us at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails. A voluntary gap year working with horses with is us a great way to gain working experience in both the horse and tourism industry. Although your main tasks will be working with the horses there will be a lot of contact with our riding guests, a great way for you to network with South Africans and form contacts and open doors with people that you can extend your stay in South Africa with. Applicants must have good people skills and an enthusiastic outlook on life.

Take a gap between studies or from the office with our volunteer exchange program. Maybe you are looking at a career working with horses or tourism? Burnt out and need a totally different experience, a change in direction. Just want to work with horses outside in the sun and experience a different culture?

At Mkulu Kei Horse Trails we offer you the opportunity to work with different aged horses, pass on your knowledge to others by working at a stud and riding stable. You will improve your knowledge, riding skills and equestrianism experience and give you the chance to use your qualifications and gain work experience. Students; this working safari riding gap experience is for you. Maybe you never had the chance to ride and want to learn, on your travel adventure we can give you an intensive learn to ride experience.

Volunteer for a week or longer on a gap year holiday and you could back youngsters, train green horses, school, lunge and exercise going trail horses. Learn the day-to-day management of an equine establishment at a riding school and become a second guide on day rides and experience an overnight trail. Spend time teaching at the development project or giving riding lessons, work with foals, abused and rescued horses. Each day is different, no mucking out stables or endless cleaning of tack, get to the task of working with the horses both in and out the saddle. Lots of good beach riding on quality horses and awesome terrain.

While some of us get a chance to ride others never have the privilege.

At Mkulu Kei Horse Trails we offer you the opportunity to work abroad in Africa with different aged horses and ponies at a stud and riding stable. We have numerous products. Day rides, overnight trails, kids pony camps, pony rides, lessons and our development project, teaching the local black kids to ride. You will get to experience who we are and how our stable is different. We have a holistic approach to our horses and use natural horsemanship techniques. Cheryl was determined that she would pass on her equestrian knowledge to others, being one of the few trail companies that actually teach the clients about Equus, horses and how to ride in an informal environment. It is our aim to improve the lives of horses generally and if we can explain how to communicate with horses their lives will be better. We aim to encourage new riders giving them the basics of riding.

Come visit us, here is an opportunity to see South Africa. Help at a working equine farm. Experience everyday living in our incredible country, meet South Africans either living in this area or on holiday, extend your network of friends in South Africa. Learn the culture both black and white, (It is politically correct to say black, white or coloured when referring to race in South Africa). The saying "Just now" in South Africa means when it happens, not immediately. Africa has its own unique time frame. Experience first hand why our "Rainbow Nation" is so special and sometimes complicated.

Then look at visiting other areas of South Africa, have a safe home base. We can help you with ideas as to where else to go and what to see and can advise what not to do for security reasons. Talk to our riding clients and get contacts and ideas.

Working students from abroad or outside South Africa are required to hold a valid passport which expiry date at least 6 months later than your intended date of return to your own country.

Visit this link for more information and advise on travel working visas. Visa information.

Volunteers from the UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are not required to pay for a visa to enter South Africa. You will be granted a temporary visitor's permit valid for 90 days when you present your passport on arrival at the airport in South Africa. However if you are intending to stay for longer than 90 days, it is worthwhile applying for a visa in your home country before you travel. This will save you the trouble of having to extend your visitor's permit once you are in South Africa. To extend in South Africa there is a small fee and you will need to go to the Home Affairs office in East London one month before your visa expires.

Accommodation

(Sharing). Is in our home overlooking a beautiful area, with rolling hills and dams or in another house on the same property, depending on numbers of volunteers at the time.

With horses grazing outside your window, watch the inter-play and pecking order of a herd of horses from the veranda. Check out the awesome African sunsets. Experience a braai and South African food.

All meals are taken with our family, an all-inclusive package on your working / gap vacation and we open our home and hearts to our volunteers.

Why should I pay to work?

This is an adventure travel volunteer holiday, not employment. Without the paying volunteers we could not finance the development project or be in the position to take in unwanted and injured horses.

We only want those who really want to be here to help, learn and work. Many years ago we had a student who refused to get out of bed but he was happy to eat the meals. We had one volunteer (mommy booked her in) that did not like animals! Why come? When the dogs or cats came near her she pushed them away with her foot, and hit a horse in the face because she thought it was going to bite her. Not acceptable. Please if you don’t want to be here don’t take someone else’s place.

Volunteering is an affordable, inexpensive holiday option; on each ride you are riding a horse that we could have used to earn revenue. We have done alterations to the house to accommodate you plus there is your living expenses to consider.

Without your extra pair of hands we would not have successfully rehabilitated so many abused and neglected horses. It is time consuming to get their trust and work through issues and they require constant reassuring and handling.

In the high season (school holidays) the development project must be put on hold, although we invite a few boys to join the ride depending on the level of ride.

Horseback riding students and volunteers will be allocated tasks according to their riding ability. You could work in teams or as an individual on different projects and could find yourself painting poles and jumps, grooming, halter training foals through to backing youngsters, schooling going horses with potential, jumping, helping with medical problems, working with abused and neglected horses, pulling out foals, helping with teaching in the pony camp, help around the stable and being a second guide / instructor. You will get lots of time to ride different horses and you will get to ride horses on the beach regularly. No hours of cleaning tack or mucking out stables.

Option 1. A very affordable option

Duration: 7 days - 14 days. R 395 per person sharing, per day or part there of.

Duration: 15 days - 90 days. R 275 per person sharing, per day or part there of.

Duration: 90 + days. R 200 per person sharing, per day or part there of.

For a gap year experience longer than 6 months contact us for a quote.

For those who are on a 6 months or more gap year, a four-day overnight trail will be included in your daily rate.

Volunteers on a working holiday may request to join an existing over night trail at a quoted and reduced rate, as a second guide. By joining a trail as a volunteer you get a very reasonable rate for a horse riding adventure on the Wild Coast.

The riding volunteer will be allocated tasks according to their equine experience. If you say you are a good rider we expect you to be competent to school a horse without supervision and be comfortable enough in the saddle to assist our clients as a guide. Willing to assist other volunteers less competent in the saddle and interacting with our riding clients. We take limited non riding volunteers at a time.

If there is work you are more than happy to help, any hour, any day. You work with us and play with us and become part of our family lifestyle. You will be given time off to just chill or visit the beach, local watering hole etc. It is recommended that you have a valid drivers license.

* Accommodation

* Meals (Please inform us of any special dietary requirements).

* Laundry

* Emails - check mail on internet after hours

You will need to bring:

• Drinks, soft drinks, cigarettes, sweets

• Toiletries

• Cell phone

We reserve the right to accept or deny the requests and to change the daily rate should a volunteer book on option 1 but not participate.

Please if you don't want to be here don't take someone else's place.

Take advantage of a reduced daily rate of our overnight trails. This is a very inexpensive way to extend your stay in South Africa and get to go on trail. Come and stay with us on a working gap holiday then experience a trail at the reduced rate. Or book a 6 months plus gap year experience and have a free 4-day over night trail on the Wild Coast.

However should we require and approach you as a guide on an safari trek either as backup in the vehicle or riding guide, your equine trail vacation will be included in your daily rate.

This invitation extends only to volunteers that in our opinion are an asset to Mkulu Kei Horse Trails, our name, and who we are. It is a bonus not to be expected. The invitation would not necessary be the best rider but the volunteer who would be the most helpful on trail. Those who are on a 6 months plus gap year experience a 4 day over night trail will be included in your daily rate.

Booking essential

Important information.

* Rates are calculated per DAY or part there of.

* No Refunds due to forward planning we only accept a few volunteers at a time.

* No deposit or full payments will be refunded unless the volunteer finds a replacement.

* No refunds are given if a volunteer leaves early for whatever reason.

Payment methods.

Tel/Fax: (+27) 043 841 1525

Cell: 083 632 7298

Contact Cheryl with your enquiries.

E-mail: cheryl@mkulukeihorsetrails.co.za

A horse ride through sub-tropical coastal hills and riverines to the beaches of the Wild Coast in South Africa, a horse working exchange holiday, with so much more. Mkulu Kei Horse Trails a riding exchange gap holiday opportunity on the Wild Coast in South Africa. Volunteer with us you will not be just a number, you become one of our family.

Ag   This one of the most useful South African words. Pronounced like the "ach" in the German "achtung", it can be used to start a reply when you are asked a tricky question, as in: "Ag, I don't know." Or a sense of resignation: "Ag OK, I'll have some more mieliepap then." It can stand alone too as a signal of irritation.

Donner   A rude word, it comes from the Afrikaans "donder" (thunder). Pronounced "dorner", it means "beat up." A team member in your rugby team can get donnered in a game, or your wife can donner you if you come back from a braai at three in the morning.

Eina   Widely used by all language groups, this word, derived from the Afrikaans, means "ouch." Pronounced "aynah". You can say it in sympathy when you see your friend the day after he got donnered by his wife.

Ja well no fine   This is another conversation fallback. Derived from the four words: "yes", "well", "no" and fine", it roughly means "OK". If your bank manager tells you your account is overdrawn, you can, with confidence, say: "Jawelnofine."

Klap   Pronounced "klup" - an Afrikaans word meaning smack, whack or spank. If you spend too much time in front of the TV during exam time, you could end up getting a "klap" from your mother. In America, that is called child abuse. In South Africa , it is called promoting education. But to get "lekker geklap" is to get motherlessly drunk.

Lekker   An Afrikaans word meaning nice, this word is used by all language groups to express approval.. If you enjoyed a braai thoroughly, you can say: "Now that was lekk-errrrrrr!" while drawing out the last syllable.

Howzit   This is a universal South African greeting, and you will hear this word throughout the country. It is often accompanied with the word "Yes!" as in: "Yes, howzit?". In which case you answer "No, fine." Now now In much of the outside world, this is a comforting phrase: "Now now, it's really not so bad." But in South Africa, this phrase is used in the following manner: "Just wait, I'll be there now now." It means "a little after now".

Tune grief   To be tuned grief is to be aggravated, harassed. For example, if you argue with somebody about a rugby game at a braai and the person had too much dop (is a little "geklap"), he might easily get aggravated and say.: "You're tuning me grief, hey!". To continue the argument after this could be unwise and result in major tuning of grief..

Vrot   Pronounced - "frot". An expressive word which means "rotten" or "putrid" in Afrikaans, it is used by all language groups to describe anything they really dislike. Most commonly intended to describe fruit or vegetables whose shelf lives have long expired, but a pair of old tackies (sneakers) worn a few years too long can be termed "vrot" by some unfortunate folk which find themselves in the same vicinity as the wearer. Also a rugby player who misses important kicks or tackles can be said to have played a vrot game - opposite to a "lekker" game (but not to his face). A movie was once reviewed with this headline: "Slick Flick, Vrot Plot." Could also be used as an expression" I got vrot last night" (drunk)

A horse trekking safari vacation with Mkulu Kei horse trails that suits your available time, riding level and budget. On your horse-riding holiday see nature at its best from the back of a horse suitable for your riding ability. The South African Wild Coast on an equestrian trail is awesome horse riding country; see stunning views, pristine coastline, rural village, nature, birds, game, dolphins and whales.

This unique safari horse trail in South Africa offers a total riding holiday experience. A memorable horseback eco-adventure along the, Eastern Cape, Wild Coast, South Africa. For your African horse trekking eco adventure, equestrian working exchange volunteer gap vacation destination or children's pony camps.