South Africa
East Cape
Beachcomber Horse Trails
02.02-03.03.2023
What to expect during an internship at “South Africa Eastern Cape Beachcomber Horse Trails”?
Here you will find all important information about the accommodation, meals, a typical workday, the horses, and my conclusion.
Table of Contents
General Information
At South Africa Eastern Cape Beachcomber Horse Trails, room and board were provided for free. In return, the intern worked with the horses and helped in the kitchen. The general working hours varied daily. As long as no camping guests were present, the morning work lasted between 2 to 5 hours. During the 7-day trail, the days were longer, ranging between 8 and 9 hours.
Accommodation
Accommodation was in the host’s house directly next to the horses. The house had a large room with three walls. The staircase to the room was in the living room. From the upstairs room, the intern could look down into the living room, dining room, and kitchen. The bathroom was downstairs and shared with the host’s sons.
There were no fly screens in the house. Ants could be found in the dining room and kitchen, and spiders appeared regularly.
The house had Wi-Fi, but power outages and water shortages were common. Washing hands and brushing teeth were not always possible, and soap and toilet paper could run out. The intern had two options for showering: either in the bathroom or at the camp. A rule was that showers at the camp were only allowed during weeks when no guests were present.
Meals
Meals were served at different times each day. Breakfast was eaten alone by the intern. At lunch, either all camping guests ate together as a picnic, or the intern ate alone in the house. For dinner, sometimes the host cooked, or hot meals were provided at the camp. The intern ate at the camp kitchen because she helped with washing dishes and cleaning. It was possible to eat on a camping chair or standing up. Dinner was never served before 8 PM. Occasionally, there was no bread or drinking water available in the house.
Working Day
The workday started at 6:30 or 7:00 AM, beginning with feeding the horses. A staff member and the intern would bring the horses into the kraal. There, the required horses for the ride were prepared: haltering, bridling, tying, grooming, saddling, and either tying to a post or loading onto the trailer. The other horses stayed in the kraal during a 90-minute ride or were returned to the pasture for a day ride. Then the ride began.
The duration of a ride varied. There were rides to the river and along the beach, each lasting 90 minutes. During the 7-day trail, rides were longer.
During the 7-day trail, there was a walking-pace ride in the game reserve, where guests could see animals from horseback. There were no lions in this reserve, but with luck, riders could see giraffes, rhinos, or elephants.
On one day, guests of the 7-day trail visited the “Addo Elephant Park.” Interns and staff were not allowed to join this trip, even if they offered to pay for the entrance themselves. This excursion was only for paying guests.
Horses
There were 17 horses, all kept together on a pasture directly next to the house.
My Review
The riding area was absolutely stunning. A cozy walk-pace ride in “Sibuya” with wild African animals was wonderful. Riding along the clear river was fantastic. The highlight was the long beach gallops during the 7-day trail, with the longest continuous gallop lasting 5 minutes.
The 7-day trails took place only every two weeks. Work and free time were well balanced.
My tip for free time: Bring a book to read and get a South African SIM card.
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