My placement at Hanchi was everything I expected and more.
I have learnt a lot and have so many good memories I will never forget!
Set on a vast reserve in the rugged and wild bushland of the Limpopo Province of South Africa, the management of the endangered roan antelope is critical to it’s survival in the wild. From horseback, you will monitor the roan antelope, quizzical Tssessebe and stunning sable antelope as part of this successful breeding and relocation project. The sensitivity of the horse makes them ideal partners in traversing the bush and reserve management, ensuring game are less stressed and by nature alerting you to young and elusive animals. Predator conservation work on the greater reserve is also a unique inclusion to this project.
Horses in the Bushveld
One of the most ecologically friendly way in which a human can traverse the bush is on horseback and the speed at which a horse walks is perfect for looking for tracks of both animals and man. The sensitivity of horses also make them ideal partners when taking part in activities such as game counts as they alert the rider to the presence of game which would often otherwise be overlooked.
Work with the wildlife
Within the large breeding bomas, roan and sable react much calmer to horses enabling monitoring at a much higher level. With their young hid singly in the bush, rather than in creches, it also assists in monitoring of their precious young. Having successfully relocated over 100 endangered roan antelope, this project is of great conservation importance and your work will include:
- Equine husbandry and care, including disease control
- Equine tack and yard maintenance
- Roan and sable monitoring, studying densities, ages and condition
- Predator monitoring - young antelope are very vulnerable in bush and the bomas require management to ensure predation levels from cheetah and hyena are minimal
- Fence line patrols of inner sable and roan camps and the greater reserve
- Disease free buffalo habituation from horseback on the greater reserve
- Joining the Zingela predator conservation project on the greater reserve - use radio telemetry to monitor movements of cheetah, brown hyena and buffalo. Working with cheetah, leopard and brown hyena, you will;
- Observe hunting and feeding behaviour, including kills, and social interactions
- Record GPS positions to determine home ranges and movement patterns
Tracking cheetah on foot
Uniquely, cheetah are almost exclusively approached on foot at Hanchi. Follow in the footsteps of these wonderful and endangered predators; moving when they move, resting when they rest and watching them stalk, hunt and feed.
Equine course in the bush
Are you an inexperienced rider eager to learn more about management of horses? Perhaps you are an competent rider wishing to brush up their skills and knowledge. Begin your placement with an intensive 36hr horse riding and equine husbandry course at Hanchi facilitated by a registered and qualified instructor.
Conservation in the field
Monitoring and management from horseback is vital to the successful breeding and relocation of these endangered and rare species - working with the single largest private sable and roan herds in South Africa. This project gives a unique view of the reality behind conserving predators while your research will contribute to the ongoing effort to help secure a future for these stunning animals.
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Duration: 2-12 weeks
Cost: From £2190 for 2 weeks up to £5220 for 12 weeks. Includes return international flights from London, transfers, all meals, accommodation, all project-related costs and back up and support.
Accommodation: Tented camp. Twin tent s, separate ablution blocks with flushing toilets and hot showers, separate living/dining tent and brick built kitchen
Time of year: From January to mid-December
Suitability: If you are passionate about horse riding and conservation, this project brings both together in a unique setting, where you are playing a vital role in the preservation of stunning predators through educational research and endangered and rare species.
