from 1,540€

Outstanding 4.9rating (7)

Western horseriding experience

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Outstanding 4.9  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Wild Horse Training Program for learners as well as experienced riders
  • Acquire true horsemanship skills as a horse handler, learn to tame wild horses and learn a lot about yourself while working with our horses
  • Participate in outback Cattle Rounding - youre gonna feel like you´re in a western movie
  • Lead daily outrides into the namibian Savannah and observe the wildest life in the bush
  • Our terrain is rough - visit the lost wild horse herds and watch the ferrals survive the deserted lands

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

This project is for adventure seeker that want to experience a piece of the wild & untamed Africa, all whilst being able to follow their passion for horses and riding!

Are you an adventure seeker, outdoor enthusiast & want to experience a piece of the wild & untamed Africa, all whilst being able to follow your passion for horses and riding? Then we have just the right spot for you!

Whether you are taking a gap year, a break from your busy job / career or just ...

About the program

Are you an adventure seeker, outdoor enthusiast & want to experience a piece of the wild & untamed Africa, all whilst being able to follow your passion for horses and riding? Then we have just the right spot for you!

Whether you are taking a gap year, a break from your busy job / career or just lust for something new, we can accommodate you into our program & guarantee a once in a lifetime experience!

Our Volunteers are part of the day to day Ranch life here in Namibia. They gonna get a hands on experience with the wide range of exciting activities:

  • Ranch drives to our wild & free living horse herds roaming around on the farm lands.
  • Help out with the weaning process of the foals, halter - taming & marking.
  • Learn about the traditional way of colt starting & fine art of horsemanship.
  • Or do ground work and learn the basics of western riding.
  • Take part in a daily training and schooling routine up at the cowboycamp.
  • Cattle working: driving, sorting, roping, doctoring & branding!
  • Join in on our cowboy trail or star tours.
  • Help us to keep our horses healthy and be there when there is a need.
  • Sometimes of course you have to work from the ground, but 80% of your tasks will be directly related to horses.

What´s the emphasis of this program?
The emphasis of volunteer duties rely mostly around working with the wild horses - assist with training and take part in general ranch work.

Where will the volunteers work?
The volunteers will word at the so called 'Cowboycamp'. The name comes from the former cowboy who used to life here. Now the caravans are renovated for the volunteers to spend their lunchbreak or just relax a little between the training sessions. The Cowboycamp has many paddocks where the horses stay during the working days. It also has a big riding arena and 3 roundpens. There are enough possibilites to bend your horse up for cleaning and saddling and were having a a small tack room with enough western saddles, bidals, halters and so on. If we have tour guests one task of the volunteers is it to help them to saddle up their horses, teach them what to pay attention to and of course to accompany the tour. Even if we have big tours for over a week, the volunteers are welcome to participate every ride.

With whom will the volunteers be working with? 
Your gonna work with Freda and Imanuel. Freda is 32, from Germany and a fomer volunteer herself. She has been here many times and since the beginning of 2020 she is responsible for the volunteers and guides the riding tours. She trains the horses with you and will give you support whenever you need it.
Imanuel is native Namibian and working on Koiimasis since 3 years now. He is training the young horses when they come in the first time. You will learn a lot from him.

How old is the volunteer program?
Ranch Koiimasis has been accommodating volunteers regularely for the last 10 years.

How many volunteers may participate at once?
Up to 7

How much may the volunteers ride?
As much as you possibly can & want. Most of the work gets done on horseback, some days more, some days less. You will ride a variety of different horses and will be able to learn a lot during your time.

What other tasks can wait for the volunteers?
  • Feeding horses and give them water
  • Cleaning & brushing them
  • Cleaning, oiling and repairing riding equipment, like bridals, saddles or pads
  • Sometimes cleaning the paddocks, normally the native worker do that.
  • Assist with medical emergencies like colics, eye infections or wounds.

Who are we looking for? What do we expect from our volunteers?
The minimum age is 18 years. As the volunteers are self-sufficient in their accommodation, i.e. cooking, washing etc. you should be able to do this yourself. Otherwise, you should be open-minded and adventurous to fully engage with life here. And you should definitely be "horse crazy".  You don't have to be a horse trainer or successful tournament crack to get by here. Nevertheless, you should have a certain basic experience, be safe in the saddle and not be afraid. You also don´t have to be a western rider. We teach you all you have to know about riding in western style and ranch working on horseback.

Why pay for volunteering?
Your payment funds go straight back into the program but mostly the horses, this way the ranch can afford to keep a unique program like this going especially during years of bad drought and thus ensure volunteers have an experience of their lifetime! Also horseriding isn`t real work for a real horsemen is it?

What to take along & what to leave at home?
Here is a small, certainly not quite complete, packing list:

  • Clothing: Practical & sturdy clothing & solid shoes. If you do visit between the months of May - October don`t forget to pack something warm, the desert nights are known to drop down to chilly temperatures.
  • Riding clothes: Jeans / riding pants, boots, riding helmet / cowboy hat. Long sleeved shirts.
  • Optional: small pouch for camera or phone.
  • International travelling insurance (!)
  • Hats: any kind of hat(s) that will cover most of your face & preferably ears too. The desert sun is harsh!
  • Toiletries & other hygene products
  • Handy travelling medical aid pack
  • Swimsuit / trousers & swim towel in case you want to take a dip in the lodge pool.
  • Sunscreen (can be bought in Windhoek too but it`s cheaper at home!)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Mosquito net & Mosquito spray
  • International plug (south african compliance)
  • Torch
  • Something to read, as there is no TV in your accomodation and only limited internet access.
  • A good pair of sunglasses that will stay on your nose whilst galloping through the middle of nowhere.
  • Any other optional items eg: Camera, laptop, music box, powerbanks etc.
  • Unfortunately any Hair driers, hair straighteners or any other high power consuming devices won`t work on the ranch & might as well be left at home.


FAQs for Ranch-Dudes 

What is a Ranch-Dude? As a Ranch-Dude, you will be actively involved in everyday ranch life, horse training and education. At Koiimasis, horse trainers, Ranch-Dudes and guides always work hand in hand. Everyone learns from everyone else and most of all from the horses. The term "Dude ranch" comes from the USA and means nothing else than guest farm. We used to use the common term "volunteer", but this often led to misunderstandings which we hope to clear up with the new name. The time as a Ranch-Dude is, so to speak, a mixture of riding holidays and voluntary service - Working Holidays. That's why the stay is much cheaper than a pure holiday. Your contribution goes 100% into the project - physically and monetarily. Ranch-Dudes are an important part of our work for and with the horses. You get the chance to dive deep into the daily life of a Namibian ranch and will experience things that remain hidden to a normal tourist. As a Ranch-Dude you spend 90% of your time in the saddle and if you want to take a break, that's ok too - everything can, nothing has to. 

How long has the programme been running? There have been regular Ranch-Dudes at Koiimasisfor over 10 years. 

How many volunteers can help out at any one time? Maximum 4


Programme and qualifications

What does the Ranch-Dude programme involve? What do I actually do there? The main focus of your tasks is working with the horses. You help with training and schooling and do real ranch work - i.e. work from the horse's back. 

What qualifications do I need? You should already have some years of riding experience, ideally in western riding, as our horses are exclusively western ridden. However, experienced riders from other riding styles are also welcome, as long as they want to get involved with a new riding style and new training approaches. We will of course help you to relearn. The project is not suitable for newcomers or beginners. We also have very nice horses, but the main task of the Dudes is to train the horses, both in the field and in the arena. It's all about permeability, gymnastics and health-maintaining riding. We also work our horses a lot on the ground, do composure training and obedience exercises. If you are confident enough to do this, you are very welcome to join us - good horsemanship is ultimately independent of riding style!

You should be at least 18 years old and able to look after yourself, as our Dudes live in their own little house. You should be open-minded, adventurous and open for new things. Not be afraid of nature or hard physical work and be open to new people. The minimum stay is 4 weeks, as it usually takes 14 days to really arrive and settle in. Then it would be a shame to leave straight away - wouldn't it?

What kind of riding do you do and what is the training approach based on? At Koiimasis we ride exclusively in the Western style. Our training approach is based on the classic California vaquero horsemanship, with the aim of creating an all-round horse that can be used for cattle drives, roping, cutting, but also for trails and many other areas. Our older riding horses have been trained by renowned international horse trainers and their students, such as Mark and Miranda Lyon whose training style has been influenced by Ray Hunt, Buck Branaman, Martin Black and many other big names in western riding. The horse training at Koiimasisis based on the goal of building a strong relationship between horse and rider in order to obtain a horse that wants to serve its rider with body and soul - without force or coercion!

The most important question: what about the horses? We have about 200 homebred American Paint and Quarter Horses. All with different levels of training. If we see that you are able to train a young horse, you are welcome to join us. If your skills lie more in the training and gymnastics of experienced horses, our oldies are also very happy about health-maintaining training. Please note that we first have to get an idea of who you are and that you will be under our control for a while. But if you prove yourself, you will soon be allowed to work independently.

Do I have to do stable work? Stable work is of course part of the job. The paddocks have to be cleaned regularly, the tack taken care of, the watering troughs cleaned and the plants watered. However, most of your work will be directly with the horse.

Is there supervision? You won't be left alone, if that's what you want to know. You will work with Freda and Immanuel (more info later in the text). There is always someone there who can help you with all your horse questions and always keeps an eye on how you treat the horses - also for your own safety. Nevertheless, you will be allowed to work with your horses on your own responsibility. However, we cannot offer regular riding lessons. Of course we will support you where we can, but you should be able to ride and train your horses independently.

Can I accompany the riding safaris? Yes, you may accompany the riding safaris. Of course, you will actively help and support Freda in looking after the guests. If a guest has problems with his horse, you may have to change horses or give up your ride. The guests only have one week at Koiimasis and pay about 4 times what you pay. You get the chance to experience real life on a ranch in Namibia, look behind the scenes and be a very important part of the team!

Please don't think of yourself as a second class guest during a horseback safari, because you, Freda and Immanuel work as a team FOR the guests.

What do I do at the weekend? On Saturday you only work half a day, after that you have the weekend free. You can relax at the pool of the lodge, climb the mountains of the ranch or do something with the other Dudes.


Booking and Journey

How do I book? Please book directly via Volunteers World.

How far in advance do I have to book? Approx. 4 weeks (or less if it suits you) just ask.

When can I help and for how long? All year round, just ask if there are still places available. Please note that it gets very hot in the summer months (Dec-Feb). The minimum booking period is 4 weeks, otherwise you just can't get into the daily routine - and that's what a project like this is all about. The maximum duration is 90 days, due to the visa. However, longer stays can be arranged in individual cases.

What if I get sick? Travel health insurance is a booking requirement – you can't do without it. However, such insurance is relatively inexpensive. A stay abroad of up to 6 weeks is already covered by many health insurances - just ask your insurance company. For minor aches and pains there is sufficient medication at the ranch. Otherwise, the nearest doctor is in Lüderitz. For the really bad cases, the ranch has an airstrip.


Country and people

Will I get homesick? Maybe... Sometimes we have up to 4 Dudes on the farm, sometimes you might be the only one. It usually takes about 14 days to really settle in, so if you adjust to that, it might be a little easier for you.

What languages are spoken? German, English and Afrikaans

What about money? The Namibian dollar is the currency of Namibia. One Euro is about 17.3 dollars. Since you start in Windhoek, you can withdraw money here by credit card, for example, as there is no possibility of doing so on the farm. However, some credit cards take a while to work in Namibia (from experience). If you bring cash it is best to change money at the airport.

What do I need to know about Namibia? If you're getting scared now because of all the safety instructions, let me tell you that you don't have to worry. The farm is very far from the nearest town and is its own little cosmos. You will mainly have to deal with the farmers and every now and then you will meet tourists (mainly from Germany) who are on holiday in the lodge or at the campsite. What you should really watch out for are scorpions, snakes and the nasty thorns of the trees and bushes. But if you are a bit careful and take care of yourself, you have nothing to fear here either.


Packing list

Here is a small, but certainly not complete, packing list:

  • Clothing: practical, robust, easy-care clothing, sturdy shoes. Don't forget warm clothes, because in the winter months (May-October) it can get quite cold in the evenings. 
  • Swimwear for a Sunday at the pool 
  • Riding clothes: breeches or jeans, boots or shoes suitable for riding. Sneakers are not(!) suitable for riding. 
  • Riding helmet! 
  • Fanny pack for mobile phone etc. 
  • If necessary, shoes that you can ride and walk well in. 
  • Spurs only if you know how to use them! 
  • Travel health insurance! Please send us the necessary documents before arrival. 
  • Vaccinations: Tetanus 
  • Headgear: Cap or other, because the sun is merciless! 
  • Shower kit, cosmetics, toiletries, lip balm, etc. 
  • First-aid kit (at your discretion) 
  • Sun cream! 
  • Mosquito spray 
  • Cycling shorts if necessary 
  • Adapter for South African sockets, if necessary multiple plugs 
  • Torch 
  • Sleeping bag 
  • Hot water bottle for the winter months 
  • A good pair of sunglasses that stay on your nose when riding. 
  • You can leave the hairdryer at home, as well as similar things that use too much electricity. 
  • Pocket money, approx. 2,000 NAD 
  • USB stick, etc. to share the photos at the end. 
  • Camera, mobile phone, power bank...

Covid19 info

What if I am unable to travel due to Corona? If you are unable to travel due to Covid19 because you or a family member is infected, you are unable to enter the country due to a travel warning, closed borders or cancelled flights, we will allow you to rebook at a time of your choice free of charge. For up-to-date entry information, please keep yourself informed via the website of your Foreign Office or the Namibian Embassy.

How safe is it for me in Namibia with regard to Covid? Of course, there is no general answer to this question. The greatest risk is on arrival and in the capital, where legal restrictions are observed everywhere (masks are compulsory, etc.). On the farm, the risk is very low because we are very far away from any city. As long as you keep the prescribed distance to our guests and refrain from shaking hands, there should be no problems. Please make sure that your travel health insurance also covers treatment for a Corona infection.

Entry at Corona times As of 07/22: Fully vaccinated travellers may enter with proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated travellers must present a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours issued by a laboratory certified in the country of departure upon entry. Please always print out everything DOUBLE in ENGLISH! In case of a transfer flight, please inform yourself about the entry regulations of the respective country.

Exit at Corona times As travel regulations change almost constantly, please plan a night in Windhoek at the end, in case a Corona test is necessary. Currently (as of 07/22), vaccinated and recovered persons may enter Germany without a test.




Typical day

The focus of your tasks is the work with the horses. You help with education and training and do real "ranchwork" - i.e. work from the back of the horse. 80% of your daily routine take place from the saddle - one day more one day less. You will be able to ride a lot of different horses and will ...

Typical day

The focus of your tasks is the work with the horses. You help with education and training and do real "ranchwork" - i.e. work from the back of the horse. 80% of your daily routine take place from the saddle - one day more one day less. You will be able to ride a lot of different horses and will certainly learn a lot.
If you ask us about a typical day, the answer is very difficult: In principle there is no everyday life, you will experience, learn and discover something different every day. A "normal" day could look like this, for example:

  • You drive down to the Cowboycamp at 7 a.m. in your farm car, which is provided by the ranch.
  • Halfway there you pick up the feed for the horses. When you arrive at the stable (=Cowboycamp), all the horses are looking forward to your arrival and you will help feeding them.
  • Then you will do small daily tasks like watering the horses troughs.
  • After the ponies have been fed, you start with your first horse for the day. Usually you have several horses for which you are responsible during your time. You clean and saddle your horse and go with it to the riding arena, the roundpen or just outside.
  • At noon you have a break of about two hours, this can vary depending on the season - in summer the break can be longer because it is too hot otherwise.
  • For your break you ride with one of your horses to your accommodation, unsaddle it, put it on the paddock and check if it has enough water.
  • Lunch time is at your free disposal, you can cook something to eat, sleep, read, lie in the sun... Afterwards you ride back and the horses get their lunch snack.
  • Now you take care of your remaining horses, move and train them.
  • At the end of the day you go back home with your car and fall into your bed tired.
The next day you might drive cattle to the next watering place. Afterwards you help to sort out the animals for sale and assist with branding etc. Maybe you will go for a ride with some guests in the afternoon, or help Imanuel to bring in "fresh" horses, you will stack hay bales, or you will drive to the next town. In between you practice roping, or take care of the maintenance of the saddle. I could go on for hours ... as you can see, no two days are alike. It's always, everything can do, nothing must. If you wanna take a day off, that's okay too.


Free-time activities

On Saturdays you will work only half a day, usually Saturdays are reserved for cleaning & maintaining Tack, repairing things in the Cowboycamp & restocking on the feeds.

Thereafter you have the rest of the Saturday & Sunday to your own leisure. You may chose to relax at the lodge pool, hike ...

Free-time activities

On Saturdays you will work only half a day, usually Saturdays are reserved for cleaning & maintaining Tack, repairing things in the Cowboycamp & restocking on the feeds.

Thereafter you have the rest of the Saturday & Sunday to your own leisure. You may chose to relax at the lodge pool, hike into the mountains or plan something fun with the other volunteers. On Sunday evening the family usually comes together for a big "Braai" (BBQ) as they call it, have some drinks & plan for the upcoming days.

If more than one volunteer is at the ranch, and if there are no other tour guests, you can take little guided trips with several nights out e.g. to Lüderitz.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level) or German (intermediate level)

Required Documents

Complete CV sufficient and including horse riding skills and experiences

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Self-sufficiency is to be an expected advantage. Basic riding and horsehandling experiences. Our guides and horsetrainers speak German and English, so you should know at least one of these languages.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 07:00 - 18:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Ranch Koiimasis

  • Accommodation
  • Free water, meat, eggs - the rest must be bought by yourself
  • Guided Riding / Training 
  • Educated assistance
  • Horse Equipment/Tack
  • Horsefood - normally the horses of the volunteers are self-sufficient and have to be fed during the time

Accommodation

Our volunteers life in the so called "Caste". The Castle is about 2 km from the Cowboycamp and 1 km from the farmhouse and your guides flat. When you are there for the first time, you will get a different relationship to distances - believe me.
In the castle there is a big bedroom with three beds and again two smaller rooms, each with two beds. Two bathrooms with shower and a kitchen with fridge, oven and stove.
Outside you have the possibility to wash your clothes (by hand!) and hang them up. There is also a small pergola under which you can enjoy your meal or watch the dassies jumping around.
You might also see the pair of eagles, which have their nest nearby. Or you get a surprise visit from the ponies.

If you were really adventurous, you can also stay in the Cowboycamp during your time.

Food & Beverages

We provide free tap water (don´t mind, the water is really good and clean), meat (mostly self hunted Oryx) and eggs (from our very own chicken) - any other foods you may aquire yourself.
Before you go to the ranch you will go food shopping in Windhoek. If you forget something that`s no problem. We have a wholesaler coming around once a week to bring pre-ordered food.
Mostly every Sunday the family comes together for a Braai (=BBQ). This meals are also free for you. If you are vegetarian we always have a delicious alternative for you. But please note, farmers are real carnivores.

Internet Access

Limited access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Hosea Kutako International Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek. We assist you to find cheap flights to Namibia. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Namibia provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Namibia you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Namibia. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

The length of the stay can range anywhere between 4 weeks and 3 Month. A working Visa is needed for stays longer than 3 month. A min. of 4 weeks is recommended to acquire functional Cowboy Experience and to become a part of our daily routine.
Arrival destinations are either over Windhoek (Airport international) or Luderitz (local) if travelling by plane, or Mariental if travelling by Bus and may be pre-arranged by agent.

Date of Arrival at international airport in Windhoek, we reccomend to stay over one night in town. On the next day we, collect provisions and drive down to the south to our destination. The trip will take about 9 hours.
For a lift from Windhoek to the Ranch and back we count 150€ (round trip) in total per person or you organize it by yourself.

Our main season is from March to November, as December-February are much too hot.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 1,540€
5 weeks 1,655€
6 weeks 1,985€
7 weeks 2,315€
8 weeks 2,645€
9 weeks 2,795€
12 weeks (max. stay) 3,725€
Average fees 347€/week

Program fees

347€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 12 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Ranch Koiimasis during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Ranch Koiimasis

Outstanding 4.9 rating (7 reviews)

Agency - founded in 1989

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Herman Erik

Spoken languages: English

About the project

Koiimasis is a 40k hectar Western Horse & Cattle Ranch located in the heart of the Tiras Mountain nature conservancy, right next to the Namib Desert.

Meet your organization

Who we are and what we do?

Ranch Koiimasis is a western styled working-farm operation handling 250 horses, with an emphasis on specified wild-horse training.
But how did all this come about? The somewhat "moonstruck" Idea to bring the western lifestyle to Africa became reality by the hand of Rancher and owner: Wulff Izko. Nevertheless; possesing passion for equine, bovine and general wild west culture when living in a place similar to the depictions of John Wayne & Clint Eastwood films; one cannot blame his decisions. Back then, the somewhat hundred head of Wild Horses were the only choice on the ranch & Cowboys sure had a hard time putting miles on their backs (one may say it got a little "western" at times). As years passed by and many different cowboys and their training methods became depleted, Wulff had to put some time in for research, and as a result stumbled upon the American Quarter Horse breed. Time was not wasted and the first Quarter horse stallion (Jabaroan) was bought. Since then thorough selection was done to keep only the best string of horses on the Ranch. The aim of the experiment was to implement the human tolerance & natural composure of the quarter horse back into the wild horses on the ranch, yet preserving their natural instincts & ecological niches. During the past 15 years this pursuit has most certainly been achieved and is still being fine-tuned today.

- the generation of the "Hardy Quarter Horse" was born.

Let´s have a look at the present time:
Our Horses are schooled with strong influence of traditional western; californio/vaquero horsemanship. The aim of this method of training is to build a strong relationship between horse and rider in order to produce a working horse that wants to function with the rider as one body and soul. Cattle herding / doctoring, roping, cutting, trail riding & many, many more, all form part of the practice to a sound & versatile Ranch horse. A convincing introduction to this fine art of Horsemanship was carried over by Ray Hunt student & follower Jaqueline Nadler, with ever so consuming cow-horse convidence lectures taught by Martin Black and thorough cowboying wisdom passed on by Mark & Miranda Lyon, it not only assures us & our horses a solid future foundation to sound horsemanship but to a whole lifestyle within. So go on, give rein to your curiosity & partake in our passionate lifestyle whilst browsing through the site!

Our Team contains of the farmers Wulff and Anke Izko and our Cowgirl that runs the so called "Cowboycamp". Her name is Freda, she is 32 years old, and comes from Germany. She´s riding her whole life and started her career at Koiimasis as a volunteer as well, in 2017. She´s responsible for horse training, tour guiding and what is particularly close to her heart: the volunteers! She is supported by a native horsetrainer who´s responsible for the colt starting of the wild ponies. Both of them run the Cowboycamp together and try to do all in the name of the horses, with all their passion and all their heart.

Where we work?
Namibia offers one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, with an amazingly rich flora and fauna. The area around the ranch is home to numerous wild animals, perfectly adapted to the hard life in the desert. Among them are Oryx Antelopes, Kudus, Springboks and Zebras, but also numerous predators such as Cheetahs, Leopards, Jackals and Spotted Hyenas. But nobody has to be afraid of the latter, no wild animals are fed here, so they keep enough distance to humans.

Ranch Koiimasis is situated in the heart of the Tiras Mountains in the Karas region, 700 km south of Windhoek. Allow your soul be revived in this magnificent surrounding and enjoy a special feeling of endless freedom amongst shining red granite boulders. Listen to the secret ancestorial voices, which the echoing wind carries through the ancient valleys. The name Koiimasis is derived from the former living San (bushmen) and means: "Place, where people meet."

The nearest small town Helmeringhausen is located 70 km away (1,5 hours on gravel road). Our home is situated in a wild and rough environment, adventurous but totally safe - if you use common sense.

Please note, that the next hospital is placed in Windhoek, about 9 hours by car. So please, if you have medical history, ask yourself if youre willing to take the risk.

Our mission/vision
We want to create a horse experience that is unique for Africa. It should be a paradise for riders and horses by bringing together the wild untamedness of Africa with the romance of a Wild-West movie.

Our goals
The aim of this project is to create a unity with the people, the horses and the rustic, relaxed cowboy feeling that resonates everywhere.

Who are we looking for?

As the volunteers are self-sufficient in their accommodation, i.e. cooking, washing etc. you should be able to do this yourself. You should be open-minded and adventurous to fully engage with life here. And you should definitely be "horse crazy".  You don't have to be a horse trainer or successful tournament crack to get by here. Nevertheless, you should have a certain basic experience, be safe in the saddle and not be afraid. You also don´t have to be a western rider. We teach you all you have to know about riding in western style and ranch working on horseback.

Why choose us?
You´re gonna have the time of your life! Let a former volunteer, meanwhile your contact person and passionate horsewoman tell you: "this is not work! It is the best experience of your life and worth every cent. Since the majority of your work is riding, this is not work for us horse people - is it?"

7 reviews · rating4.9

Thanks to Corona, I had the opportunity to spend 4 weeks on Koiimasis as a Ranch-Dude at very short notice. With 30 years of experience on different ranches in Wyoming and Montana, I was looking forward to my African adventure. As soon as I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed by ...
I spent just over four weeks as a Ranch-Dude on Koiimasis. Back again, I think to myself: I should have booked directly for three months! What can I say? In a nutshell: Great people, great horses and a beautiful spot on earth! When I arrived at the ranch I immediately felt welcome. I always found ...
Sara Derman rating4.6

2019 at Western horseriding experience

Hello, my name is Sara and I did a four-week voluntary service at the Ranch Koiimasis in Namibia 2019. How it came about It's not the first time I've been to the ranch. Last year I went there on a trail ride with a friend. The area touched me so much that I did not want to leave. For me ...
Julia Konietz rating5

2019 at Western horseriding experience

Hi my name is Julia, I had amazing 2 month on Ranch Koiimasis. This place is really something special. I loved the countryside and the people there and of course the horses. I could ride as much as I wanted and never had to do stable work like cleaning paddocks or something. My riding experiences ...
Freda Bauer rating4.8

2017 at Western horseriding experience

Hello my name is Freda and I spent three unforgettable months in Namibia on a Western Ranch. Now I am back home again and look back on an incredible adventure – the best time of my life. "Well, how was it?" I'm constantly being asked what it was like? Unfortunately I never know where to ...
Pia Sandmann rating5

2017 at Western horseriding experience

I always wanted to go an American Horseranch, but all projects were really expensive and too crowded – too touristic if you know what I mean. When I found ranch Koiimasis in Namibia I was really excited because everything looked like in the US but they do speak German and it's way less expensive. ..

Location

Africa > Southern Africa > Namibia > Helmeringhausen

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