Come and learn a unique style of woodwork and alternative way of living in Estcourt, South Africa

Details

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  Description

  Hot off the press! We are currently looking for someone with horse training skills to work with a few horses keeping them fit as well as a foal that needs some love and attention. We are very into the softer horse wispering, natural horsmanship
  way of doing things. If this is something you would love to do and are able to ride and have some horsy skills then this is the workaway of a lifetime for you.
  
  Otherwise we offer visitors a unique opportunity of learning our unique style of woodwork and alternative building. Its difficult to say exactly what you will be doing but we integrate volunteers into these sustainable projects that we run. While there might be a little bit organic gardening, firebreaks or helping out at the lodge mostly we try not to replace local jobs by using volunteers. I used to volunteer all over the world 30 years ago and loved the experience and this is something we have created to give something back.
  
  And if you have any skills that you would like to share I am sure that I can find someone who would like to learn from you. South Africa in general has a huge lack of skills and any skill development that takes place will be helping uplift peoples lives. We have had chefs teaching cooking, an architect that has helped to change some of our ways of doing things, horse trainers that have worked to improve horse care and the list goes on.
  
  If you want to work with me (Andrew) you will find that I am mostly busy in the workshop. We do various artistic woodwork and alternative construction. Its dusty so make sure you bring cloths you don't mind getting dirty. And this is where I think the real opportunities are to be found as you will actually learn to make things from wood
  
  Otherwise we look for opportunities to keep you busy in the lodge or in the garden. We generally try to see what you want to do and then make that work.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  There is no straight answer to this and so much depends on personalities and goals of the workaway. Cultural exchange is achieved through relationship connections and its different in every case. Some of our volunteers have made connections to the local Zulu villagers through the staff that work at the Lodge. Especially if there is a cultural event like a wedding that they get invited to. We are rurally located so dont expect massive crowds. what you learn is mostly up to you. Many go away with woodworking experience, others teach us something. Those that spend time with the horses tend to build strong bods there and I suppose that to is an exchange.

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  Help

  The essence of our volunteer program is the unique style of wood work that we do and the alternative building style that we have. Volunteers can look forward to learning the way we do things, working on one of our sustainability programs or alternative building project. Yes we also have horses and you will get to ride and possible even fly in my microlight with me but this must not be considered as the work exchange rather as benefits of staying here.
  
  We offer accommodation and food in exchange for your contribution of effort. This is not about cheap labor and nor is it about cheap holiday options. We prefer to take volunteers for longer than 3 weeks at a time. We dont respect weekends at all and you will find that we often work harder then. Its the nature of the tourism industry.
  
  There is a lot for you to explore in our amazing surroundings and popular tourist sites. This includes hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains, horse trails, viewing bushman rock art or just chilling out with a great book. Volunteers will be hands on and would need to get their hands dirty.
  
  There are difficulties if you decide to come here. There are limited public transport options and there is no access to things like pubs, clubs, movies and sopping centers. We really are located in the middle of nowhere. And then we integrate our volunteers with our lodge which means you always need to put any needs of our guests first. That means things like you get dinner after the guests and if there is a shortage of couch space you need to get up and let them use that space. But I dont really see these issues as huge hardship.
  
  To get involved please send me an email letting me know what you would like to do, what sort of skills you have and when and how long you would like to come for. We only have limited capacity so the more notice you can give us the better.

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  we swap accommodation and meals in exchange for time volunteered

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  What else ...

  We are located in the middle of nowhere very rurally. Its not the nightlife and party scene that will attract you here. We earn our income from a lodge based on tourism. so just remember that the lodge comes first. And we use the excess resources of the lodge to accommodate our volunteers. Should the lodge accommodation be fully booked then you might end up in a tent for a night or two but this doesn't often happen.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  varied max 25h

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