Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
17 Feb 2024
Feedback
21
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Horse Ranch in South Africa in Plettenberg Bay. Work and enjoy our beautiful Horses and Country Guest House.
Michiel and myself ( Bettina) came to live permanently in Plettenberg Bay almost 10 years ago. Plettenberg Bay is a stunning place to be! We believe God has given us a second chance in life, giving us this beautiful place.We worked extremely hard to get the establishment to where it is today. We pretty much started from nothing. There were no fences, or paddocks, nor any grass for the horses, no Guesthouse, no Lodge, no restaurant, just our house and the garages. The hard work and dedication has paid off. Our standard is high and we give our best.
We love to make people/ guests/ volunteers/ walk inns part of the family and enjoy a special experience here.
We are extremely happy when our guests /tourists are happy too!
Our dogs and horses are very special to us. They play a major part in everything we do .They have contributed a LOT in making guests/ tourists comfortable.
Sharing this beautiful place with others is our passion.
And lots of people have loved it here!
Our passion is to take the horses out on an outride through the nature reserve (Robberg COASTAL Corridor) and fynbos area overlooking the magnificent coastline and ocean. Absolutely stunning and breath taking.
Our horses stay out in the field all year round. We do clean the fields and pick up manure to make wonderful compost.
The beaches are only 9 km from our farm and Plettenberg Bay is very famous for its beautiful beaches. There are excellent hiking trails and MTB trails at our door step.
There is a lot to do in our area and no dull moment.
Michiel is a farmer at heart and farmed for many years in Potchefstroom. He is extremely creative and talented and always has new ideas of improving the estate.
Bettina was brought up in Johannesburg, lived 10 years in the Natal Midlands, KZN
Our children have all left home and are living mostly overseas at the moment.
Our home language is English. We also speak Afrikaans and German.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Hospitality/Tourism
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Volunteer will experience farm life. Practice English and Afrikaans, our main languages here.
Our diversity of guests and staff. Interaction with our staff who are either local or from Zimbabwe and Malawi.
Help
The volunteer should have a passion for caring and working with animals ,MUST have good riding skills and horse husbandry.
Also be able to inter act positively with guests from all over the world with helping in and around the Guest House , Restaurant and ranch.
Should love being in the country side surrounded by nature and the sea.
Languages spoken
Afrikaans: Fluent
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Accommodation
The volunteer would stay in a double en suite Room in the Guest House if there is availability. Or in the Main House spare Bedroom en suite in the Main House, or at staff quarters with a bathroom around the corner. Depending on the availability at the time.
What else ...
As mentioned there is lots to do in this area. Sky diving is the closest activity to us. Hiking paths directly from our property.Whale watching and Dolphin Tours, Swimming with the seals, Kayaking with the dolphins, surfing school, Bungy Jumping at the Bloukrans Bridge ( about 45 minutes from us) Town, shops about 9 km from us.
We often offer lifts to town but mini bus taxis can be taken too.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
various max 25 hours a week
Feedback (14)
It was our first mom and daughter team and it worked out really so well!
We loved having them both , they are both very good with the horses and diligent in their work and helped us tremendously.
We wish them both all the best going forward and would like to… read more
We had the most heartwarming experience there and miss every moment. The horses are all nice and quiet, the surroundings are breathtaking, the house is gorgeous and all the people who work there are kind and welcoming.… read more
It was a short time with us.
Many thanks from us all.
I wasn't the only volunteer there and our main task was all the horse-related work such as feeding them, doing the ponyrides and outrides with the guests, keeping the fields clean, exercising the horses from time to time etc. We also helped in the… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.9)
It was our first mom and daughter team and it worked out really so well!
We loved having them both , they are both very good with the horses and diligent in their work and helped us tremendously.
We wish them both all the best going forward and would like to… read more
We had the most heartwarming experience there and miss every moment. The horses are all nice and quiet, the surroundings are breathtaking, the house is gorgeous and all the people who work there are kind and welcoming.… read more
It was a short time with us.
Many thanks from us all.
I wasn't the only volunteer there and our main task was all the horse-related work such as feeding them, doing the ponyrides and outrides with the guests, keeping the fields clean, exercising the horses from time to time etc. We also helped in the… read more
I mainly worked with their beautiful horses but also… read more
Bettina and Michael are the best hosts and the team of the ranch (restaurant, guesthouse...) is very nice and welcoming.
The horses and the dogs are also really kind and it was very nice to spend time with them! We helped mainly with the horses but we also participated in other… read more
Her English improved very quickly and she is an excellent horse rider and very relaxed around the horses.
We trust to see her again and wish her all the best for her future.
Due to Covid , it was then all a very rushed good bye and we do miss her.
Thanks for having me, I had a… read more
We love her so much that we asked her to stay longer . We dont want her to leave.
She has been wonderful with the horses and our guests.
We just loved having you and meeting you. You are an amazing person to say the least, you are extremely hard working, brilliant with kids and people and everybody just loves you.
We did not want you to leave that's how much you did for us.
Nothing is ever too much for you, you made the most wonderful salads and cakes , cookies… read more
After 10 weeks at your lovely place I must say: what kind of an amazing experience with great and so good-hearted hosts! I enjoyed every single day of my stay on this wonderful farm. The work was sometimes quite hard, but I was never supposed to do too much! I liked the physical work after all the studying and thus… read more
We miss this family so much but we cannot be selfish as they will still be a blessing where ever they are going! they were really angels sent by God to us!!! It was… read more
