Amana Sanctuary
AMANA Sanctuary is a place where people and animals are invited into rest, connection, healing, and transformation. Set on a peaceful farm surrounded by nature and rescued animals, AMANA offers different pathways for people from all walks of life. Some come to learn horsemanship, some come to rest and recover from burnout, some come to reconnect with God and themselves, and others come to find direction during a season of transition.
Pathways at the Sanctuary
Whether you come for horsemanship, rest, healing, personal growth, or a season of discovery, you are welcome here.
Hands-on learning of the AMANA method through horses of different ages, breeds, personalities and backgrounds. Consent-based horsemanship, bodywork, groundwork, riding, horse rehabilitation, nervous-system regulation and relationship-based training. Programs from one weekend to one year.
Time in nature, meaningful connection, movement, breathwork, stillness, music, animals and space to reflect. Retreats may include yoga, guided walks, horse connection sessions, music therapy, journaling, prayer, meditation, and time with the rescued animals.
A monthly offering in collaboration with Janelle Moore, an HPCSA-registered Music Therapist (MMus, University of Pretoria). Structured drumming, mindfulness-based listening and guided creative music-making for emotional regulation, expression, processing and healing.
A supportive space for people moving through important life transitions — young adults discovering their path, recovering from burnout, rebuilding confidence, or integrating what they have already learned in a therapeutic or rehabilitation setting.
Many of the animals at AMANA have their own stories of rescue, healing and restoration. Their presence reminds us that transformation is possible, that trust can be rebuilt, and that gentleness is powerful.
AMANA Sanctuary is a place to breathe again, reconnect, and remember who you were created to be.
AMANA Sanctuary
There comes a time in many women's lives when they realise they have spent years caring for everyone else while losing touch with themselves. The Sanctuary at Waterhoek was created as a place where women can pause. A place to breathe deeply. A place to lay down the pressure to perform, achieve, fix, prove, or carry. A place to remember who they truly are.
Nestled among forests, rivers, wildlife, rescued animals, and wide open spaces, Waterhoek offers a peaceful environment where women can reconnect with themselves, with nature, with others, and with God. We believe that every woman carries immense value, purpose, beauty, and strength. Sometimes life's challenges, trauma, addiction, loss, expectations, or disappointments can cause us to forget that. Our desire is to create a safe and nurturing environment where women can rediscover their identity and begin to see themselves the way God sees them. Not through striving. Not through performance. But through rest, connection, and truth.
A sanctuary for women in different seasons of life
Completing a rehabilitation program is a significant achievement, but the journey does not end there. Many women leave treatment feeling vulnerable as they face the challenges and temptations of everyday life. The Sanctuary provides a gentle stepping stone between rehabilitation and the outside world. Here, women can continue their healing journey in a supportive environment, develop healthy routines, build confidence, process their experiences, and strengthen their sense of identity before returning to independent living. There is space to breathe, reflect, integrate, and grow.
Many young women finish school feeling unsure of who they are or what path they should follow. Our sanctuary offers a space for gap-year students and young adults to slow down and discover themselves before stepping into a career or further studies. Through meaningful work with animals, personal development, practical life skills, mentorship, creativity, and time in nature, young women are encouraged to explore their gifts, strengths, passions, and purpose.
Not every woman who comes to Waterhoek is in crisis. Some simply feel tired. Some feel disconnected from themselves. Some have spent years caring for families, building businesses, supporting others, or carrying responsibilities. Many simply long for peace. Whether for a few days, a few weeks, or a longer stay, Waterhoek offers women a place to slow down, reconnect, and rediscover what truly matters.
For equestrians and horse lovers, Waterhoek offers opportunities to learn our approach to Equine Assisted Wholeness and Rehabilitation. Our horses are not tools or machines. They are partners. Through groundwork, bodywork, nervous system regulation, riding, observation, and simply spending time in the herd, women learn lessons about trust, authenticity, boundaries, presence, and connection. Often the healing that takes place through the horses extends far beyond horsemanship. As women become more connected to themselves, they naturally become more connected to the horses around them.
This is not a holiday. It is a lived immersion.
What makes Waterhoek different?
At Waterhoek, we believe that healing happens in the presence of safety, connection, and love. Our approach is built on simple principles:
These are not simply principles we use with horses. They reflect how we believe God relates to us. We believe God is not demanding perfection from us. We believe He is inviting us into wholeness.
The rescued animals, peaceful natural surroundings, supportive community, creative opportunities, movement, reflection, and faith-based foundation all work together to create an environment where women can begin to experience that truth for themselves.
Our vision
To create a sanctuary where women of all ages can find peace, healing, belonging, and purpose. A place where young women discover who they are. Where women in recovery continue their journey toward wholeness. Where weary hearts find rest. Where horses and nature become teachers. Where friendships are formed. Where creativity is encouraged. And where every woman leaves knowing that she is deeply loved, fully accepted, and far more powerful than she ever imagined.
Welcome to Waterhoek Sanctuary. A place to rest, heal, belong, and remember who you truly are.
What you'll learn
Learn the Amana Method through bodywork, groundwork, nervous-system awareness, consent-based training, and relationship-centered horsemanship.
Become part of the rhythm of daily farm life through animal care, maintenance, gardens, guest preparation, and practical contribution.
Learn healthy boundaries, communication, conflict repair, responsibility, vulnerability, and shared life.
Grow in confidence, maturity, emotional regulation, clarity, resilience, and grounded leadership.
Equine immersion
Participants work hands-on with horses through the Amana Method. This may include:
Horses become our mirrors, reflecting emotional regulation, authenticity, clarity, and true leadership.
Farm integration
Participants become part of the rhythm of farm life through meaningful daily routines. This may include:
These daily practices build discipline, accountability, confidence, and grounded competence.
Community
Participants live and grow in community. Through shared life, they learn:
Community life reveals blind spots, builds resilience, and teaches young adults how to stand as individuals while functioning as part of a group.
Spiritual foundation
Donna believes in a God who is gentle, present, and endlessly loving. Just as trust cannot be forced with a horse, she believes God never uses fear, shame, or condemnation to bring transformation. Instead, He patiently reveals our worth, reminds us of our true identity, and invites us into greater freedom, peace, and wholeness.
You do not need to share this faith to belong here.
At Amana, spirituality is expressed through how we lead, how we treat animals, how we repair conflict, how we hold boundaries, and how we grow in love and responsibility.
Spiritual exploration is invited, never imposed.
Program pathways
Waterhoek offers pathways ranging from a single restorative day to a full year of transformation. Each pathway is shaped around the woman, the farm rhythm, and the depth of growth she is seeking.
1 Day
A gentle introduction to the heart of Waterhoek and the Amana approach. Spend a day surrounded by nature, horses, rescued animals, and like-minded women. Through guided experiences, reflection, and connection, you'll have the opportunity to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with yourself. Perfect for women needing a reset, inspiration, or simply a day of peace away from everyday life.
1 Weekend
Step away from the noise of daily life and immerse yourself in a weekend of rest, reflection, connection, and growth. Experience community living, time with horses and animals, nature-based activities, personal development, movement, creativity, and meaningful conversations. Perfect for women seeking clarity, healing, renewal, or a deeper connection with themselves, God, and others.
1 Week
A deeper introduction to life at Waterhoek. Spend a week experiencing the rhythms of sanctuary living while learning about holistic horsemanship, nervous system regulation, animal care, community, and personal growth. This immersive experience allows time to settle, reflect, build meaningful relationships, and begin integrating new ways of thinking, living, and relating to yourself and the world around you. Perfect for women seeking a significant pause, life reset, or deeper personal transformation.
1 Month
A focused immersion in the Amana Method, farm life, horses, community, and personal reflection.
3 Months
A deeper period of learning, responsibility, horsemanship, and personal development.
6 Months
A sustained immersion in the farm rhythm, equine work, community life, and growing independence.
12 Months
A full transformative pathway for women seeking maturity, skill, clarity, and a grounded foundation for the next chapter of life.
Final program details, suitability, pricing, expectations, accommodation, and responsibilities are discussed during the application process.
Outcomes
Every woman's journey is unique. Rather than following a rigid program, we create opportunities for growth through community, nature, horses, meaningful work, reflection, and rest.
Participants may grow in:
Most importantly, participants are given space to discover who they truly are beneath the expectations, labels, and pressures of life, and to begin seeing themselves through the eyes of love, grace, and truth.
During your time at AMANA Sanctuary
Daily rhythm
Every day at Waterhoek is a little different, following the needs of the animals, the seasons, and the individuals staying with us. We believe in creating a healthy balance between responsibility, learning, connection, creativity, rest, and personal reflection.
A typical day may include:
Above all, we encourage a rhythm that allows women to contribute, connect, grow, create, and rest without the pressure and busyness that often characterise everyday life.
Safety and fit
Because Amana Sanctuary involves animals, community living, physical work, emotional growth, and real responsibility, every applicant goes through a suitability process. This helps ensure:
This is a personal environment with limited spaces, not a mass program.
How to apply
01
Complete the Amana Sanctuary enquiry form below.
02
We arrange a conversation with the applicant, and parent/guardian where appropriate.
03
We discuss program length, responsibilities, horse experience, health considerations, accommodation, community life, and readiness.
04
If it is a good fit, we confirm next steps, dates, pricing, packing list, and preparation.
05
The participant joins the farm rhythm and begins their immersion.
Apply
Please complete the form below if you are interested in joining Amana Sanctuary. This helps us understand who you are, what you are looking for, and whether the program may be the right fit.
Questions
Begin gently
If you feel drawn to this kind of immersion, we invite you to enquire. Limited spaces are available to ensure depth, safety, and personal mentorship.
