Warriors Academy Gap Year Program in South Africa

Name: Warriors Academy Gap Year Program in South Africa
Brand: Warriors Academy
SKU: 146549
Rating: 4.85 (317 reviews)

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4.85 Rating

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Location

South Africa

Length

4 - 52 weeks

Program Tags

Adventure Travel Cultural Immersion Hands-On Learning Post-High School Wilderness

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Program Details

Activities

Animal Viewing Boating Bungee Jumping Camping Canoeing Canyoning City Exploring Cliff Jumping Cycling Dancing Hiking Horseback Riding Kayaking Mountain Biking Mountain Climbing Rafting Remote Exploring Rock Climbing Safari Sailing Scuba Diving Sightseeing Sky Diving Snorkeling Swimming Trekking Wine Tasting Yoga

Timeframe

Fall Spring Summer Winter Year Round

Housing

Cabin Hostel Rondavel Tent

Primary Language

English

Age Min.

Age Max

Pricing

Starting Price

6200

Price Details

Cost includes:
Accommodation
Food
Activities
Courses
Professional coaching services
Travelling
Training materials
Registrations and equipment as per activities

Excludes:
Laundry services
Personal pocket money
Personal gear such as bicycle, camping gear, hiking gear and tents (Can be rented from Rene)
Activities outside of prospectus
Medical emergencies
Transport to and from Warriors Academy at the start and finish of each Quest (Transport can be arranged on request)
Emergency transportation to doctors or other related services
Medical and Travel Insurance (US students it is pre-requisite to get travel and medical insurance from iNext, to be added to your account)

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Some Activities Some Equipment Meals Park Fees Some Park Fees Tour Guide Transportation Wifi

What's Not Included

Airfare Domestic Airfare Airport Transfers SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: May 04, 2023

Last Reviewed: Mar 29, 2025

Wish List

65 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Are you looking for an adventure Gap Year in South Africa? Then look no further than the Warriors Academy. Our internationally accredited gap year program is the perfect combination of travel, fun, adventure and self-development.
You can expect to have new and exhilarating experiences while meeting people from around the world. During this year, you will be mentally and physically pushed out of your comfort zones. You will be supported, guided and tick off an array of bucket list items while learning more about yourself and your potential.
Our Gap Year program is structured to include four 7-week Quests. Each Quest has its own set of adventure activities, soft skill workshops and personal mentoring sessions.
You are able to do any number of quests or all four as part of our full Gap Year program!

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Video and Photos

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Program Highlights

Warriors Academy is accredited by the International Gap Year Association
Warriors Academy provides a comprehensive variety of training, activities, experiences and travel
Our program is highly structured with a focus on personal growth and development
We have highly qualified, trained and experienced facilitators
Warriors Academy is international and multicultural

Program Reviews

4.85 Rating

based on 317 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Gap Year Parent

5 rating 84.86%
4 rating 15.14%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Housing 4.55
Support 4.9
Fun 4.9
Value 4.85
Safety 4.8

Program Selection 4.7
Pre-departure Help 5
In-program Support 5
Impact on Student 5
Value 5

Good for Adventure travelers, Students

Showing 1 - 8 of 317 reviews

When I arrived at Warriors Academy, I had so many goals I wanted to achieve, but I didn’t know if I was able to achieve them. Not only did I achieve all the goals I had, but I also achieved so much more. Warriors made me push myself and made me grow so much as a person. Their program will help you find yourself and friends who you know will be around for a lifetime. The warriors academy team was so supportive throughout the entire journey and made us feel so safe and helped grow our confidence. Warriors Academy was the best decision I have ever made.

What was your funniest moment?

The funniest moment at warriors academy was during one of our cycles a small dog started chasing one of our facilitators, Dylan down a huge hill and all I could hear was this high pitched scream. I had to save Dylan from this small little dog but it was so funny.

Pros

All the MAIs and facilitators were all supportive
Helps grow your confidence
Made me realise I was capable of doing more than I thought

Cons

Some of the students weren’t supportive
Not enough time for us to rest
Waking up at 5 every morning

I enjoyed the activities, and I got progressively stronger over time. I was always stressed about not being on time or not knowing the itinerary of every day, as we knew very little information about future plans.

I felt a lot of frustration and burnout throughout this journey, but it was worth it

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

On our last day of rafting we did our first and last serious rapid. At the end of it there was a Hippo right in front of us.
After contemplating how to avoid it, we paddled away and prayed it wouldn’t attack us.

Pros

Good facilitators
Good mix of soft skills and adventure activities
Good support

Cons

Very hectic, a lot happening everyday

Warriors gave me structure in my daily life and helped me to become an adult. It was a wonderful, adventurous gap year, and the supervisors did everything to keep you safe and enthusiastic. The activities were fun, nocturnal, and beautiful. There was this one guy called Dylan, he was the best facilitator for me at Warriors, he has the kindest heart, and he is just always positive, and just being around him, it's a vibe. He really made me enjoy Warriors a lot. Warriors in general was avibe I will recommend sending your kids to this life changing gap year program

Warriors have been very helpful in developing my personal growth. It challenges you with activities that test your limits to force you to step out of your comfort zone.

The friendships I gained from this experience have been made stronger by doing the activities together.

The MAIs and facilitators have made me feel safe throughout the whole experince. Not only do they make you feel safe, but they also help you gain that confidence to push yourself further and help achieve your personal goals.

Coming to Warriors was the best decision I’ve made to spend a gap year

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

I never thought I would gain the comfidence to climb a 30m tree. And surprisingly I did.

Pros

Personal growth
Testing you limits
Gain a more positive outlook on life

Cons

Sharing a room
The uphills

As a Warrior, it's been a pleasure to do some of these activities. A lot of people do not get to experience these kinds of things. It is such an honour to be able to participate in these activities. Yeah, the things we just would like rat hiking cycle, and so much more all of these things. A lot of people cannot participate because they have too much stuff going on in their lives. It feels amazing to be able to do so much more than I was. This is why I signed up for Warriors Gap, your program quest one.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

The Most surprising thing I did on the warrior program was jumped off of a 10 m cliff. It was so much fun and exciting.

Pros

Fun
Adventure
Travel

Cons

tired
hungry
Always draining

Was amazing, made alot of new friends and created amazing bonds along the way, the facilitators and mai's were amazing and attentive, no time was wasted and we were constantly busy and going onto new adventures, the rafting and the cycling safari were my favourite activities so far, we were constantly pushing the limits and building character, had the most fun doing the cliff diving on the rafting and helping eachother get through the obstacles and including everyone, was an amazing adventure that i will never forget

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Dont miss out, always do the activities and it will change your whole perspective on what you can do

Pros

Got healthier
Got my first aid qualification
Made friends

Cons

Lost weight when i didnt wanna
Some people get on your nerves
None

Had a super sick time. But I had a pretty enjoyable time with a lot of fun stuff, cycling, rafting, swimming, backpacking, and a bunch of other small activities within that, like Cliff Jumping, belaying, and Repelling. And another bunch of stuff just like that that was really funny and enjoyable. It’s a nice vacation/gap your program. Focusing on developing yourself. I would recommend it if you’re trying to do some character building in a different country.

I can honestly say I’ve never experienced something like this in my life, from the mentally strengthening workshops and sessions to the amazing expeditions, trips and workshops, this place has shifted my outlook on both myself and life, I’m here for the whole year but have only experienced the first quest so far and I can’t express the excitement I have for what’s to come. I thoroughly believe that everyone should experience this program before venturing out into the open world left to fend for themselves

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

On one of our kloofing missions I had to cliff jump off a 6m jump, and for me having a fear of hights this was a big jump. I then realized that I will not be able to move forward in life if I don’t overcome this fear and so I bit down and did it.

Pros

Learn amazing life lessons
Improve your fitness and mentality
Make amazing friends from across the world

Cons

Always being fatigued from activities
Rainy weather all the time in sunmer
Waking up very early

Questions & Answers

Is this program open for 2022?

Yes, it is. Application for all the various programs is open for 2022

By Rudi Viljoen on February 18, 2022

What is the average age of participants?

average age between 17 and 23. We've had the exceptions

By Rudi Viljoen on September 20, 2021

How fit do you have to be?

No need to be super fit. We start of with basic exercise and build each participants fitness

By Rudi Viljoen on September 20, 2021

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

Both my older brother and cousin have done this programme prior to me. Hearing what an amazing experience this was for them and seeing the change in them, made coming to this programme a very easy choice for me to make.

I've always liked to challenge myself, but never actually got out of my comfort zone in doing so.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Because my older brother already did the programme prior to me, there were a few things he could pass on to me - which was great.

Other than that, the Warriors Academy helped me out with stuff I couldn't get/bring myself since I live overseas and it ended up being a lot easier just getting it on site. These were mainly things for outside activities, such as biking gear, hiking gear, and a tent.

View Entire Interview

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Just go in and participate in every way possible. Don't think about it, be open to experience everything. There will most definitely be things you won't like, but you'll be surprised finding out there are actually quite a few things you really do like, just never had the opportunity to pursue it.

Also, as long as you put your mind to it, you're capable of doing everything and anything.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Okay, so it's quite valuable to know that literally every single day is different, let alone the weeks.
But generally, you start your day off with some lovely morning exercise after which you return to your rooms to shower and get ready for the day. After breakfast (if you're lucky, there are oats), you go and do whatever activity is planned for that day!

Somewhere around noon, you'll have lunch and somewhere beginning of the evening, dinner. That's pretty much all I can say about an average day. Food is great there.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I don't think there was a specific fear? I was lucky enough to have met most of the people who are in the organisation of this programme prior to me actually joining it. So I guess that already made me feel a lot more comfortable going to the other side of the world by myself.

Other than that, I would recommend being open-minded and not being afraid to talk to people whenever you're struggling with something.

If you could do this trip again, what would you change?

Looking back at my experience, I wouldn't change a thing. There were a few times I was very much set on not doing something, but I'm extremely happy I did end up doing these things/trying it out.

The thing is, during this incredible programme, there are a lot of opportunities that are thrown at you and most of these you won't get a chance of experiencing ever again. You don't want to look back regretting things you didn't do.

Be grateful, cause it's a chance in a lifetime!

James Baring

Vittorio Contaldi

Lindy Odendaal

2016 Alum

Somane Julian Neil Andersson

2016 Alum

Tabi Morison

Aidan John Pitt

2016 Alum

Matthew Wilkinson

2019 Alum

Brad Askew

2019 Alum

Kim Maritz

2016 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Traveling to Mozambique on a scuba diving trip! Just exploring another part of Africa made it so special to share with our international students!

Every day presented a new opportunity where a new diving skill was taught to the students. The importance of respecting nature. This was a trip with lots of stories and memories!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Working at Warriors has allowed me to learn to give back without expecting anything in return. It’s allowed me to see students grow into amazing young adults.

I’ve learned to do everything with passion and always give it my all. It’s been truly rewarding having to be able to work with youngsters from around the world!

View Entire Interview

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

One of the students had a really tough time in school and just not fitting in on a social level! Warriors has taught him to embrace who he is and express himself the way he chooses to.

He learned to accept himself and has picked up the courage to face people on a social level! Allowing others to appreciate his uniqueness.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

The Toltec workshop! It’s a week where our students are given the opportunity to learn about themselves emotionally and learn to accept who they are!

This is a week where we also offer an opportunity to detox and learn a little bit more about a healthy lifestyle. We teach the importance of health is wealth!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

What makes us unique is the fact that we are a melting pot of different cultures, races, and nationalities!

The best proud moment will always be at the end of a program where you see a transformation and the excitement within the students! This is the start of their journey into the big world and we’ve just equipped them with tools to take it on!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The biggest factor in being a successful company consists of multiple attributes.

Passion
Energy
Hard work
Focus
Dedication
Integrity
And most importantly, teamwork! It takes a team to put together a successful project! Yet we should all share a common vision in order for it to work!

#Fortheadventuresofbeingalive

Ruan

Adventure Facilitator

Rudi Viljoen

CEO

Renske Hagg

Adventure Facilitator

Carla De Araujo

Communications Manager

René Viljoen

MAI Instructor Training

Courtney Venter

Senior Facilitator

Francois Van Schalkwyk

Chef

Rowena Viljoen

Senior facilitator

Charles Thompson

Location

Location:

South Africa

Currency:

South African Rand

Weather:

Jan-Mar

81 F / 57 F

Apr-Jun

68 F / 46 F

Jul-Sep

66 F / 45 F

Oct-Dec

77 F / 52 F

Airports:

O. R. Tambo International Airport

( JNB )

Cape Town International Airport

( CPT )

King Shaka International Airport

( DUR )

South Africa is often thought of as resoundingly unstable and poor; however, this is far from the case. The duality in South Africa encompasses big cities with a well-developed infrastructure, as well as rural areas that are underdeveloped and impoverished. South Africa is well known for having 11 recognized languages, beautiful landscapes, world-class universities, and an abundance of animals.

About Warriors Academy

Warriors Academy is an internationally accredited Gap Year program that has been running in South Africa for the past 17 years. The Warriors Gap Year program is made up of four seasonal Quests. Each Quest is structured and has unique features and activities. These are focused on equipping young adults with emotional intelligence skills, time...