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 (324 reviews)

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4.85 Rating

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Location

South Africa
- Limpopo

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 Ziplining

Timeframe

Fall Spring Summer Winter Year Round

Housing

Cabin Hostel Rondavel Tent

Primary Language

English

Age Min.

Age Max

Pricing

Starting Price

6400

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 Included (Extra)

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

What's Not Included

Airfare Domestic Airfare Airport Transfers SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Jun 04, 2025

Last Reviewed: May 29, 2025

Wish List

65 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Ready to push your limits, explore South Africa, and discover who you really are?
At Warriors Academy, our Gap Year Program is more than just travel and adventure, it’s a journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and unforgettable experiences.

With an internationally accredited gap year program structure and a strong focus on personal development, our program combines epic outdoor challenges with soft skills training and one-on-one mentoring.

Over the course of four 7-week Quests, you’ll hike, climb, dive, and lead, while learning powerful life tools and building friendships that cross borders.

Whether you join us for one Quest or all four, you’ll walk away with more confidence, clarity, and a whole lot of stories to tell.

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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

Popular Programs

Summer Quest - February/March

Warriors Academy’s Summer Quest is an action-packed 7-week adventure designed to challenge and inspire. From abseiling and cliff diving to mountain biking and a triathlon race, you’ll explore the wild side of South Africa. Engage in conservation work, cultural experiences, and hands-on skills training. With a focus on self-mastery, emotional intelligence, and personal growth, Summer Quest is where unforgettable memories and lifelong breakthroughs begin.

Autumn Quest - April/May

Dive into adventure with scuba diving in Sodwana Bay, mountain biking, horse riding, and caving. This Quest blends outdoor thrill with deep self-work through coaching with Rudi, leadership development, and strategic thinking workshops. Add in cooking, massage, and quantum energy sessions, and you’ve got a powerful combination of personal growth, skill-building, and life-changing experiences.

Winter Quest - June/August

From ocean sailing and ziplining to hiking Tugela Falls and exploring the Drakensberg, Winter Quest is packed with South African adventures. Alongside cultural experiences and wildlife encounters, you’ll grow through leadership training, sexuality education, and personal branding. With added skills like motor mechanics, photography, and sustainable living, this Quest is a holistic journey of discovery.

Spring Quest - August/October

Spring Quest takes you from the Wild Coast to the Orange River with adventure racing, bungee jumping, rock climbing, and skydiving. Each challenge is balanced by meaningful soft skills development, like camp facilitation, fundraising, and presentation training. It’s about testing limits, giving back, and building real-world confidence while soaking in South Africa’s most epic landscapes.

Program Reviews

4.85 Rating

based on 324 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Gap Year Parent

5 rating 84.88%
4 rating 15.12%
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 89 - 96 of 324 reviews

It was amazing
I learned many new things , made new friends and got to go on exciting adventures. I highly recommend this for anyone that wants to get out there comfort zone
You push your self to your limits and really no how far you can actually push yourself.
On this quest you really get to know yourself as a person through your suffering like when you do fitness and mental activities and how far you are able to push yourself or like on the cycle safari where we clucked 500km which sounds tough and is tough when you get started but if you push yourself you see that you are more than competent enough to do it

Pros

Exciting
Push is you to the limit
Gets you out you’re comfort zone

Cons

No phones
Nothing
Nothing

Warriors is an amazing gap year program that you will never regret doing. It offers you the opportunity to learn more about yourself and teaches you many valuable skills to apply to your daily life. You get to meet so many amazing people ( all the staff ) and make friends and memories that can last a lifetime. Although some of the things we do might be challenging, all of the instructors and facilitators are extremely supportive and help us to show that we are much stronger and capable of doing much more than we think. I would recommend Warriors to anyone looking to do a gap year

I went to warriors with a bit of a sceptical opinion but after the first week that all changed there was an amazing vibe and you do amazing things that you will never forget warriors is an amazing gap year for the people that love adventure and want to chela he them self u Would highly recommend warriors I had an amazing time do if your not sure just do it you won’t regret it my personal favourite was the triathlon I wasn’t looking forward for it in the beginning but after I don it I loved the feeling you also learn at warriors how much more you can do with a good mindset I loved my time at warriors and recommend it to anyone

Pros

Beautiful memories
A amazing time
Amazing people

Cons

The food sometimes
Early mornings

Fear-False Evidence Appearing Real
A lesson I learnt in the first week of warriors, and a lesson I’ll take with me throughout my life. On this quest I was pushed, pulled, shoved, dared and scared, but if I wasn’t, then I wouldn’t have become stronger, had more courage, be more independent and be the bravest I could be, I arrived at base camp questioning signing up and Ieft with tears in my eyes whilst saying goodbye to my new family . We control our experiences, it’s up to us to make it a good experience. I can proudly say, this was the best experience of my life!

Pros

Friends for life
Always feeling productive
Discovering more about oneself

Cons

A lot of rain
Cycling is tough

Amazing experience I will remember for the rest of my life. 1st Quest was an opportunity to grow as an individual. I met new people that I will remember fondly forever. I wish I could go back and do it all over again. It was hard but fun at the same time. My fellow warriors were so funny and annoying but I loved and cared for them. I was able to be free around them and it felt so good. The food was amazing. We always got reactions of being late. The reactions were so funny because it didn’t feel like a reaction and our group was big on motivating each other. Everything was well organised. Warriors it is the place where hearts are found and connected. <3!

Pros

Personal Growth
Meeting new people
Comm

Cons

Expensive

Amazing experience full of challenging, but fun, activities. A chance to meet amazing people from all over the world and be part of one amazing family. A opportunity to find yourself and discover that you are capable of more than you think. Warriors provides 24/7 support from their amazing facilitators and helps you grow, not just physically, but mentally. I discovered alot about who I am from just the first quest, and can't wait to improve throughout the year.
I would 100% recommend joining this amazing course.(plus there's a nice view)

Pros

Each day is a adventure
New friends
Finding one self

Cons

Wet shoes...constantly
The donkey
Mega mosquitoes

100% would recommend, very out of your comfort zone but that’s kinda the point, the pure amount of growth I could see in everyone was amazing. This is a need in your life.

When I first got there I felt like I had just given my birth certificate to the reaper and that I was gonna gonna be locked up with these random people for seven weeks regretting my decision…. I then however ended up laughing, crying, screaming and pushing myself more than I have ever in my entire life. In summary, the best decision I’ve made ever<3

Pros

So much growth
Learning your limit
Meeting and getting to know so many different people

Cons

Early mornings
Pretty physical
Bugs

Warriors is amazing! I had so much fun during these past 7 weeks and feel so much stronger as a person, emotionally, mentally and defnitly physically. No matter what happens you get so much support and love from the staff (especially Brad) and the people around you. I 100% recommend this quest for an amazing and unforgettable adventure where you'll make life long friends, memories that will age like fine wine and learn new things about yourself and your limits.

I can't wait to go back for the next quest :D

Pros

Personal growth
Support
Important life lessons

Cons

Expensive

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!

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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

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...

Program Details

Pricing

Program Highlights

Summer Quest - February/March 

Autumn Quest - April/May 

Winter Quest - June/August 

Spring Quest - August/October 

Alumni Interviews

Tam

Why did you choose this program?

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

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

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

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

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

Staff Interviews

Tumi

What is your favorite travel memory?

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

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

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

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

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

Summer Quest - February/March

Autumn Quest - April/May

Winter Quest - June/August

Spring Quest - August/October