Warriors Academy Gap Year Program in South Africa

Warriors Academy Gap Year Program in South Africa

Location
  • South Africa
    • Limpopo
Length
4 - 52 weeks
Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, 529 Plan eligibility

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.
17
Age Max
24

Pricing

$6,400
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
Jun 04, 2025
May 22, 2026
79 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.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This program offers a challenging mix of physical adventure and personal growth, helping participants build confidence, self-awareness, and lifelong friendships.

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

Video and Photos

Popular Programs

Warriors Academy Summer Quest

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.

Diving in Sodwana Bay

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.

Drakensburg Hike

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.

River Rafting on the Orange River

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

4.84 Rating
based on 347 reviews
  • 5 rating 84.15%
  • 4 rating 15.85%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.55
  • Support 4.85
  • 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
Showing 217 - 224 of 347 reviews
Adriane
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Experience of a Lifetime

When Our son Stephen finished school he was very unsure about what he wanted to do for his future. We then found the Warriors program and enrolled Stephen for the full year 2020. When he left for the first quest in Feb 2020, little did we know that we would only see him again 9 months later due to Covid related travel restrictions.
Not only did Stephen experience the most exciting, amazing and wonderful adventures in this year, but he became more confident, committed and positive within himself throughout. He has learnt to understand the values of healthy living and exercising and Enjoys the lifestyle too.
The Warriors family was amazing throughout. When the first lockdown came in April, they offered to keep the children there on very short notice, the whole world was unsure about this new situation, but Warriors kept the team going, kept them motivated and positive throughout. There could not have been a better place for our youngsters to have spent this crazy time.
The Warriors team are an amazing crowd, passionate about what they do, each child is part of this big amazing family, there is discipline, but there is fun. We as parents can only say a very big thank you to the team and what the part they play in Stephens life.

What was your funniest moment?
As a mom, the first lockdown was really scary. Most parents brought their kids home, we decided together with Stephen, that he stays at Warriors, as we felt the environment was the safest for him. Each morning there was excersize sessions at 7, which was recorded life on Facebook. I had my morning coffee with them all and the day always started with a smile, a giggle and a laugh. In this way we were connected and part of what Stephen and the team was doing.
Throughout there were recordings of the amazing times the kids had, and it was like a good series on TV, addictive, always waiting for the next one. It was amazing to be part of the adventures, but so much fun to see our children dance, sing, knit..... only to name a few!
79 people found this review helpful.
Jeanne
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Warriors 2020

We sent our son to the Warrior's for a whole year. He left home feeling lost, confused and without any direction. After a few months we started to see him open up and grow. He came back after the year, a changed man!! He learnt so many life skills and had so much fun doing all the activities. The program is really very well structured and presented with so much love, care and professionalism. In spite of the covid situation, the Warriors team managed to keep the program going, without missing out on a lot. For that we were really grateful. I can absolutely recommend this to any child, no matter what their circumstances.

89 people found this review helpful.
Adriane
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Most amazing and rewarding GAP YEAR experience

When our son finished high school he did not know what he wanted to do going forward. We found WARRIORS and enrolled him for all four Quests for 2020. Stephen left for SA in February 2020, little did we know that we would only see him 9 months later due to Covid travel restrictions.
Stephen's Warriors year was not only filled with the most unique and amazing experiences, but he has grown tremendously as a person.
Throughout lockdown the Warriors team kept the group together, they kept them going, kept them positive and active, there could not have been a better place for Stephen to experience these 'unique ' times.
We ar grateful for Stephen to have had this opportunity and guidance, we know, this year has given him positive building blocks for life on all levels.
Thank you WARRIORS!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Seeing my son grow into a different person in a matter of a few months.
91 people found this review helpful.
Roger
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Warriors Tudor

My son had the most wonderful experience, having started with a seven week course he stayed for another 14 weeks, he only returned because of covid repatriation and university looming, otherwise he would have stayed longer.
He has grown, developed and matured throughout his time at Warriors and he speaks fondly of his time there the lessons learnt and the future adventures he would like to undertake.
He has become a true Warrior and is part of the Warrior family, which for him is especially important.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Expect the unexpected, learn from your experiences employ the lessons learnt for your betterment and future
89 people found this review helpful.
Beverly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

GAP YEAR LIKE NO OTHER

The Warriors experience allows young adults to grow emotionally and experience the reality of the hard world - after the secure and cozy environment of high school. The programmes, activities, mentorship, guidance, emotional and physical endurance are planned, monitored and executed to bring our the best of every participant. Thought and care goes into each week and of course the camaraderie encouraged by the owners and leadership is unsurpassed. I am grateful that my son will continue with the MAI programme in 2021.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Not one thing. The programme is well designed and engineered to ensure participant safety, create outcomes and allow every participant to be there best without being judged. Participants must have a level of fitness and be prepared to get dirty!
90 people found this review helpful.
Christine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wonderful Experience

After matriculating in 2019 with no idea what to do with his future, my son attended the Summer Quest in 2020 but sadly was unable to complete the year due to lockdown restrictions. The 6 weeks he was there were absolutely life changing for him. He gained a tremendous amount of self awareness and insight during the quest and had an enormous amount of fun being nudged out of his comfort zone. He came home a little more grown up than he left and was even able to decide on a future career path after the personal mastery workshops. I would definitely recommend Warriors Academy for all school levers as it gives them the opportunity to mingle with like minded students from around the world whilst discovering that they CAN do anything they set their minds to.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
With a terrible fear of heights the bridge swing was definitely the most nerve-racking moment which was overcome with the support and encouragement of the other Warriors
96 people found this review helpful.
Judy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Warriors Academy - An Experience of a Lifetime!

After completing Grade 12 in 2018 my son wanted to take a gap year before going to university.
I was reluctant for him to take a gap year, however after looking at various options Warriors Academy was certainly our first choice!
The diversity of the program is phenomenal and the opportunities and experiences that Warriors have afforded my son are invaluable.
The mental, physical and emotional transformation in him has been incredible!
I would highly recommend Warriors Academy to anyone looking to grow on a personal level, broaden your horizons and experience life through amazing adventures, while learning leadership skills and gaining a wealth of knowledge and other skills.
Warriors Academy provides an 'adventure home' away from home!!

What was your funniest moment?
Watching the videos posted on social media platforms of all their antics and adventures!
103 people found this review helpful.
Patrick
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

WARRIORS ACADEMY - A LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY

Our daughter Katie (19), enrolled at warriors in 2020 after having completed matric in 2019. She had suffered from severe Tourette's Syndrome during her school days, and although her tics had all but disappeared due to a revolutionary Deep Brain Stimulation surgical operation, she was still very anxious, depressed and "lost" - in no way able to function in society. Her first two Quests (each seven weeks) were difficult. Katie struggled to get with the programme and pushed back against the discipline and authority of the Warriors leadership. They nevertheless persevered and were adamant that Katie would turn the corner. By the beginning of the third quest things had reached the point where we, as parents, could not understand why Warriors were willing to accept her back - why would they make this their problem? The answer was simple: That is what they do. They do not give up on people and they saw the person that she was, despite her challenges. Well, I think it meant the world to Katie that they would not give up on her like so many others had. During the next two Quests we saw an almost miraculous transformation. Katie embraced the programme, enjoyed every minute of it and emerged a strong, confident and positive young lady. The progress that she made in emotional maturity and self-belief was outstanding. She had formed a sincere bond with her fellow Warriors and the leadership group that was clearly the result of working together as a group that genuinely cared about each other. When we attended the graduation ceremonies, the Warriors team took Jenna, Katie's twin sister under their wing and made her feel part of the Warriors family. So for us, as a family, Warriors was an amazing, life altering experience. The programme itself exceeded all expectation. In the most difficult circumstances, with one of the worlds strictest Covid lockdowns, the Warriors team worked relentlessly to ensure that the show went on, and, against all odds, they somehow managed to complete all 4 Quests, with only the scuba-diving (which would have required international travel) having to be left out. We often remarked that while the rest of the world was holed up at home, Katie was living the dream: hiking, cycling, horse-riding, bungie jumping, white water rafting, cliff jumping, skydiving and more... But the programme also included self- awareness and growth workshops, cultural activities and community service. On the whole it is a well balanced and very carefully planned programme, designed to give youngsters the tools that they need to hold their own as confident, well functioning young adults anywhere in the world. The leadership team cannot be commended highly enough for their genuine dedication and passion.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Trust the Warriors leadership team. They are sincere and have you child's best interests at heart. They will look after your child and make sure that the opportunity is well worth while. And don't let you child give up - perseverance is key!
121 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

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

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

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