Location
  • South Africa
    • Limpopo
Length
4 - 52 weeks

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

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
Jun 04, 2025
May 29, 2025
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.

Video and Photos

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

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

4.85 Rating
based on 324 reviews
  • 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
Showing 225 - 232 of 324 reviews
Default avatar
Daniel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My brother

My brother did the gap course in 2019 and grew so much as a person and learnt so many life skills. I’d recommend it to any young person who hasn’t made their career mind up. It is a truly excellent program. Thank you Warriors for all you do. I don’t have 500 characters to add. So if I could amend what I’ve said I would. I’m just trying to make 500 characters here. But anyway Warriors is the best way forward for the younger generation. All the best to all of you going forward. You have changed my brothers life.

62 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Gavin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

mind body and spirit

every day Warriors meet and overcome challenges of a physical, psychological and spiritual nature. The team spirit and superb accompaniment means that there is no sense of destructive competition, but that each person continually strives to better themself. the experience as a whole builds individual confidence and self esteem, as well as a strong ethic of team work .

this programme is ideal for young people and those who have had little exposure to nature outdoor activities. It will be an unforgettable experience; I can't recommend it highly enough!

What would you improve about this program?
it's difficult to think how to improve this remarkable experience
59 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Kim
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Warriors 360

My journey with The Warriors Academy has taken me in a complete 360. I started my journey 4 years ago today, as a bright young woman with absolutely no idea what I wanted to do, but all I knew is that I had a hunger and a thirst for adventure. My life circle has lead me from doing to Gap Year myself to studying in Cape Town and getting my advanced diploma in Food and Wine as a chef, to now my path leading me back to Warriors as a facilitator who assists in running both the Gap Year as well as The MAI (second year option). There is something about the Warriors Academy that makes base camp, the people you meet and the places you go feel like home. A sense of community is built, trust in strangers is found and furthermore you discover a part of yourself that you never knew existed. Everyday is an opportunity to grow, to invest and to find a new adventure to make a new memory. And from me to you, if you ever need something or someone in this lonely world, we here at Warriors Academy will not only be here for you leading and facilitating you into a better stronger person: who believes in themselves but we will welcome you into our international Warriors family with open arms!

What was your funniest moment?
Everyday had something new and exiting! Being surrounded by a bunch of young adults that are alive is extremely contagious... And in an environment which really encourages you to be 100% yourself!
59 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jacob
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Warriors Academy

Challenging...Oh yes!
Worth it?...Most definitely!
This program has changed my life, I was in a very bad space with not much hope for my future before joining Warriors Academy. Now I stand tall with a world of opportunities and a beautiful new outlook on my life and my future.
I have gained the tools that I was so despreratly in need of.
I was guided and driven through every obstical by an incredible team of passionate, caring and knowledgeable facilitators and instructors who's mission is to help their students grow and turn into well rounded, motivated and powerful individuals!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
When given an opportunity...grab it with both hands and don't let go till you have grown from it! It took me way too long to acknowledge the beauty and advantages of using every opportunity I was offered and i ended up missing out on quite a few life changing moments because of this, if I could do it all again I would go head first into everything I was offered so please please do the same!
42 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Glynnis
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Warrior's Gap Year

Warrior's Gap Year is an extraordinary experience. It's a fun filled dynamic course with adventure and incredible personal growth and leadership skills. Every student admits to a total personality transformation. Wonderful friendships with kids from around the world. And having a brand new family they stay in contact with forever after. They also feel welcome to come back and visit Warrior's Base Camp anytime. The staff are wonderful, always supportive and the group dynamics amazing. A place where you not only let go of a victim mentality and possible painful past issues, but learn self confidence, nurturing, sharing and caring. Absolutely worth it!

48 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Changed my child.

This is an awesome program. My son began as a mixed up teen and they gave me back an amazing young man. I would recommend this gap year program to any young school Leaver. Huge thanks to Rowena and her team. Jacob learned many skills, including leadership, scuba diving, abseiling, conservation, caving, mountain climbing, white river rafting, sailing, first aid among dozens of other skills. The team provides the youngsters with excellent role models. They attend to the physical, emotional, spiritual and health needs of the kids. Getting them fit physically as well as holistically. I can honestly say that it’s the best thing to happen to my son.

58 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Nicky
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A parents perspective

18 months ago my son had no clue as to what he wanted to study post school. An avid mountain biker but no "behind the desk 9-2-5er" what was the best path?

Then we found WARRIORS
not for the faint of heart
pull yourself up by your bootstraps
learn some essential life skills
& have the most awesome adventure filled GAP YEAR of your life

He loved it so much he has continued on the MAI (multi activity instructor) path.

Warriors was not just any gap year it was a life changing experience!!!

What would you improve about this program?
it is a well developed formula - nothing! Warriors Rocks!
58 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Aidan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Experience at Warriors Academy

My experience at warriors academy was some of the best moments of my life.

When arriving at the base camp I was greeted with open arms and this made me feel very welcome, to then learn from where everyone comes from was fun as there are students that come from all corners of the globe. this gave me a wider view on the world, learning the different ways each person lived their lives. It was very fun to learn new things.
In the time that we were all together we built a tight bond with each other and helped each other through different and difficult times. supporting and boosting each others moral so to get task or activities done.

The the staff at Warriors Academy are very supportive to the group and to ones individual needs. They do their best to ensure that you have learnt as much as you can but to also have tons of fun at the same time. they plan the activities correctly and effectively with a strict but manageable time table. Their rules are fair and reasonable. They are established so to ensure your safety and well being while on the gap year program. I have the out-most respect for the staff at the Warriors Academy.

We did amazing activities every week and throughout the year. from cycling, running, to hiking some of the most amazing trails South Africa has to offer, to survival course down to bungee jumping and scuba diving and up to skydiving. And visiting and traveling to most areas in South Africa and to some neighboring countries

This gap year is not just about having fun. It is also about showing you how push hard and become a better your, this gap year helps you grow into a better person and the techniques that are taught to you to help cope with daily stresses and how to understand that you do not need to go through everything alone.

This is why I would suggest that this Gap Year program be one of the best programs to follow if you are unsure what to next or just come out of school being either abroad or local. Come give it a try. You wont regret a single moment.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
We hiked up to the Tugela Falls, which was a very short distance but took time due to the incline, once on top we setup camp but also after getting into our tents and in our sleeping bags my camel pack burst open all over me and my sleeping bag. I frantically got my sleeping bag out to dry for half an hour but realized that did not help because it was minus something out side so it basically froze.

After placing the camel pack outside and bring the sleeping bag in again I decided to place a towel on top of my sleeping bag and lie of top of it so that the towel could absorb most of the moisture but it was getting really cold so i decided to climb into a now damp sleeping bag and use my towel as a lining inside the bag. This worked and i got warm again. But there was one thing i forgot to bring and that was extra warm socks as i had only one pair with me so my feet got cold that night but now I know for the future.

That next morning I woke and my left over water in the camel pack was frozen. ;)
Was really a great experience.
55 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story

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