Program Reviews

I am a parent and my son is busy with his 3rd Quest In 2021.
The growth and development that we have seen in our son has been beyond remarkable. We notice it , every time we speak to him. He is having the time of his life in a secure, remarkable environment. He is in awe of the beauty he has experienced in the hikes and the trips he has done . He has seen parts of South Africa that he would never get to see with us. He has really just excelled. This experience especially, that we have been hit by the Covid pandemic has been everything we could have dreamed a gap year would be be for him. The pandemic has not held them back. He has made great friends and just started really living. I am so glad that he got to experience , what he has , in this fabulous very supportive group of people he sees as family.This is truly an adventure for all who want to feel Alive and thrive in the beauty of South Africa. For our son this will be with him forever, and we feel blessed that he could experience it .

From the outdoor activities to the personal growth workshops the whole experience was amazing. This program helped me to grow immensely as a person and I will always remember it as one of the best experiences of my life. The councillors, as such, were very supportive and would console me while still pushing me to carry on with a little tough love here and there. I’ve also come out of the summer quest with level 1 first aid and a vast knowledge of hiking, biking and even cooking. The best part of this trip is the lifelong friends you make along the way. P.S. You have to try the bar one cake haha!

My son was already in SA when he called me saying that he did not want to go to this Quest. It was going to be boring, he did not need the self reflection, it was not his choice and much more. However 4 days into the Quest and we talked to a different person. He loved it and he loved it all. The personal challenge, the endurance, the variation of the program, the other kids in the group, the staff and their amazing support, the different tests he could do but most of all he experienced a different world. Warriors has the capability of creating a 'new world'. A world where our son realized that he is in charge of his own life, that he has a choice, always. This involves his pyhsical capabilities, but also mentally. It focusses on who he is as a person, how he wants to interact with others, how he positions himself towards others and how to you overcome your own barriers.
This all happened as part of a very diversified, busy, challenging and fun program. It is not just biking, or hiking, but there was a 2 days dance class as well, cooking, wellness and much more. Limited free time and very limited social media time. But that was no issue.
I think the biggest compliment for Warriors is that he regrets that he is not able to do another Quest. But fortunately his sibblings will go in the years to come.
We defenitely see the changes looking at him. Ofcourse some of the intentions will fade away when time pass by, however listening to him when he shares his experiences with friends and family back home, I am 100% convinced that it has made a profound impact and he will take these experiences with him, wherever he will go.

Our son, Joshua, attended the Summer and Autumn Warrior Quests - it was the best decision we have ever made for him! Though a sociable chap, he lacked focus and direction for the future, and suffered with very low confidence. The 2 programs he attended helped him to manage the confidence issues and to realise that he is capable of many things!
I honestly wish that Warriors Gap Year program was part of the school curriculum, purely for the practical skills the kids learn and the emotional readiness for life that the program teaches them.

What an absolute mind blowing experience this was! 7 weeks of non-stop adventure, fun and personal growth. If you are up for it, this is a place that truly refines the person you choose to become. It's greatness was in everything, from scuba diving and tower cycling, to playing card games around the fire.This program will surprise you, challenge you and most of all, become a corner stone arsenal for any adventure life can throw at you. If you're not quite sure where life experience begins, this is the best place to start!

There are no words to explain how this opportunity has not only changed my son's outlook on life, but mine as well. Life gets fast and furious and if not careful you completely miss it. The Warriors Adventure Academy has had me in tears and so emotional to say the least. The insane ability's you did not know existed within your child makes me SO VERY PROUD!!

The Academy has no end to what you child benefits from being there. From daily Routine to Teamwork and Life skills, all done with so much enthusiasm, strict rules and most of all Love.

Never could I imagine it would ever be so life changing. My son cant wait to get back after every Quest, as they make new friends and form companionship. I have two younger children and they will definitely be attending when the time comes!!!!

This program has been voted the Best Gap Year program for years, and believe me, it is!
All three of my kids have attended various quests at some time or another.
My eldest, post graduation, found himself lacking a bit of direction and needing a break. He attended the Toltec course and came home a changed man. He then went back for the Autumn Quest, before heading to New Zealand for the remainder of the year. What a difference Warriors made to his life.
My other two are still currently at Warriors. As we all know, 2020 wasn't a good year for anyone, especially the young adults who were forced to put their lives and future plans on hold. Plans had to change, lost opportunities to travel etc, it was depressing. Both chose to go to Warriors & are thriving, active & happy. Life long friendships have been made. The future looks bright. Well done the Warriors team and thank you.

My daughter thoroughly enjoyed this programme and learnt more than we could have hoped!! She came back with a whole lot of confidence and hope for her future. The friendships she made throughout the quests are friendships that will last a lifetime. Warriors is a wonderful place, full of wonderful people, and great learning oppurtunities. It is a safe environment where young adults get to expand their knowledge both about the outside world and about themselves, and how to negotiate life's challenges.

Most amazing program! All three of my children have done at least one of the Quests, one of them intent on doing all four.
Personal growth has been astounding for all three. They learn so much about themselves and the world, especially how to connect again on a non-electronic level. Their sense of self worth has grown in leap and bounds.
Make no mistake it is tough on many levels, but the Warrior staff approach and support makes them pull through. I truly believe it makes them find their true vocation and purpose in life.
Initially the fees seemed a bit daunting for South Africans, but it is more than a worthwhile investment in any young adults future.
Safety is of paramount importance to the supervisors and at no stage was I concerned about them. Rowena as director is always a whattapp away and has gone out of her way to accommodate any requests.
My children have made what I believe are lifelong friendships and view the Warriors team as a second family.
Have no hesitation in recommending this program to all young adults.

The Warriors experience is a unique one, especially for young people from urbanised places like Northern Europe. The physical settings of the program are amazing, and the program's trips are challenging in profound and good ways. Our son highlighted his top 3 'wins' from the Warriors program as: 1. development of endurance, resilience and mastery of self; 2. experiencing this development in new and invigorating settings like the hike through Kruger Park, the 500 km bike tour, the amazing scuba diving program at Sodwana Bay, the hikes in the Limpopo hills etc.; and 3. the ability to get out of the technology driven world (social media) and focus on your physical group members as people, on building human relations and challenging yourself within the group. And doing all this without knowing what was coming the next day, put a premium on flexible thinking, collaboration & adaption, and team building.
As parents and family we followed some of this at a distance through the Warriors YouTube, Facebook and Instagram channels, which was a very nice experience and helped us to be part of the development.
A big thank you to the whole Warriors Team, and the participants for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience!