Program Reviews

Warriors was a great year of adventure, new experience, hidden places and new people.
At warriors I was welcomed with warm arms and they tried they best efforts to make us feel all at home. Within the first week they did activities with us to bring the whole group together and become friends. Throughout the year we were always learning something new. I have made many memorable moment from this year of adventure and I have made friends for life in different parts of the world that I still communicate with on a daily bases even though 2 years have past since we were at warriors. Some of the experiences you get through warriors you will never get anywhere else.

I can honesty say that warriors was one of the most character building and exciting stages in my life to date - As a 19 year old, the experiences came as a chance grow and push myself beyond limits which 100% helped to shape my attitude and outlook on life that have grown me in to the adventurous person I am today!

We did everything from horse trekking to mountain bike and hiking expeditions, abseiling, sailing, camping, delving into your past, Toltec courses, acting and more. The space in the limpopo province at warriors base camp is awesome although I understand it’s been renovated since I was there almost 8 years ago.

This is a tough programme - but I would not change it for the world - hands down one of the best times in my life!

Since then I have had various jobs from working in ski chalets, teaching sailing in Greece, an account manager at a private equity firm and interior design in London, yacht broking In Monaco and now I’m currently working on a racing super yacht in the Caribbean and have sailed across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans - warriors was at the start of the rest of my life after school and acted as a catalyst that ignited this spark for life, change and new experiences.

The Viljoen’s, who run warriors, are the most wonderful people on the planet and have created something that is truly a gift for any young adult willing to go beyond what they thought possible.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me (Lottie acland on Facebook)

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime - it starts with warriors!

My 2 years being part of Warriors was amazing, the amount of skills and knowledge that I learned from there will always stay with me. I am forever grateful for what they have done for me. Taking me through my gap year and show me that their is a whole other world outside to explore.
And to be part of the 2nd year as a MAI was an experience of a life time, learning how to work in the outdoors and being part of a wonderful team that is always their to help and support.
And my best part was to transfer all my knowledge and experiences through to other people.

My experience was unique as I got to meet very important people in my life and a very important individual in my life ,along with getting to have great memories and experience. I learnt what I’m scared of in life and that is falling because quest three that is all it was about mainly for me because every trip made me feel scared. I met those people that always pushed my buttons but with this program and having to deal with them I know how to deal with them in the real life. I experienced that I actually don’t mind cycling and if you set your mind straight you can finish anything a winner such as the WAC I learnt to deal with one of my enemies and we both finished winners together.

My two teenagers were participants on a Warriors Programme earlier this month. They took part in the most amazing outdoor experiences which pushed their limits in facing fears and self imposed limitations. The positive guidance and life lessons highlighted each day by facilitators have been taken to heart and continue to be practiced . Their experience of life and the world has been widened and therefore broadened their thinking of what possibilities are out there waiting for them. The friendships and bonds formed between participants is quite remarkable. As parents we can see how the Warriors experience has enriched our teenagers lives, all in all I would highly recommend the Warriors programme to all young adults.

Warriors, what an amazing place to have been!
It's always going to be difficult to describe warriors because there are so many thing that warriors had a influence on in my life. I'm going to break if up in physical and emotional aspects. With the physical experience that i got from warriors was to "just keep going" in all the exercises we did they helped me to just keep going, no matter how slow you are or how tired your body feels, just dont stop because you are capable of finishing! That made me a stronger woman today. With Warriors i had a life changing moment emotionally, were i realized that you alone control your reactions. Nobody has power to make someone angry, for example. It is that person that decides to react in agression. Just that simple fact alone made that i am still teaching myself daily to master my own reactions towards life 4 years later.
Warriors changed my life for the better and i will forever be greatful for everything single person that played a part.

As young adults, ultimately our experiences are what shape us, what define us.

Before Warriors I lacked direction; I had no motivation to progress in life. Put simply, I wasn’t excited about my future.

Luckily my parents found Warriors!

The ethos of warriors is to take you out of your comfort zone, in a controlled environment.
Self actualization cannot occur in our comfort zones. Experiences outside of our comfort zone are what truly shape us as young adults

For the adventure of being alive!

After High School I found myself unsure as to what I wanted to do and what I wanted out of life. I enrolled into the 7 month program at Warriors and was pleasantly surprised. Besides having a great gap year I learnt alot about myself as a person and quickly found out where my mental strengths and weaknesses are as you are constantly testing yourself.

There are many times you feel that you should give up but somehow you find the will to push on forward and complete the task in front of you.

This skills have helped me a lot in the working world!

Just left school started a new year, new possibilities and now a gap year with an adventure camp? No idea what to expect, terrified and very anxious all the while drive down long sloping roads, trees as far as the eye can see and suddenly a sign on the right. WARRIORS I thought " hell the hills have eyes the remake is about to begin"
Driving down the path coming up to the main basecamp, I jump out the car and the warmest greeting I have ever had in my life followed suit from Rudi and Rene Viljoen and instantly felt at ease, as more fellow warriors arrived every just as new to this as me.
The months that followed had to be some of the most exciting times of my life, I discovered what kind of person I really am and where I fit (well i learned no one really fits so we make our own path ) discovered some good friends, got into trouble ( boerebulls are not always friendly ) and lived an adventure.
Warriors helped me decide who I wanted to be in life and for that I will be forever grateful.

When I arrived at base camp I was a bit unsure of what to expect.
But once I met everyone including the facilitators I felt more at ease. Throughout the whole tour there was a positive attitude no one was complaining about anything.
The highlights of my tour was jumping of of the bridge, it was such an exhilarating feeling. After doing that I felt like I could do anything so after seeing animal rehabilitation centers a lot of hiking and cultural activities, which was also a blast, I was finally able to put my fears to the test but doing the big swing which was amazing. Altogether the trip was a once in a life time experience.