“I just wanted to write to you to thank you for all the hard work that you put in to organise our trip to South Africa. I would have written to you sooner, but things have been a bit chaotic in the aftermath of A-level results over the last few days.
The trip was absolutely fantastic, I loved everything about it, and it has definitely been the best experience of my life so far! Everyday was packed full for us, and I don’t think we stopped once the whole time, which was just great. It seemed only to get better and better with everyday, as everyone in the group got to know each other even better, and by the end I don’t think any of us genuinely wanted to have to come home!

“Staying in the Zulu village was great. It was really interesting to see how they live and the differences between their culture and ours, but also to see the similarities between us and them and finding the common sense of humanity that existed between us and all people, even when they don’t speak the same language. It made a real impression on me, and I will always remember the experiences we shared with the Zulus there. It felt really good to actually be doing something useful, and that would make a real difference to people’s lives when we were installing the washing sinks. We put in two days of hard work, but it was really worth it for the feeling I think we all experienced when we completed them.

It was fantastic to actually finally get out on trail after we had heard so much about it. We had a great time in Umfolozi, seeing lots of game, and particularly one lion, at close quarters. I found it very peaceful out there in the bush, and I thought the animals looked in some way different and more majestic seeing them in their own habitat; it really felt as if we were on their turf and terms out there, totally unlike seeing them in captivity in a zoo or safari park on ours. As I’m sure you already know yourself, I found being out in the wilderness gave me a real chance to reflect and think about who you are and who you want to be as a person, in a way that is impossible at home with far too many distractions to take away your attention.

There’s far too much to be able to put down everything here, but all the other parts of the trip were amazing too! It was great to get involved in the brilliant work that is going on at Umzi Wethu, and meet the fantastic people there. I also really enjoyed the totally different, in landscape and style, second trail, which was a perfect close to an amazing trip!

“We were fantastically looked after the entire time we were in Africa, both by the guides and also by pretty much everyone we met. I can’t speak highly enough of Ben, he was brilliant! He did a amazing job as mentor for all of us out in Africa, and I really cannot imagine the trip without him, as he truly did make the trip so much more fantastic for all us in so many ways. It feels really strange to be back now. A-level results went well for me, so I’ll be off to Oxford in October, but I would much rather still be out in Africa in the meantime, everything seems so boring now compared to the incredible things we did out there!

“I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to have this experience, I feel incredibly privileged to have been part of the group to go to South Africa and experience all the fantastic things that we were lucky enough to experience. So much of that was down to your’s, and others at the Wilderness Foundation’s, hard work in putting together such a brilliant programme for us. Thank you for everything you have done for us, I truly appreciate it. I can’t wait to get involved in some way, and to do something positive to put the amazing experience you have given me to good use doing something worthwhile for the Foundation.

Thank you for everything,”

Richard Millar

This is just one example of the impact that a wilderness trail programme organised by the Foundation can provide, but continues a common theme expressed by all those who have been to wilderness: I found being out in the wilderness gave me a real chance to reflect and think about who you are and who you want to be as a person, in a way that is impossible at home with far too many distractions to take away your attention. It is this feeling – this experience – this reaction that we utilise so well in our social programmes like TurnAround and the Sustainable Peace Network, but the benefit of an experience like this is equally valid to anyone at any point in life. Spending time in wilderness is a transformative experience and as Richard puts it so well, it is impossible at home with far too many distractions.

The Foundation is delighted to continue working with The Haberdashers’ Livery Company and I am pleased to announce that we will be delivering a third year of the Overseas Scholarship Programme for Haberdashers students in 2009.

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Trails Reflections – Haberdashers 2008

What was given to me by this experience is more satisfying that anything I have previously been exposed to. The clean intensity of the wilderness presented me with far more than I had anticipated; it gave me the chance to step back and see what is really there.

Less is more. A vital lesson to learn in our world today; where people are consumed by superficial nothings. I saw something real in the wilderness- something which has been coated in many layers and forgotten about. I can’t explain it but I know that people need to experience it, our modern mess is insignificant by comparison.

Going through the wilderness gave me faith in myself, which in turn allowed me to support others. I find it difficult to believe how much I learnt in the four days there and I knew, the moment I left, that i need to return to the wilderness at some point.

Esme has continued to be supportive of the Foundation and has joined our mailing list to receive regular wilderness news, participates in our closed Facebook group for past trailists and is also a Friend of WFUK.

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Trail Reflections – Clouddog 2007

I am sitting halfway up a tree watching the sunset over the water, listening to the cicada and the occasional hippo behind me. This is really very beautiful. Earlier, at the end of the estuary we found about 40 hippos and unknown amounts of crocodiles. Our position watching them from the river bank was a bit close to the water for my liking – hippos have enormous teeth to match their huge bodies, as we discovered when one of them opened their mouth.

I am already covered in dirt, and I have absolutely no idea what my hair has in store for me next, and yet I care surprisingly little. Amazing how quickly one gets used to things

Jasmin Daly in St. Lucia

I had the most amazing experience of my life and was fortunate enough to share it with the best people ever. I saw and learnt so much since my arrival in St. Lucia. At first we didn’t know what to do and were utterly useless but by the end we were pros even doing ‘night watch’ on our own. The guides (Mandla and Paul) were very knowledgeable and I learnt so much ever day about the animals, the surroundings and the people we stayed with in our community stay.

I would recommend this experience to everyone, as it has been so hard to express my feelings in a single paragraph.

Aimee Daly in St. Lucia

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Trail Reflections – Brentwood 2007