Be Adventurous • Be Scouts

What is KZN Scout adventure? Everybody would say it’s an eight day hike in the Drakensberg and that you are in a patrol. Well KSA are those things but for me its different. KSA is where you get to challenge yourself physically, emotionally and mentally. While you are hiking you build better friendships, you get along with one another because if you didn’t you had to sort it out by yourself ( there were no adults with you hiking). We got to work how the patrol system should work ( without us knowing it). Memories were made along the way, getting to know your patrol strengths and weaknesses and we could help each other with that. We learnt new things on the hike like the berg weather is bipolar, it would be extremely hot one minute and the next minute its hailing. We got to experience that. Personally KSA helped me improve my mapping skills as I was the patrol leader. The best thing was to get to your destination and to relax, to play cards, to listen to music and to make or tell jokes. Our patrol song was This is me by The Greatest Showman, I’ve only released what the words meant when I felt down or when I was thinking of giving up. “when the sharpest words want cut me down, I’m going send a flood, going to drown them out” these lyrics kept us going. You get to experience the nice, beautiful scenery. The pictures we took were amazing. KSA was the best. Yours in Scouting Maria

Maria Southey58th Durban Air Scouts

The Drakensberg Adventure was my first experience of the Drakensberg – I was blown away by the beauty of the landscape with its vegetation, caves, and just the sheer size of the Berg. Even though we didn’t make it to Mafadi, the highest peak in South Africa, as we were meant to, we had a great time with many memorable experiences in the Berg – including afternoon thunderstorms, rain, hail, and calm mornings watching the sunrise. Everyone in the patrol bonded and at the end of the Adventure it felt as if everyone had known each other for much longer than just a week. One of the highlights of the whole experience was being high up in the Berg, and looking out over the landscape and seeing nothing man-made at all – just nature. And complete silence, with just the wind in your ears. It was a spectacular experience, especially for the four of us from George, as it was our first taste of the Drakensberg. I will definitely be back at the end of 2019 for the next Adventure! – Robert Hill 1st George Scouts

Robert Hill1st George Scouts

If you’ve ever hiked in the Drakensberg before you would know, that the Mountain Range is a mean “Dragon”, but if you have not hiked in the Drakensberg before it is an a mean “Dragon” not to mess with. My patrol called the “Supreme Meme Dream Team” would say that we were the only “crazies” to attempt to do the extreme route which was to peak the highest peak in Southern Africa (Mt Mafadi) because we were the only scouts to attempt it other than the adult patrols. We faced harsh terrain and all the climates the berg had to offer us. Unfortunately we did not peak but however we made memories. At the time of the hike we felt like hell, but that hell feeling turned into joy while we went through all of our extremities as a patrol. I think I can speak for my patrol as well in saying that we had a blast at the “KZN Senior Scout Adventure” and we would want to do it again but to peak the mountain next time. The adventure has challenged me mentally, physically and emotionally in the most positive ways that I feel mentally, emotionally and physically stronger. I would take on the “KZN Scout Adventure” in a heartbeat again. The organization and support from the ops tent at the base camp was outstanding in that when they discovered when we were in trouble, they sent out the rescue team (We didn’t really get lost, we would have made our way back because we were prepared, which is our scout motto “Be Prepared” by Lord Baden Powell as scouts.) I would highly recommend this adventure to other scouts because the challenges you will overcome will make you wiser and stronger which will make you an asset to our society.

Morgon Liebenberg52nd Durban Sea Scouts

My experience at the senior scout adventure was truly amazing, this is because of all the chances we got to experience. It is a amazing way to get to know the other troops, see extremely beautiful views and also get some exercise at the same time. From Kyle Bullock

Kyle Bullock1st Howick Scouts