Saturday 21 January saw Wilderness Foundation Africa’s Youth Development Programme implement its first Wilderness Nature Trail for 2023 with a group of 7 young people recruited via LoveLife in Kariega.
The aim of the trails project is to deliver quality primary outdoor experiences to stimulate, spark and inspire interest in the natural environment and conservation.
The project was designed to develop African youth in an environment which stirs healing and the development of new skills. It encourages a relationship, a feeling and a bond with the wild, which acts as a powerful stimulant for development and change.
The trail was conducted in the picturesque Zuurberg Section of the Addo Elephant National Park. This is a non-predator area, covered with thicket and contains a lot of indigenous trees, stunning rock pools and plenty of bird life.
Despite it being an exceptionally hot day in the area, the trailists managed to complete a 10 km trail making unforgettable memories on their way and learning about their environment.
As stated by one beneficiary: “I was really tired, but I had so much fun. Those laughing memories, hard memories, getting to know each other more… [a] beautiful memory.”
This trail was enabled by the continued support of Forestry Bureau Taiwan and the Beare Foundation.