As the 22/23 school year ended, 72 cadets and 15 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) from Clwyd and Gwynedd ACF (C&G ACF), Dyfed and Glamorgan ACF (D&G ACF) and Gwent and Powys ACF (G&P ACF) were preparing for what would be the trip of a lifetime. 18 months of planning and preparation had finally come to an end and Exercise Kwazulu Natal Draig was about to get underway. With 87 participants taking part, this was the largest overseas expedition the Army Cadet Force had run since the COVID pandemic.
The expedition to the Zulu Natal region of South Africa was made up of three elements, taking place at three contrasting locations, in order to give the attendees a truly unforgettable experience. Beginning in Zingela Bush Camp, nestled on the edge of the Tugela River and a 45-minute drive by 4×4 from the nearest town, the groups were thrown straight into preparations for their chosen experience, working under the direction of experienced guides and specialists, and supported by their CFAVs.
The chosen element for Group 1 was a 4-day giraffe field study: of course, this quickly earned them the name ‘Giraffe Group’! Their challenge involved trekking the surrounding locations (a 10,000 hectare conservation area) tracking herds of giraffe. For each of the 58 giraffe encounters this group had during the four-day period, they logged the location and took a series of photos in order to identify each individual giraffe. The aim of this was to monitor the movement, changing patterns and numbers of herds to support the conservation efforts of the team at Zingela. For those giraffe that were new to the reserve and had not previously been logged (including juveniles, of which they encountered several) the group were given the honour of naming them. A highlight for many in this group was the day spent exhuming a giraffe skeleton: this will now be erected and used for educational purposes at the site.
After a trek out to their starting point from base camp, Group 2 hit the Tugela River and spent 4 days on a 20-kilometre rafting descent. Paddling in pairs on heavy duty inflatable rafts, they negotiated a series of rapids across the four days with unique names such as ‘the washing machine’. The image created by this name certainly paints a picture of the intensity of many of the rapids they experienced! The group wild camped under the stars at the river’s edge each night in just sleeping bags, having carried all the equipment they needed on the boats. At the end of each day, they set up their own camp, built and maintained the fire and did all their own cooking, working in teams to ensure that all jobs and responsibilities were completed effectively. For many, this was their first real experience of rafting, with one cadet admitting, once they were back in camp, that he was afraid of the water. During the trip, the growth in teamwork and the way in which pairs worked together as they negotiated the final sets of rapids before the return to Zingela was a joy to watch, and testament to the personal growth that occurred in such a short time.
Group 3 (the Zulu Trail Group) left Zingela and spent 4 days trekking through the local landscape, which is littered with Anglo-Zulu and Boar War history and monuments. With over 80 kilometres of trail covered during the trek, the group of young people quickly learnt how to administrate themselves out in the wild and were responsible for securing their campsite each evening and cooking their own meals. This was quite a challenge for cadets who had never even peeled an onion!
During this first phase, each group also had the eye-opening experience of visiting a local school. Each visit included being well and truly thrashed at football by the school children, who were usually playing barefoot, and also losing at a game of netball. The groups also got to spend time talking to the children about their different cultures, education systems and home lives. Many cadets mentioned how hard this hit them, with the Zulu children so happy and engaging, yet having so little.
“Overall, I would say that this experience was truly eye-opening and humbling. To see the lack of valuable resources that we use at home and take for granted. I really enjoyed the time spent on the trail as I feel it was a refreshing getaway from the distractions of technology back at home… This experience will last forever, I truly look forward to sharing this amazing story with new people that I meet in the future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for this amazing experience.”
Cadet Corporal Aaron Rees (G&P ACF)
With phase 1 complete, the groups moved to Elandsheim Retreat to begin a battlefield tour of Isandlwana, the Fugitives Trail and Rorke’s Drift. Over the course of 3 days, the group learnt all about the Anglo-Zulu war, from both perspectives, and had time to reflect and take in the locations. Local guides shared the stories of the battles, painting pictures through words at key locations around the sites, in order to bring the events to life and ensure the cadets understood fully what happened. Cadet Sergeant Alec Brown (G&P ACF) played the Last Post as part of an Act of Remembrance at Rorke’s Drift, apparently one of only around 5 people to have played the Last Post at that location. Cadet Molly Dickinson (G&P ACF) was also able to take an unplanned trip to the school at Rorke’s Drift, where her parents (from the Royal Engineers and Southampton UOTC) first met as part of the teams tasked with building the original school hall, laying the foundation stone together in 1994.
“I know she had concerns before she left and now she is talking about taking every opportunity in life that she can. Thank you, truly thank you.”
Molly’s mum
Finally, if that wasn’t enough, the expedition moved on to Somkhanda Community Game Reserve for a Game Ranger Experience. The group teamed up with Bhejane Nature Training, who run programs training new Field Guides. This meant the cadets were joined by a fantastic team of 18-20 year old trainee guides whose enthusiasm and passion was evident to all. These trainees acted not only as guides, but also as mentors and positive role models. Some of the conversation that took place around finding pathways in life, making the most of opportunities and resilience and determination was of incredible benefit to many of the cadets who are coming towards crossroads and facing challenges in their own lives.
The program included traditional safari drives as well as trekking on foot in this big 5 game reserve, along with learning all about the conservation efforts of the park and the long-term impact they can have. They carried out security patrols along the fence lines alongside experienced rangers, learned about the devastating effects of poaching and how to hunt for and remove snares planted by poachers, alongside how the community owned reserve works with and supports the local communities who own the land.
“Over the past 3 weeks I’ve made a whole new group of friends, kayaked down the Tugela River, learned lots of new skills, been on safari, visited Rorke’s Drift and seen how different life is on the other side of the world. I’ll never take anything for granted ever again. After realising how little some places have, we are very lucky to be able to have what we have.”
Cadet Corporal Seren Barlow (C&G ACF)
One of the highlights of the trip was overhearing some of the conversations had between the cadets and the guides and instructors who were supporting the expedition. The passion for the environment and animal conservation was evident in everything they did and a number of the cadets left with useful contacts, and a desire to look more into what they could do.
“This whole trip brought out a new side of me I never knew existed, usually a bitter and secluded individual I found myself being helpful, compassionate and charitable I will take that everywhere I go for the rest of my life. As a person from a not so wealthy small family none of these experiences would have been possible without the support and funding and I hope to continue working closely with the ACF to make these experiences possible for future cadets.”
Cadet Lance Corporal Ben Blackstone (C&G ACF)
There were so many new experiences had for all: over 30% of attendees had never flown before, with well over half having never travelled further than Europe. For them, this was a truly once in a lifetime opportunity to do something that they had never done before and that would go on to impact them for the rest of their lives.
“In the last 16 days I have been introduced to so many different situations which I probably would never have experienced if it weren’t for this trip. I experienced my first plane journey. I experienced kayaking for the first time. I experienced another country for the first time. I learnt to place myself in a new social group and learnt about my capabilities in an entire new scenario. This understanding is a huge part of gaining more social confidence which has impacted me permanently.”
Cadet Lance Corporal Alex Thomas (D&G ACF)
On reflection, we have to ask the question as to whether or not this trip was worth it. With several years of planning and the challenges of fundraising, paperwork and other key aspects of preparation all before the actual trip took place, there was a considerable amount of work for a small key team of CFAVs who are, in fact, volunteers. However, being able to see first-hand the personal growth, development and impact on this group of youngsters in such a short time, demonstrated clearly that expeditions like this are incredibly worthwhile. The skills, experiences, opportunities and indeed challenges encountered have visibly impacted on the cadets already, and we are in no doubt that the things that they have learnt will continue to impact on them as they face the challenges of growing into young adults in a world that will continue to throw uncertainties and obstacles in their path on a regular basis. Their successes in South Africa and the understanding of what they can achieve when they put their mind to it will serve them well, and they will continue to reap the benefits of this expedition for many years to come.
Written by Captain Dan Priddy (D&G ACF) Activity Lead
The Ulysses Trust also wish to thank the generosity of Army Sport for supporting this expedition britisharmysport.com
