Essex ACF Expedition to South Africa

Essex ACF depart for South Africa Wilderness Challenge

Sunday 19^th Essex Army Cadet Force South Africa expedition sets of from Chelmsford Territorial Army Centre for what will be an experience of a lifetime. 13 Cadets and 5 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers will take part in a wilderness trail in South Africa for two weeks.

The group will take part in a range of life training skills such as leadership, planning and organising, decision-making, outdoor skills, teamwork, self-esteem, social/group skills, communication and the interface between environmental and social issues. In the wilds of native South Africa they will have time for personal reflection and solitude provides the opportunity to embark on a journey of self-discovery and connection with the earth, so that they may return replenished and with fresh insights to the hustle and bustle of Essex.

Participants are: Cadets aged between 16 and 18,

Lance Corporal James Taylor

Sergeant Nathan English

Corporal Craig Carter

Lance Corporal Jordan Parr from Billericay

Sergeant Maxine Drake

Lance Corporal Adam James

Lance Corporal James Webster from Leigh on Sea

Lance Corporal Gemma Ball

Lance Corporal Erin Payne

Cadet Courtney Bell from Dengie area

Cadet Harriet Lumby

Sergeant Tom Biegel

Corporal Wesley Sadler-Smith from Colchester

Adults Captain Kristina Carrington from HQ B Coy Harlow

2nd Lieutenant Norman Hinch from County HQ Chelmsford

Staff Sergeant Dave Cheeseman from Southminster

Staff Sergeant Ted Ainger from Maningtree

Sergeant Lisa Vines from Colchester

Sergeant Major Mandy Price attached from the Combined Cadet Force

Warrant Officer Mark (Snowy) Braddon attached from the regular Army 3 Cadet Training Team

21^st to 24^th October they will take part in The Mabandla Experience.

21^st to 24^th October they will take part in The Mabandla Experience is an integrated, authentic cultural and community volunteer work experience. They will get to know the community by working alongside them and joining in daily life. By night, they will be ‘billeted' out in pairs to host families, which ensures an authentic cultural experience and by day, work alongside the community until lunch. In the afternoon a social programme enables them to meet, kick a ball and interact with the people as well as learn about important traditions. They will get to spend time with a traditional herbalist (Nyanga) as well as a spiritual healer (Sangoma) and if possible attend a traditional ceremony that may be happening during the stay.

25th October Durban Wilderness Leadership School, they bid farewell to their hosts and head for where overnight at the headquarters in Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve. The expedition will have a chance to pack gear and relax before you head out to the wilderness for the next five nights.

26 - 30 October 2008 Umfolozi Wilderness Trail

This is the highest form of conservation category that an area can achieve. It is a large area of unmodified land that retains its natural character. In these areas people can only enter on foot, horseback or canoe.

In 1958 half of the Umfolozi Game Reserve (now the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Park) and a large part of Lake St Lucia were designated as wilderness areas. These were the first official wilderness areas in Africa. It is in these untouched areas that the trails take place and participants are afforded the opportunity to embark on a journey of self-discovery and to revel in the awe of nature; developing a sense of belonging, deep respect and humility in recognition of the shift in consciousness that occurs whilst on trail in the wilderness. It is a complete physical, mental and spiritual adventure during which the trailists discover a sense of wonder and re-examine their priorities. A chance to exist for a time in the original, primitive atmosphere of wilderness and to watch from a respectful distance the intimate lives of wild animals and to listen at night to the compelling sounds of the African bushveld

31st October - 1st November Battlefields.

Most of 31st October is spent getting to our base, from which we will explore the Anglo Zulu battlefields.Today it is difficult to imagine that the scenic and tranquil landscape of the northern KwaZulu Natal, with the backdrop of the majestic Drakensberg Mountains, has been the scene of many bloody conflicts and where much of the history of South Africa was shaped and the foundations of the British Empire were tested in the extreme, first by the Zulus and then the Boers.

The largest concentration of battlefields in South Africa is the legacy that bears testimony to this and which today draws visitors from around the world. Numerous historical legends were involved in battles here such as the Prince Imperial of France, Mahatma Ghandi, Winston Churchill and Jan Smuts to name a few.

From a base near Rorke's Drift we explore the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. Entwined in the historical facts are numerous stories of incredible bravery and dedication to comrades and country. It is these stories that make history come alive by being an enduring

source of inspiration. On 1st November is a full programme covering the British invasion of Zululand of 1879, becoming known as the Anglo-Zulu War. The most significant battle was fought at Isandlwana where 20 000 Zulus defeated a British force, a mere handful escaping to safety across the swollen Buffalo River, with the Queen's Colours. Isandlwana is acknowledged as the greatest defeat in the history of the British Empire by a ‘primitive' force.

Depending on the time of the year and the river levels the rest of this day will include hiking ‘The Fugitives Trail' - the route the fleeing British Soldiers took from Isandlawana to get to Rorke's Drift.

2nd November Depart

We pack up and leave the Battlefields making our way to Durban where you will catch your flight home.