Travel off the beaten track and experience

JUMP TO : When to Hike | Top Tips | What to Pack | Where to Sleep | Staying Safe Interested? PIN NOW, read later! I’ve gone trekking in over a dozen countries and the Drakensberg mountains of South Africa has to be one of the most rewarding places that I’ve ever visited. For me, there’s nothing else like ‘The Berg;’ a wall, a thousand meters high, fortified by cruel spires and towers that seem to resemble the backs of sleeping dragons, standing there in defiance of all invasion; it’s no wonder the original Zulu name for the range is ‘ uKhahlamba,’  meaning “Barrier of Up-Pointed Spears.” To climb to the top of that fortress, and stand on edge of its rampart is like mounting a throne above the entire world. I cannot recommend enough visiting this epic landscape. The Drakensberg is not without dangers though; it is, in my opinion, one the most difficult wildernesses that I’ve ever navigated. Horribly rough trails, violent storms, and a real s...

Waves for Change Project Cape Town, South Africa Volunteering in Cape Town with Waves for Change was a highlight of my trip to South Africa. They use surfing to provide health and education support for township kids. Life in South African townships can be rough. Many communities are plagued with high crime, drug use, and murder rates. Kids drop out of school to join gangs at a young age. Finding a successful way to reach these kids is difficult. That’s where surfing comes in. Waves For Change turns unused township beaches into a kind of free surf camp, giving high-risk kids a chance to challenge themselves by learning a new sport that happens to be very addicting. This means they come back for more on a regular basis, allowing local community members to give them additional social, health, and educational support. It works incredibly well. If you want to go surfing, you have to do your homework first! Khanyi Shows the Boys How it’s Done Volunteering in Cape Town...