Steven Mamkgopa enjoys the view from the top of his first rock climb.
During the weekend of 28-29 November, fourteen teenagers from ga-Mathabatha’s Children of the Dawn programme had the experience of a lifetime. Early on Saturday morning, these teenage youths and several Fanang Diatla volunteers boarded an AMRT minibus at Fanang Diatla to spend a weekend rock climbing, abseiling, and camping in majestic Waterval Boven in Mpumalanga’s Drakensberg escarpment.
After a three-hour bus ride, our group arrived to set up camp at the Tranquilitas Adventure Farm, the temperatures notably cooler than when we left Mathabatha, as we had climbed from an elevation of 800m to nearly 1700m. Tranquilitas is situated in a beautiful, cliff-top setting high above the valley below, but what first attracted the attention of the children was the swimming pool with an artificial climbing wall rising from one side. After unpacking, eating a quick lunch of peanut butter sandwiches and apples, and receiving some basic instruction about rock climbing from volunteer climbing instructors Neil Margetts, Sharifa Modise, and Edwin McLenaghan, the group set off for the cliffs to start their adventurous day.
Upon arriving at the base of the cliffs and meeting up with three other climbing volunteers, the children donned helmets, buckled harnesses, and slipped their feet into pairs of rubber-lined climbing boots. Among the first to volunteer to tie into the rope and make his way up the rock face was Tshepisho Makgareetsa. Tshepisho impressed all by fearlessly racing up to the top of the first of three 15m routes up the cliff face. Following Tshepisho’s example, Steven Mamokgopa and Tumelo Malatji, a staff member with Children of the Dawn-Mathabatha, followed with ascents of the other two routes up to the top of the cliff. Within just a few hours most of the group had made their way to the top at least once, with several climbing as many as four times. Even those who chose not to make an attempt to reach the top eagerly cheered their peers and congratulated them upon their return to solid ground.
That evening back at the campsite, the group dined on tomato-stewed chicken and rice and then gathered around a fire for a set of activities led by Fanang Diatla volunteer Tumelo Malatji and Kopano Deka. In addition to fun activities testing the groups’ creativity and rhythm, Tumelo and Kopano led the teens in a heart-to-heart discussion on the challenges and temptations faced by the youths in their lives back home in ga-Mathabatha. After a long day with many challenges and new experiences, the youths climbed into their tents for a much-needed rest before the next day’s adventure.
Tshepisho Makgareetsa braving the 25m abseil to the base of the cliffs overlooking Elands Falls.
After breakfast and a swim the next morning, the group ventured in the bus back down through town to gaze at the inspiration for the town’s name: the 80m-tall Elands Falls. We ventured down to the falls not just to admire the beautiful scenery. With the help of staff from Roc ‘n Rope Adventures, the climbing volunteers set up a 25m abseil from the top of the bluffs overlooking the Elands River valley below. After a briefing on the ins and outs of abseiling, all fourteen Dawn Children braved the initial fear of leaning out over nothing but air and slowly lowered themselves down the rope hanging down the cliff face to cheers and applause from their peers above and below. Once everyone had reunited at the bottom, the group scrambled to a viewing platform for one last look at the waterfall before hiking through the derelict rail tunnel where the bus stood waiting to take everyone back home.
The experience of facing down their fears and drawing on unknown depths of courage is something not soon to be forgotten by these Children of the Dawn. Each of these fourteen teenagers has proven to him or herself that he or she is capable of much more than previously believed. And when faced with similarly difficult challenges in school or among family and friends back home, that newly discovered self-confidence might just make the difference between bowing to destructive peer pressure and standing up for what is in the best interest of one’s own future.
The Children of the Dawn and volunteers in front of Elands Falls.
Special thanks to Children of the Dawn for sponsoring the trip, Neil Margetts, Sharifa Modise, Erwil Van der Merwe, and the other climbing volunteers for providing their time and expertise, Roc ‘n Rope Adventures for assisting with abseiling and sponsoring part of the accommodation, and to AMRT for providing a discount on their normal transport rates.
