OUTDOOR LEARNING – NYATSELA – Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA

Outdoor Education at Waterford

Nyatsela (a siSwati verb meaning “to make a footprint”) is a two weeks walk around Eswatini. The whole Form 3 cohort, divided into six groups each with 13 students and three adults, sets off from the College on a rite of passage that will see them return three weeks later as a more well-rounded version of themselves.

They will walk 5-15km every day, passing through the beautiful landscape of Eswatini, and stay in camp-sites, at homesteads and in school classrooms where they will meet their hosts, cook their meals, wash their clothes and put up their tents if necessary.

They learn how to get on with the people in their group, to be resourceful in solving the situations they encounter along the way, to develop skills and behaviours that are crucial for learning in the “university of life” and to leave a light footprint on the earth by living simply. Their backpacks contain everything they will use for the next three weeks (one change of clothing, toiletries, gas stove, cooking pot and enough food to last until the next food-drop).

Our Learning Aims

Through Outdoor Education, students:

● Practise Environmental Stewardship – nurturing care for the natural world and sustainable living.

● Experience Ubuntu in Nature – discovering deep connections between people, community, and environment.

● Cultivate Outdoor Skills – gaining confidence in navigation, campcraft, and safe practice.

● Build Trusting Relationships – developing empathy, teamwork, and leadership through shared challenges.

● Develop Personal Responsibility – strengthening resilience, independence, and accountability.

Why Outdoor Education Matters

Outdoor Education gives our students the chance to:

● Step beyond their comfort zones.

● Discover hidden strengths.

● Build friendships that last a lifetime.

● Reflect on themselves, others, and the world. At Waterford, Outdoor Education is not just about adventure. It is a transformative educational journey, one that shapes character, deepens learning, and creates memories that last a lifetime.

A History of Adventure and Learning

Since Waterford’s founding in 1963, Outdoor Education has been woven into school life. Teachers recognised the rich opportunities for growth that came from time outdoors, and expeditions soon became central to the student experience.

From the 1960s through the 1980s, activities ranged from geology and Bushman painting excursions to adventurous hikes at Komati Gorge, as well as multi-day camping trips that combined academics with physical challenge.

By the 1990s, Outdoor Pursuits was formally structured into the curriculum, offering climbing, kayaking, horse-riding, gorge scrambling, hiking, and camping, along with more expeditions to Sibebe and the Drakensberg.

Though adventurous by nature, these activities nurtured leadership, resilience, teamwork, and practical life skills. They encouraged students to step beyond their comfort zones, collaborate, and reflect on the deeper significance of their journeys.

This tradition laid the foundations for Nyatsela, now Waterford’s signature outdoor learning experience for Form 3 students.

Today, the programme continues to evolve, integrating sustainability, global citizenship, and student well-being while keeping alive the spirit of exploration, resilience, and discovery that has defined it since 1963.

Nyatsela: A Journey of Discovery

Derived from the siSwati verb “to set foot” or “make a footprint”, Nyatsela is more than an expedition; it captures the essence of discovery and transformation for our Form 3 students.

Over two weeks, students traverse Eswatini’s breathtaking bushveld entirely on foot, carrying everything they need in a backpack. With no electronic devices and only the essentials, they rely on resilience, teamwork, and courage, guided by dedicated staff, rangers, and paramedics.

Though some joke that Nyatsela’s greatest achievement is simply “survival”, the true triumph lies in the transformation it inspires. Students return with a deeper appreciation for nature, a stronger sense of self, and friendships forged in challenge.

“On Nyatsela, we walk together. Every step is a lesson in resilience, empathy, and community.”