South Africa

In addition to the international mission of Outward Bound, Outward Bound South Africa has its own intensely-felt mission: "To promote greater understanding between people, especially the young, of different races and cultures. To work together to remove the barriers which separate the people of the world." As a result, the school focuses on courses that intervene in the lives of young people who are trapped in cycles of poverty, crime, violence and unemployment. It helps people discover that a disadvantaged past does not have to mean a disadvantaged future, or as Hahn would put it: "Your disability is your opportunity."

To reach a diverse crowd, Outward Bound South Africa offers a wide variety of courses. These range from three to 21 days in duration and include hiking, camping, orienteering, abseiling, rock climbing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking and rafting. Locations include Willow Point, the school's base camp next to the Swartvlei at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountain range, mobile operations in the Sterkfontein Nature Reserve, where bouldering and rock climbing are the main course activities, and the breathtaking Valley of a Thousand Hills, where groups can embark upon particularly challenging expeditions.