These boys, all of whom come from local communities around the Cederberg, had never hiked deep into the mountains before. To them, the rugged terrain and towering peaks felt intimidating, yet also strangely beckoning…
Among them were five who had experienced the Cederberg’s wild beauty before. Five years ago, as 12-year-olds, they joined a Cape Leopard Trust camp – at the time their first immersive nature experience. Now, at 17, they had come full circle, returning to these mountains for the Gents Trek – no longer wide-eyed boys, but budding custodians of the wilderness. This time, they were here to grow and learn how to protect their natural heritage.
On the first morning, the group’s silence and trepidation was noticeable, full of nervous glances and unsure steps. The path ahead was steep, and many felt out of their depth. But from the moment the boys stepped onto the trail, their transformation began. They started to learn the art of navigation, using maps to read the landscape, and with every kilometre, their confidence grew. “I never knew I could find my way like this!,” one of the boys remarked, amazed, as he led the group through a rocky pass. Every step was a new lesson, not just about the terrain, but more importantly about themselves.
As they climbed higher, they came across some small and delicate fynbos plants. The group noticed that even in this unforgiving and rugged terrain, these plants thrived, a testament to their resilience. "They survive even when the odds are against them," one of the boys noted, drawing an unspoken parallel to their own lives. The boys learned how these tiny plants endured and could not help but see themselves in them – small but strong.
Then came the time to plant cedar trees – 20 fragile saplings that they had carried with from the start of the trail to a suitably high and rocky area. The Clanwilliam Cedar, critically endangered and struggling to survive, mirrored the vulnerability of the environment—and, in many ways, their own communities. As they planted the saplings, one of the boys stood back, quietly proud: “I feel like I’m leaving something behind. Something that matters. I’ll call this tree Simba, and hopefully it’ll grow to become Mufasa” he said softly. The focus of the trek had shifted from merely completing a hike, to taking responsibility for something bigger than themselves. With every sapling they placed into the soil, they contributed to the future of these mountains, a physical act of nurturing the land that would continue to grow long after they’d left.
In the evenings, as the sun dipped behind the horizon, the boys experienced the thrill of sleeping beneath the stars. Wrapped in the vast blanket of the night sky, they listened to stories of distant galaxies and constellations, their imaginations soaring as high as the stars themselves. The nights were quiet and peaceful with soft whispers of wind, bringing a calm most of them had never felt before.
The Gents Trek wasn’t just about exploring the natural world. It was also a journey to connect with each other on a deeper level. Real conversations began to flow, talking about the challenges they faced back home. Whether it was the struggles of their communities or the personal hurdles they had to overcome daily, these young men who were strangers at first, opened-up in ways they never thought they would. The bonds they formed grew strong, built on honesty and vulnerability.
By the end of the trek, the transformation was very clear. What started as a group of shy, hesitant, individual boys ended as a cohesive group of friends. They no longer walked with uncertainty but with a shared sense of purpose. As they descended the mountain, one of the boys summed up the change perfectly: "We came up here not knowing what to expect. Now, I feel like we’ve got a responsibility – to the mountain, to each other, to our communities. This isn’t the end, it’s the beginning."
They now carried with them new knowledge of how to navigate the land, how to care for it, and how to inspire others to do the same. More than that, they carried the understanding that leadership starts with responsibility. The group that returned to base camp was not just boys who had hiked a mountain, but young men ready to lead. The CLT Gents Trek 2024 was much more than just a hike, it was a rite of passage. It is our hope that this journey of discovery will ensure that these boys of today will become the leaders of tomorrow.
A huge thank you to the donors, sponsors and partners who made this unbelievable experience possible. Our appreciation goes to Oak Foundation, Rim of Africa, Hi-Tec, Falke Socks, Forever Fresh, Love our Trails and Be That Guy.
