The 2025 Chronicle

ment of his dedicated team of guides, ensures that our boys are not merely visitors but true participants in the cultural and environmental life of Pondoland. Our appreciation also extends to the Michaelhouse staff who accompany the boys for the full six days. They walk every kilo metre, weather every storm, and cook, camp, safeguard, en courage and immerse themselves entirely in the experience to ensure that every boy is safe, supported and able to make the most of this transformative journey. At the end of a demanding third term, their dedication is nothing short of remarkable. The Pondoland immersion remains a deeply impactful highlight for every boy fortunate enough to take part. Our continued part nership with the Mpondo people reflects our shared commit ment to preserving this extraordinary coastline and honouring the cultural knowledge of its community. As we look ahead, we do so with profound gratitude and antici pation. The Pondoland experience is a gift; one that shapes char acter, broadens perspective and nurtures appreciation for both people and place. We are privileged to continue this journey, year after year, along one of South Africa’s most treasured landscapes.

Camp. After this we made our way back to our Houses. Now I’m sure that the Inhlosane hike would have made some cool memories, but it was like the hot showers and fresh food of the school were just calling our names. So we joyfully walked down Strips, around the school and back through the gates one last time before ending up back in our Houses. Which concluded our memorable, fun and wet E Block Camp.

D BLOCK TRIP TO PONDOLAND

In September 2025 our D Block boys set out on the much-loved annual Pondoland Cultur al and Environmental Immersion, a highlight of our outdoor education programme and an experi ence unmatched anywhere else in the country. This excursion is far more than a hike or physical challenge; it is a rare opportunity to step into a world of striking beauty, deep cultural heritage, and powerful environmental resilience. Year after year, Pondoland stands apart for its raw magnificence and the generosity of the Mpondo people, who welcome our boys into their homes and daily lives with warmth, smiles and heart felt hospitality. The adventure begins long before the coastline appears. Travel ling nearly eight hours through the foothills of the Drakensberg, down past Kokstad and Lusikisiki, the boys leave the familiar behind and enter one of South Africa’s last truly untouched re gions. This journey alone gives them time to reflect, reset and prepare for an experience that will challenge and inspire them in equal measure. Once settled along the Wild Coast, the boys spend the week exploring approximately 15km of pristine Eastern Cape shore line. Towering cliffs, sweeping ocean views and quiet rural land scapes form the backdrop to their daily activities, creating an environment unlike anything they have known. A defining aspect of this immersion is the opportunity to live in traditional Mpondo homestays. For many boys this is the first time they experience a lifestyle centred on simplicity, commu nity and deep respect for the land. Their hosts take immense pride in sharing traditional meals – beautifully prepared over open fires – and offering the boys a glimpse into the rhythms of rural life. Evenings are often filled with storytelling, traditional dance and cultural demonstrations, giving the boys an authentic under standing of Mpondo history, customs and ways of being. These moments of cultural exchange remain some of the most mem orable of the trip. From an environmental perspective, the immersion offers a rich and meaningful curriculum. The boys learn about the geol ogy, marine life and fragile ecosystems that define this stretch of coastline. They gain insight into the crucial community-led conservation work happening in the region, including the long-standing resistance against mining companies and large scale extractive industries. The people of Pondoland continue to fight tirelessly to protect their land and oceans; an effort that leaves a lasting impression on our young men. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Sinegugu Zikhali, whose vision and expertise form the backbone of this extraor dinary programme. His leadership, together with the commit

C BLOCK JOURNEY 2025

Group Leaders: Mr Nicholas Bérichon, Mr James Fleming, Mr Garth Quaite, Mr Grant von Mayer MIC and Logistics: Mrs Amanda Emmott CBJ Administrator: Mrs Lauren Thompson

The C Block Journey represents a rite of pas sage for every Michaelhouse boy.

They left school after a chapel service and blessing on Satur day 13 September, having been regaled with stories from the boys who had gone before them, but not really knowing what to expect from the two weeks that lay ahead. The excerpts from two of the groups’ report-back speeches below provide some insight into their adventures and experiences. The success of the Journey depends on the commitment of the many staff members who are involved with the planning, logistics and support of the exercise, as well as those who take part in and lead the groups, and we are most grateful for each of their contributions. We are equally grateful to the farmers and landowners (many of whom are OMs or have ties with Michaelhouse) who provide traversing access or camp ing facilities for our boys. Without their hospitality the Journey would not be possible. It has been a month or two since we returned from the C Block Journey but the memories, lessons and laughter from those two weeks still feel fresh in our minds. When we first set out, none of us really knew what to expect – long hikes, paddling, cycling, tents, no phones – it all sounded tough enough. But actually living it was something completely different. We walked farms, paddled rivers, cycled, summited the Berg – each stage testing us in a new way and building bonds that went far beyond the classroom. GROUP 1 REPORT BACK By Wonga Mlonzi

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