Wilderness Trail Umfolozi
| Start date | 20 March 2026 |
| End date | 29 March 2026 |
Umfolozi is located in South Africa and is considered the oldest wilderness park in Africa. Located some 260 km from Durban, it consists of 960 km2 of hilly area covered in savannas in central Zululand and is known for its wildlife and conservation efforts. The park is the only state-run park in KwaZulu-Natal to host the Big Five game: elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos. The park is known for its rich fauna and the white rhinos present, which were saved from extinction thanks to successful breeding programs in the nature park. The park now has over 1600 white rhinos; many hundreds of animals were exchanged with other nature parks in South Africa and beyond.
This Natural Leadership Program in South Africa is a journey of discovery. Awareness of what has shaped you, where you are in your life and what drives you. But also awareness that your head, your feelings and your heart are inextricably linked.
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Participants come from a variety of organizations, both corporate, government and non-profit. Each program consists of a mix of 6-9 executives, senior professionals and entrepreneurs and includes the following components:
- Intake
- Foundation workshop
- Leadership Trail in the Wilderness
- Integration workshop
- Coaching session
- Membership in our community of over 2500 members
The program of about four months takes place mostly outdoors in the pristine nature of Umfolozi. Far away from the known and from the daily routine we simplify and slow down: seven days without watches, phones and computers. Read here the experience of one of our participants in Umfolozi.
Date and Costs
| Start date | 20 March 2025 |
| Costs | € 5.350 ex. 21% VAT and Transport. Costs for 2026 are subject to change. |
These facilitators guide this program
Marieke Fieten – Abruzzo, Italy
For Marieke, the trail has been a super impressive experience. In a way, it has brought her a lot of peace, both professionally and in her private life.
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Ben Poelman – Turtmanntal, Swiss Alps
For Ben, turning in his phone and watch led him to experience timelessness. More clarity emerged about what he needed to do.
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Armand Bloem – Umfolozi, South Africa
Armand was looking for a personal development program that would make a lasting impact. He also felt a desire to connect more with nature.
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Kim Potters – Turtmanntal, Swiss Alps
For Kim, the Alpentrail was a fantastic experience. Afterwards, things in her life changed for the better. For her, the program is in her ‘top 5 experiences’.
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Ellen von Koczian – Norway
Ellen has gained rock-solid confidence through the trail to Norway how little she needs. And how good rest does her.
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Marie-José van Hoof – Umfolozi, South Africa
Nature in Umfulozi felt overwhelming and at the same time peaceful to Marie-José. She realized there that it must have always been like this.
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Marlies Friederich – Macizo de Ayllón, Spain
Marlies wanted to explore how she herself could experience more space, and give more space to others as well. The positive effects of the trail are still noticeable for Marlies.
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Paul van Manen – Marataba, South Africa
Paul was brought back to his roots by Africa. It felt to him like coming home. ‘Welcome home’ said the African guide as he entered the wilderness.
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John Boon – Rwanda
John did not expect in advance that the trail to Rwanda would have such a positive impact, something that would normally take three or four years.
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Lenoor Soesbergen – Year Program Natural Leadership
For Lenoor, the Annual in the Rhythm of the Four Seasons was a journey that gave her a tremendous depth of personal growth.
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Our FNL Community
Inspiring meetings and deepening experiences for our community of 1600 former participants in our programs.
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Angela Lijmbach – Create Your Vision
Angela participated in Create Your Vision after a trail to Botswana to stay current and set the intention from the trail more robust and sustainable.
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Wilderness Trails and Quests Africa
The FNL offers breathtaking destinations in Botswana, Umfolozi & Marataba (South Africa) and Rwanda. Experience the African wilderness, sleep outside among the animals and feel at one with nature.
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Reboot your Life!
Are you between the age of 25 and 35? And do you want to get your next step clear? Then Reboot your Life is for you. One day offline in…
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Wilderness Trails and Quests Europe
Spain, Italy, the Swiss Alps, Scotland, Norway and recently Germany. The FNL has a wide range of destinations in the pristine European countryside.
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Year Program of Natural Leadership
The Year Program Natural Leadership in the Rhythm of the Seasons is a program in the Dutch countryside where each season has a conscious focus on your personal development and…
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This program for former trail participants has inspired me to stick to my choices and not to be tempted to follow my old pattern.
Angela about Create your Vision
“The nature was overwhelming and at the same time felt peaceful. It also brought me back to my own origins”
Marie-José about the Wilderness Trail in Umfolozi, South Africa
“Africa brought me back to my roots. It felt like coming home.”
Paul about the Wilderness Quest in Maratabe, South Africa
“The annual was awesome. Within no time, there was a huge connection and deepening among the mixed group of participants.”
Lenoor about the Natural Leadership Annual, The Netherlands
“So many magical moments during the trail. Space, silence, the overwhelming African nature and beautiful vulnerable conversations around the campfire.”
Armand about the Wilderness Trail in Umfolozi, South Africa
“I was impressed by the purity of nature, but also had the feeling of being absorbed into the whole and the sense of being a part of it.”
Victor about the Wilderness Quest in Botswana
“Pine forests with the sound of crunching needles. Sleeping under the stars. An unforgettable experience.”
Marlies about the Wilderness Trail in Macizo de Ayllón, Spain
“You experience your own insignificance and it made me humble. I thought it was so incredibly beautiful, it really came through.”
John about the Wilderness Trail Rwanda
“Beforehand, I was quite reluctant to spend 36 hours on myself, the solo. But it is precisely this experience that I think back on now with a great deal of gratitude.”
Ellen about the Wilderness Quest in Norway
“I thought it was such a fantastic experience, for me the program is in my ‘top 5 experiences’.”
Kim about the Wilderness Trail in de Swiss alps
“A stunning and beautifully rugged area. We saw wolf and bear tracks, but I felt so confident there. I felt part of nature.”
Marieke about the Wilderness Trail in Ambruzzo, Italy
“The impact on self-development is greatest when it happens in a different way than you are used to. In that respect I would recommend a trail to everyone.”
Ben about the Wilderness Trail to the Swiss alps
Accessible, open and innovative!
Jeroen about Reboot your Life!
“I experienced it as a very pleasant day. Nice to be able to work with personal themes in such a beautiful environment.”
Stella about Reboot your Life!
“I have experienced the day offline, without my mobile, as very nice and valuable!”
Matthijs about Reboot your Life!
“It has helped me immensely to make my goal clear and attainable.”
Alexander about Reboot your Life!
“I learned a lot and I got my goal concrete. Nice to meet others and to hear their stories!”
Sylvana about Reboot your Life!
“Calming and inspiring! I take away the motivation that I lacked for a long time to get moving again. Both in terms of sport and career.”
Carmen about Reboot your Life!
“I found it very positive and energizing! It really gave me a self-confidence boost. And inspiring to meet others in a beautiful environment.”
Simone about Reboot your Life!
Victor Groothengel – Botswana
During the trail, Victor learned to feel and connect with himself again. An overriding sense emerged that everything takes place in the “now,” not tomorrow.
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‘Create your Vision’ is about what really matters; it challenges you, guides you on untrodden paths, and lays claim to an enormous power within yourself.’
Edmond about Create your Vision
”Ideal next step after a trail! From ‘being’ through ‘knowing’ to ‘doing’. Strengthened by an inspiring framework, you learn to act from your own compass, energy and passion. Big present!’
Remco about Create your Vision
“It amazed me how quickly a sense of being completely immersed in another world came over me.”
Astrid about the Wilderness Trail in Abruzzo, Italy
Astrid de Reuver – Abruzzo, Italy
Astrid set out on her journey with the question, “How can I have the most impact as a human being, but do so in balance with my most important role…
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“If you ask me now what that week with the FNL has brought me above all, it is the confidence to trust my intuition.”
Jasper about the Wilderness Trail in Abruzzo, Italy
Jasper Bertels – Abruzzo, Italy
“As a little boy, I already had a fondness for nature and I especially liked to be by the sea. I can often be found there, in nature. And, I…
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“I took from the trail that it’s perfectly okay for me to put myself first. A significant insight.”
Aletta about the Wilderness Trail in Abruzzo, Italy
Aletta Renken – Abruzzo, Italy
What I took with me on the trail was the intention to work on three ‘voices’ within me; cynicism, fear, and judgment. However, as the trail progressed, I realized it…
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FNL Introduction sessions
Would you like to learn about and experience what Natural Leadership and our leadership programs can do for you? Then come to the introductory morning.
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‘In a tranquil, forested environment, I was able to slow down and learn more about myself. I could never have imagined beforehand how much impact nature would have on me.’
Dominique about the Veluwe Quest
Veluwe Quest
Estate Welna has almost 600 hectares of forests, heaths, and grasslands. Here you can walk undisturbed for hours.
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Maaike Schipperheijn – Spain and South Africa
Maaike Schipperheijn shares her experience with trail journeys in Spain and South Africa. An inspiring story about peace, nature, and personal growth.
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Pim Schmitz – Scotland
Read about Pim Schmitz, former CEO of Talpa, and his experience on a trail in Scotland, along with the valuable insights he gained.
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Norman de Langen – Norway
The leadership trail in Norway changed the life of Norman de Langen, principal of a primary school in Tilburg. During this intensive trail, he discovered the power of vulnerability and…
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