FAQs
Before booking any experience with Womxn for Wild we strongly recommend reading through our FAQs. This list should answer most of your questions and outline the important terms and conditions.
By applying to one of our experiences, you confirm that you have read the below and agree with everything laid out below.
How many experiences do you host per year?
We generally host between 4-8 experiences per year. We pride ourselves on putting loads of time into curating one-of-a-kind considered experiences. Our aim is to build community, help foster conscious practices and to create lifelong memories and connections.
We are hoping to release a full calendar for 2022, so you can at least join waiting lists for experiences you’re keen on and plan ahead.
Do you allow males on your experiences?
Womxn for Wild is aimed at womxn - thus the name :) BUT we do not discriminate. If you have a spouse or trusted male friend, family member or partner that you would like to join for an experience, just reach out to us. We will also need to get permission from the rest of the group attending. Occasionally we also use male instructors or guides, but are always upfront about it.
Every now and again we also host experiences which are open to “Adventure partners”. These experiences allow our womxn community to bring along male spouses, siblings or trusted friends.
Why are your experiences so long?
We try to avoid short weekends because our goal is to build a community. We’ve found that three nights away is the sweet spot for making true connection with a place and with others.
What ages are allowed to join these experiences?
We welcome and encourage diverse age groups and do not discriminate! So far, we’ve had everyone from 20 years of age to 65. There is so much we can all learn and take away from one another, and we are never too old for a new experience! Unfortunately, we do no cater to under 18s or children as most of our activities are physical and adventure-based.
Where do you run experiences?
We love Africa through and through, and being from South Africa, we want to promote the wild spaces in our backyards. And a little beyond. Encouraging people to get out and explore in a responsible way is something we’re super passionate about. We want to shed light on the operators and destinations right here in Africa, that are well worth the support!
Do you have any groups where I can post informal hikes, trips or outdoor adventures I’d like people to join me on?
We have a Facebook community group where we encourage womxn to post their trip recommendations, outdoor and conservation books or film references, interesting news relating to nature. Anything that starts a positive, open-minded conversation! We are also happy for womxn to post any of their own trips, hikes or adventures, where you might be looking for others to join. Please note that while we do check all womxn applying to join the group, it is still the internet and we cannot be held liable for any experiences not organised by us.
Who guides us or teaches the activities on your experiences?
While we would love to be everything under the sun, we are not! We find trustworthy and professional experts to lead our experiences. Guides, instructors, artisans and coaches. Womxn operators are also a focus for us, so as much as possible, we partner with womxn who are doing kick-ass things! We only use people we have personally verified and pride ourselves on using local companies with similar values to our own when it comes to the planet, inclusivity and community.
What happens if we are on an experience and for reasons out of our control the plan has to be changed?
Obviously, we will always go out of our way to deliver the experience you signed up for. But, things can change. Being the great outdoors, a lot is beyond our control such as weather, injury and so on.
We will adapt our route to suit conditions or change any lesson and activity time slots around as needed. For example on our Monk’s Cowl hike, we changed route plans on the second day as snow was coming in and we did not want to risk everyone’s safety on an already tricky pass. The new route equalled longer durations and an entirely different experience but the group still thoroughly enjoyed it. We trust our guides and operators, so what they say in the mountains or on the ocean, or even in the bush, is what we go with. No second-guessing.
What are the rules on each experience?
Rules per experience will vary depending on the activity and area. Some general rules we always follow in any situation are the leave no trace principals. We also always respect nature and any other people around us. No rude behaviour is tolerated. When in nature we also like to be in nature, so no loud music etc. Rules will be specific by the guide or instructor upon arrival on each experience and you will be expected to follow them.
By attending an experience you agree that you will be open minded and respectful of diversity in , age, race, ethnicity, range of abilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religious beliefs. If any persons attending an experience is found to be behaving extremely disrespectful or in an unacceptable manor, we have the right to kick you off of the experience with immediate effect.
I see you don’t offer transport to and from experiences in most of your packages? How can we get there and back?
The womxn on our experiences come from far-flung corners of South Africa and even the world, so we leave it to you to find your way to the experience. We do however always assist in facilitating the organisation of lift clubs - Where you and any other womxn coming from your area, pool funds together for fuel, car hire or shuttle hire. How you go about working payments etc is up to you. We just put you all in touch and keep you in the loop of everyone else’s travel plans in case you’d like to tag along with them.
What is the accommodation like for each experience and can it change?
Each experience we host is unique, from luxury chalets to wild camping. If you read through the experience page information it will tell you what to expect on that specific experience.
All accommodation is chosen and curated by us and sometimes something out of our control may happen, and a venue may cancel. Should anything happen, and we need to change accommodation, another option will be found that matches the same standards as the one you signed up for.
I see Womxn for Wild has lots of photo’s from each experience. Do I get any photos after the experience and by attending an experience do I need to agree to be included in any photos or videos?
Co-founders Melanie and Carmen are both in the media world and so they love to snap away, capturing all the best moments of an experience. The content they get from each experience is an added value and a selection of the images is shared with participants within three months after the experience.
By attending an experience, you grant permission to Womxn for Wild and its representatives to take photographs or videos of you and to make recordings of my voice at the event or location you are attending. You further grant to Womxn for Wild and their representatives the right to reproduce, use, exhibit, display, broadcast and distribute and create derivative works of these images and recordings in any media now known or later Developed. I acknowledge that Womxn for Wild and its representatives own all rights to the images and recordings.
Most of the experiences are fairly secluded or in wild places. Being fairly physical, do I need to have travel insurance?
Yes! Travel and medical insurance is mandatory for our experiences. While our guides are first aid qualified and will do everything to get you to safety should anything happen, there is a possibility you will need to be evacuated. Thus any medical or evacuation expenses are your responsibility.
Please check with your medical provider that you are covered for any activity you are participating in and that you are covered for the area we are travelling to.
You are voluntarily attending and by doing so agree that any risk or liability taken on is solely yours. Womxn for Wild will not be held liable for any liabilities resulting from your attendance on an experience.
What are your Covid-19 prevention policies?
1. General Protocols
All guests will be required to subject to a temperature check upon arrival. Please understand that if your temperature is over 37.5°C we cannot allow you access.
Wearing your mask in public places is mandatory as per legislation.
Please use the available sanitiser on your hands when entering or exiting communal areas.
Please always ensure social distancing of at least 1.5m from others not in our travelling party.
Please follow the directions of any COVID signage placed around the various communal areas.
2. Accommodation
All rooms will be sanitized prior to your arrival.
3. Covid-19 Symptoms
Should you display any of the Covid-19 symptoms, please postpone your trip to a later stage and ensure you are well enough to travel
Covid-19 Symptoms: Fever, Dry cough, Coughing up slime, Shortness of breath, Sore throat, Headache, Muscle or joint pain, Body chills
By confirmation of your booking, you hereby agree to comply with the Government Disaster Safety Management Program and all Regulations for Level 2 Lockdown as set out above. Should you contravene any of these regulations, you will, unfortunately, be requested to leave the premises.
*** If any of our workshop facilitators or coaches cancel due to having COVID, we will do our best to facilitate another activity but if it is last minute, we will have free time to explore or relax.
I own a local brand, I’m a local destination, accommodation provider, operator or service provider, and would like to get involved in your experiences. How do I go about this?
Please contact us at womxnforwild@gmail.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Please note: we’re both often on the road for work with limited signal. Please allow a five-day time frame for responses :)