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7 Months

Men’s Core Programme

Eighteen years of being told what to do. Seven months of finding out what you’re made of.

A structured programme in the Zimbabwean wilderness that trades theory for capability. Real skills, real certifications, real leadership. Built through challenge, earned through effort. This isn’t just a gap year. It’s the year that makes every year after it count.

Duration

7 months

Price

$18,000

When

Jan – Aug

Ages

17 – 21

THE CURRICULUM

Learn It by Doing It. Prove It by Living It.

Over seven months you will strip and rebuild a gearbox. Weld mild steel, stainless and aluminium using MIG, TIG and oxy-acetylene. Wire electrical circuits from scratch. Lay bricks, plumb a bathroom, plaster a wall. You will track wildlife on foot through the game park, learn to identify birds, trees, mammals and reptiles, and manage land using regenerative farming methods. You will study conservation, ride horses, handle firearms safely and walk in big-game wilderness where paying attention is not optional.

You will build real fitness – running, swimming, cycling, calisthenics, obstacle courses, pack carries and a half marathon. You will earn a certified first aid qualification. You will learn to shoot, edit and produce photography and video using professional tools. You will pitch a business idea to a panel, read a balance sheet, manage a project from brief to delivery, and present to a room full of people who will tell you honestly how you did.

WHY THIS COURSE?

What Seven Months Actually Gives You

Most young men leave school with grades and good intentions. Neither pays rent, holds a conversation under pressure or fixes anything that breaks. Men’s Core closes that gap before university, work or whatever comes next. You leave with certifications in first aid, welding and technical trades that go on a CV immediately. You leave with the ability to stand in front of a room and speak clearly, manage a budget, and lead a team when the plan falls apart.

You will raft the Zambezi, dive in Mozambique, camp in Hwange, stand at Victoria Falls and complete endurance challenges that most adults never attempt. But the adventure is not the point. The point is who you become while doing it. Fitter. Sharper. Settled in who you are, clear on what you value, and capable of backing it up. That is the edge. Universities notice it. Employers notice it. You will notice it yourself within weeks of getting home

What’s Included?
  • Accommodation at La Rochelle Country House (twin/shared rooms)
  • All meals (estate-grown, home cooked)
  • Transport, gear, camping kit, permits
  • Expert facilitation with top educators and certified field specialists
  • 24/7 support from staff
Accommodation & Meals

The accommodation is based at La Rochelle Country House, a working botanical estate in Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands, that serves as both home and launchpad for unforgettable journeys. We have full access to Falcon College facilities including the school sanatorium, swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, sports fields and gymnasium. Meals are generally freshly prepared, home cooked meals, made with estate-grown seasonal ingredients.

Exclusions
  • Flights and other travel costs
  • Visas and visa related expenses
  • Personal expenses
Download the Information Pack Here

Ready for the Ultimate Life Experience?

★★★★★

“Lately I’ve been thinking quite a lot about Quest and the impact the program has had on my life. The impact as a whole has been astonishing. I came back with the boldness to face my fears and my laziness, which led me to getting a scholarship for a once in a lifetime course of study! This would have never happened without Quest! Here, I just wanted to take some time to thank you for everything. Thank you for every little thing I may have learned from you and big thanks for the opportunity to participate in general. It has been a great honor!”

John, Men’s Core 2017

We as parents of Nicholas, just want to thank you formally for the amazing experience and opportunity that you provided for him this year. We are forever grateful for all the skills, knowledge, discipline, self belief and encouragement you have passed on to him. Your incredible knowledge and experience, expertise, patience, guidance, faith and encouragement towards Nicholas have been highly valued and appreciated. We are feeling blessed to have been able to support Nicholas’ life journey with a part of your profound course in Zimbabwe.

Quest Parents, Australia
Men’s Core 2019

Quest taught me different self-discipline techniques like creating habits to maintain focus or embracing the suck, which means to push through and finish your work even when it sucks. It is now up to me to maintain these techniques in order to become more productive, more resilient, happier and more fulfilled in my everyday life.

★★★★★

Tom, Germany

Men’s Core 2024

My time at Quest Africa has been transformative, both personally and professionally. Embracing new challenges, stepping out of my comfort zone, and developing mental and physical strength have been crucial learnings for my future. The journey has taught me the value of risk-taking, mental endurance, and teamwork, while also refining my sense of tidiness and extreme ownership

★★★★★

Leopold, Germany

Men’s Core 2024

I want to say a massive thank you for the 7 months that you gave to Callum. We stumbled across Quest by accident as we were desperately trying to find something for him to do during his gap year. Little were we to know that he would get a genuinely life-transforming experience. I am personally delighted with the way he is now looking at life.

★★★★★

Parents

Men’s Core 2020

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