This summer saw 23 St Birinus students in Years 10 and 11 travel to Namibia for a 16-day expedition with World Challenge. 

Split into two teams, the boys had spent the previous two years fundraising for their expedition with part time jobs, car washes and a sponsored sporting event being just some of the innovative methods of raising money. 

The expedition itself was split into three stages. After flying into Windhoek and spending their first night in Namibia at a back packers' lodge, the teams went off to either the project or trekking stage of their expedition. 

The Challengers spent five nights at Spitzkoppe, with its stunning bushman rock art and bizarre rock formations created by the collapse of a volcano more than 100 million years ago. This was followed by the project, which was the highlight for many Challengers as the boys spent time at a primary school in Usakos interacting with local children and helping renovate their soup kitchen. 

Then we were off to take part in sand boarding on the dunes in the Namibian desert near to the coastal town of Swakopmund, reaching speeds of over 45 km/h, racing down the steep dunes on a piece of thin wood. 

Finally, both teams travelled north to Etosha National Park for a safari, where they were fortunate to observe, amongst other animals, lions, zebras, giraffes, rhinos and elephants.  The experience was a memorable one for all the Challengers, who overcame all manner of obstacles as they took it in turns to lead the teams, arranging transport and accommodation, managing a budget and cooking their own food throughout the expedition.