This story, written by Sheryl of KZNNA, recently featured in our SANNA newsletter. Humbled and awed by how intensely these women wanted freedom and self acceptance, Sheryl and the rest of us at KZNNA would like to encourage the naturist community to support the efforts of this dynamic and innovative team to empower people and bring tourism to the area. Clearly it was well worth every single cent. – Ed
In June 2021, Fana Lephaka of Refining Potential Training hosted a Naked Hike for Men.
11 guys hiked naked in the Maluti Mountains foothills just 2km out of Phuthaditjaba in the Free State, at 2 degrees C.
The men’s hike trended on social media giving rise to plenty of varied comment. Several women demanded a Ladies Naked Hike!
We were electrical engineers, chemical lab technicians, teachers, journalists, financial asset consultants, trainers and coaches, daughter, sisters, mothers, grandmothers, friends. All of us all highly qualified and experienced in our careers, yet we were reverting to a natural state of innocence at the thought of being naked and walking naked in the hills!– Sheryl, KZNNA
On Friday 19th November, I drove up from Warner Beach to Phutaditjaba to join 14 other women on the First Ladies Naked Hike. I read about it on Face Book after Wayne, our Chairman, posted a link on our KZNNA Whats App group.
When I thought I was lost, Fana kindly offered to send a guy with a 4×4 to collect me. Since I had already taken my A class down and back one of the worst parts of the track to the campsite, I said, thanks, let me try the rest of the way.
My car made it over the ruts and rocks to 30 metres up the hill from where the 4×4 was parked. Thanks G and L for your friendliness.
This co-operation, kindness and friendliness was upheld throughout my stay by everyone there.
The adventure venue, Thabane-Tsoana Tourism Site, is a small piece of land in a valley managed by a local woman and corporate escapee, Thalane Mofolo, aka Kgosatsana (Princess).
Kgosatsana is the Delightful Determined Lady of the Thabane-Tsoana Tourisms Site, brave enough to host a group of women wanting and willing to go naked near a very conservative town! Well done Kgosatsana!
Adding to the atmosphere, Kgosatsana goes everywhere on her blonde horse called Riverside!
The home base “cave” under the overhang has dry stone kraal walls, two thatched stone huts, a waterfall of pure mountain water and San rock paintings. The view down the valley is superb.
Fana organised a crew of helpful and friendly Tourism trainees as gofers. They carried all the gear up to our quarter, a sandstone overhang, and were up and down the hill as needed. Some local guys visited on their horses with a little dog too.
Fana was in touch with participants by phone until everyone had arrived well after 10 that night. The women chatted and shared their stories around the camp fire while waiting.
The last 4 women arrived around 22h30 from Pretoria after a full day’s work. They were pitched right into the programme. After the last bit of road, a rutted dirt track (lucky they were in a miniature 4×4) they climbed the rough track up the hill to the cave in the dark still wearing city work clothes. Immediately they had to decide if they were doing the imminent fire walk and had choose an intent log for the fire.
The women of this country want what they want. These women wanted to Fire Walk and hike naked the next day! Even one with a 2 month old baby felt the need for this life changing experience!
Around 11 the exciting and fearful Fire Walk began. The women were so pumped, so thrilled and so willing to experience personal growth that almost everyone successfully completed the Fire Walk. I was “kissed by the fire.”
After a refreshing drink of pure mountain water from the onsite waterfall, we went off to bed under the full moon. My tent companion, Emily, a super chilled sleeper put up with me tossing in my constricting sleeping bag. Thanks, my Tent Companion, for still being friendly in the morning. She said her children had her well trained to sleep next to restless sleepers. Moms. The things they live through and thrive on.
In the morning, there was waterfall bounty for a basic hygiene routine.
The Naked Hike had been scheduled for around 9h30. A change of plan saw us off before 7.
The temperature was fresh for me: I live on the sub-tropical coast.
Excited as teenage school girls the group of women were happily going off down the mountain together to get naked under the supervision of Coach Nozipho.
We were electrical engineers, chemical lab technicians, teachers, journalists, financial asset consultants, trainers and coaches, daughter, sisters, mothers, grandmothers, friends. All of us all highly qualified and experienced in our careers, yet we were reverting to a natural state of innocence at the thought of being naked and walking naked in the hills! The beautiful state of innocence of knowing you are doing something naughty and forbidden yet highly desirable and totally necessary for your own wellbeing.
The Delightful Determined Princess on her horse led us on down the hill and stayed with us to show the way. She chivvied us when we were taking our time. The route to our destination is normally a public thoroughfare. Kgosatsana worked around keeping us safe and maintaining our privacy and allowing us to enjoy our adventure.
We also had Coach Nozi (Nozipho means “Gift”) with us to ensure we were comfortable in doing what we were doing.
Fana and his male security detail, in contact by 2 way radio, were out of sight.
When we reached the Removal of Clothing Place, Coach Nozi first led us through a relaxation and calming process.
Then we quickly stripped off, put our shoes, hats and backpacks on, then happily naked off down the road, chirping all the way, past the stone livestock area to the hilly grassland. Cow bells the background to our chirruping.
Cold? Not when you walking hard! The ladies were fit, young and excited. I’m old enough to mother some and grandmother others so keeping up meant walking hard. My companion in the back, to keep me safe, is one of the coaching crew from Refining Potential. It was her first naked hike too: she kept a friendly and professional demeanour and looked after me wonderfully. We didn’t even notice being naked we were so busy checking out the track through long grass.
All the crew were at all times respectful and kind to their guests. Respect and kindness is the Refining Potential company ethos. Try growing emotionally in disrespectful environment: you will only grow fearful.
“My new sister daughter friends were in ecstasy at their achievement! They had walked the fire, they took off their clothes and walked in nature wearing only hats, shoes and backpacks. They felt powerful. They were powerful enough to overcome a lot of fears through focusing on inner belief and achieving a sense of self reliance.”– Sheryl, KZNNA
By the time I reached the end point, stopping to catch my breath by looking at the dainty grassland flowers, the other hikers had already cleansed themselves in the mountain stream. This was part of the program. A light rinsing of the hands, face and feet….
Our wonderful women pushed themselves further.
Last night they were walking on coals chanting: Ice Cold Fire! Ice Cold Fire! Ice Cold Fire! Ice Cold Fire!!!
Today, they immersed their entire bodies in the Ice Cold Mountain Stream Water!
They reversed the Fire Walk Chant. It was now Hot Hot Water! Hot Hot Water, Hot Hot Water! Hot Hot Water!!!
9 or 10 women in suspended belief sitting in HOT water created by their minds!
My mind is less powerful. My coastal pool is still too cold for me and it’s November. Rinsing my feet in the stream wasn’t so pleasant. I couldn’t get further than my calves into the pool despite the jubilant encouragement of HOT HOT WATER! HOT HOT HOT HOT WATER!!
My new sister daughter friends were in ecstasy at their achievement! They had walked the fire, they took off their clothes and walked in nature wearing only hats, shoes and backpacks. They felt powerful. They were powerful enough to overcome a lot of fears through focusing on inner belief and achieving a sense of self reliance.
Naked we felt close to our ancestral mothers in the magical mountains. We became humans again. Naked and free of fear, free of the constraints of adulthood and of conformity.
Many of the women came with intention to this camp wanting to free themselves of the restrictions and taboos around their body image. They wanted to love themselves and accept themselves as they are.
They squealed, they sang, they become innocent children enjoying themselves in their own skin. It was a glorious experience to see such happy, contented and free women singing, splashing and raising their voices to the sky.
I’m glad to have been there with them enjoying their awakening.
The First Naked Hike for Women wasn’t just about getting naked, it was about spiritual and emotional growth. Goal achieved.
– ends –
VERY IMPORTANT – THIS WAS A PAID FOR EXPERIENCE – IT WAS NOT A FREEBIE
CREDITS, CONTACTS & BOOKINGS
Twitter: @fanafikile
Instagram: @fanafikilel
Mind Refinery Seminars: https://web.facebook.com/MindRefinery/?ref=pages_you_manage
Thabana Tsoana Tourism Site: https://web.facebook.com/Thabana-Tsoana-Tourism-site-105310374626774
Nozipho Hoohlo of Dynamic Transformations: https://web.facebook.com/dynamictransformationsglobal
Images by Refilwe Mokhotla: https://web.facebook.com/RefilweMPhotography
All Natural, Anti-chafe & Healing Skin Salve sponsored by Squirrel’s Nut Butter: www.squirrelsnutbutterafrica.com