Local woman turns passion for hiking into a mission of healing and wellness

What started as a personal love for the mountains has grown into an inspiring movement aimed at helping people reconnect with nature, improve their wellbeing, and discover the beauty of the region’s ancient landscapes.

Melisizwe Nkuna, founder of the Melanin Warrior Wellness and Adventure Club, says her journey with hiking began more than a decade ago, between 2013 and 2014, when she started exploring the mountains with a group of friends.

Her love for the outdoors, however, started much earlier and was deeply influenced by her grandmother, who worked as a farmer. Through her grandmother, she learned to appreciate nature, the mountains, and the sense of healing and peace that can be found outdoors.

Although she founded the club, Melisizwe says she has never walked the journey alone. Over the past 10 years, friends, family members and fellow hikers have all played a role in helping shape the vision into a growing community movement.

“The club began with my vision, but it grew because of the people who believed in it and joined me,” she explained. Over time, hiking became much more than a hobby. According to Melisizwe, spending time in nature helped her through mental health struggles, improved her physical wellbeing, and provided clarity during difficult periods in her life.

“Nature became a place where I found peace, purpose and strength,” she said.

In 2022, shortly after her grandmother passed away from cancer, she decided to establish the Melanin Warrior Wellness and Adventure Club in her honour. “She always believed in me and often asked when I would return to the mountains,” Melisizwe said. “Her encouragement became the foundation of this club, and every hike is dedicated to her memory.”

Outside of hiking, Melisizwe is also a small-scale farmer who grows vegetables and other cash crops to support herself. She additionally works as a fitness coach, offering online training and wellness support to clients through WhatsApp.

Fitness and hiking, she says, have always gone hand in hand in her life and continue to shape both her personal journey and the direction of the club. Like many small community initiatives, the journey has not always been easy. Melisizwe admits that funding remains one of her biggest challenges and that much of the club’s growth has come through personal sacrifice, determination and community support.

“There were times when I advertised a hike and nobody came, but I still went alone because the vision has always been bigger than the challenges,” she said.

Funds generated through the hikes are reinvested back into the club to help cover hiking equipment, camping gear, transport costs, first aid resources and the development of new hiking experiences and trails.

Melisizwe also shared that she hopes to qualify as a recognised local tourist guide in future. She is currently saving towards the qualification and hopes to raise approximately R15 000 to study at an accredited tourist guide institution. Her long-term vision is to grow the club into a platform that promotes wellness, tourism and community upliftment throughout the region.

Despite limited resources, the club has steadily grown over the past few years. In 2023, Melisizwe hosted her first large-scale hike in collaboration with the Entabeni Hikers Club, attracting between 30 and 40 participants. The following year she hosted the Hazyview Hiking Club, continuing to build strong community involvement around outdoor wellness and adventure.

Today, her hikes welcome people from different walks of life and age groups, with participants ranging from as young as 10 years old to as old as 65.

Melisizwe currently offers solo, couples, private and group hikes, while also hoping to expand into school and corporate wellness hikes in future. She would also like to collaborate with local tourism stakeholders, lodges and businesses around Barberton in order to create opportunities for youth, women, families and the broader community.

Safety, she says, remains a top priority. She has first aid training and carefully  plans each hiking route to ensure participants feel comfortable and supported, particularly those who are hiking for the first time. Another dream close to her heart is working alongside local charity groups, especially organisations focused on mental health support and rehabilitation.

Nature, she believes, has the power to heal.

“Nature helped me through some tough times, and I want others to experience that healing through the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains,” she explained.

Beyond fitness and adventure, Melisizwe is also passionate about encouraging greater appreciation for the region’s remarkable natural heritage, including the ancient mountain ranges surrounding Barberton and the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains.

She hopes more local residents, especially younger people, will discover the value of outdoor recreation and see nature as something both accessible and empowering. For Melisizwe, the club is about far more than hiking trails and fitness. “It’s about building a community, creating opportunities, and helping people reconnect with themselves through nature,” she said. Her personal motto reflects the determination that has carried her through the challenges of building the club:

“Forward is a decision. Mind over matter always. When your body says stop, your mind can still carry you forward.”

Upcoming hikes hosted by the club include:

·         30 May – Hike and Braai at Lone Tree Hiking Trail
·         20 June – Paragliding Hike Event
·         27 June – Queen Rose Hiking Trail (R300 per person)

People interested in joining, supporting or following the club can connect through the Melanin Warrior Wellness and Adventure Club Facebook and TikTok pages, or via LinkedIn under Melisizwe Shalati.