Wild Bird Traditional Archery - Mobile Archery Club in the Overberg

Sandra Viljoen presents Wild Bird Traditional Archery which is based in Napier and is also mobile. It is a traditional archery club. Wild Bird Traditional Archery is the only barebow club in South Africa and offers those seeking some adventure the opportunity to experience the art of traditional medieval archery. Additionally, Sandra offers first-timers ground-based and horseback-based archery. Students have the option to participate in open lessons where the targets are set up and randomly fired at, or group lessons where students receive more disciplined training. Sandra also offers private classes for groups, families and team-building events. Wild Bird Traditional Archery classes have a minimum age requirement of five years old and students can either use bows and arrows provided by the club or order their very own custom-made bows from Sandra.

Club founder, Sandra Viljoen, began her archery career in 2014 and was blessed with natural talent that quickly developed. In 2016 Sandra entered her very first world championship archery competition.

In February 2018 Sandra founded Wild Bird Traditional Archery and teaches children, teenagers and adults the art and sport of archery. Known as ‘Sensei Sandra’ she teaches her pupils the discipline and the fun of being a medieval archer and Norse axe thrower.

Wild Bird Traditional Archery offers:

Open Lessons

The Open Lessons are relaxed informal lessons where targets are set up for the archers and axe throwers.

Group Lessons

The Group Lessons are formal lessons where the archers and axe throwers are given formal training on how to shoot an arrow and throw an axe.

Wild Bird Traditional Archery is available to add some archer’s charm to your next event. Events include but are not limited to:

Festivals
All holiday-related events
Adult and children's birthday parties
Team building events

Archery is one of the oldest arts still practised today. The art has been developed and adapted by many different cultures around the globe ever since its creation in the stone age. Here are seven fun facts about the history of archery:

Although archery was likely created during the late stone age, the earliest people known to have used bows and arrows were ancient Egyptians some 5,000 years ago.
From prehistoric time until the invention of the gun, the bow and arrow was a principal weapon of war and hunting.
The earliest known composite bow was believed to be made by ancient Egyptian warriors.
The bow and arrow were popular among the English armies and Viking groups. Although the short bow was quite ineffective against medieval armour.
During the middle ages, a skilled long-bowman could fire off an arrow every five to six seconds, that’s 10-12 per minute.
In 1457 King James II of Scotland banned golf because he believed men were wasting their time playing golf rather than practising their archery.
Archery first appeared in the modern Olympics in 1900.