Adventurous Reflections
2025 Conference
Western Cape: 15 - 19 September 2025
Changing thought, changing behaviour, impacting lives.
Reflection in the adventure industry is the ability or opportunity to look back on experiences:
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to investigate and analyse your own thoughts and behaviour
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to analyse and assist group thinking and behaviours
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to reflect on alternative actions
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to look for better applications
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to become better, safer, and more efficient
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and to learn from experiences and transfer the learning to diverse real-life situations.
Date: 15 - 19 September
View programme here.
PROGRAMME
Monday 15 September 2025
14:00: Registrations open.
18:00: Meet & Greet / Dinner
Wednesday 17 September 2025
7:30: Registrations
8:30: Opening
9:00: Session 7: (Presentations/Panels)
10:00: Session 8: (Presentations/Panels)
11:00: TEA
11:30: Session 9: (Presentations/Panels)
12:30: LUNCH
13:30: Session 10: CPD Workshop
15:30: TEA
16:00: Session 11: CPD Workshop
18:00: Dinner
19:00: Session 12: Evening Workshop/Event
Tuesday 16 September 2025
7:30: Registrations
8:30: Opening
9:00: Session 1: SA AIA Updates and Info (Jessi Sunkel)
10:00: Session 2: Leave No Trace (Kathy Leverton)
11:00: TEA
11:30: Session 3: Wilderness & Survival Medicine (Walt Meyer)
12:30: LUNCH
13:30: Session 4: CPD Workshop
15:30: TEA
16:00: Session 5: CPD Workshop
18:00: Dinner
19:00: Session 6: Evening Workshop/Event
Thursday 18 September 2025
7:30: Registrations
8:30: Opening
9:00: Full day CPD Workshops / Training (Choose one of the following):
1) Mountain Biking Course by Paul Jacobs
2) Swiftwater Safety Course by Gravity Adventures
3) Safety on Steepground & Rope Work by MTS
4) Stop the Bleed Course by WildMedix
12:30: LUNCH
18:00: Dinner
19:00: Session 17: Evening Workshop/Event
SPEAKERS / PRESENTERS
Jessi Sunkel
As the Executive Director of the South African Adventure Industry Association, I am passionate about supporting, educating, training, standardizing and professionalising the adventure industry in South Africa.
Nic Shaw
Chrysalis Project. A social entrepreneur active in the outdoor education and sustainable tourism space.
Kathy Leverton
Professional Adventure Tourist Guide. SA AIA Adventure Guide Chapter Chairperson.
Paul Jacobs
Professional sports coach with over 2 decades of experience. Qualifications in soccer,cricket, and cycling coaching and sports psychology. Qualified adventure tourist guide. Trainer of adventure guides (MTB).
Management of sports facility and retail experience in sports industry.
Walther Meyer
Business owner of Ventureforth International and Wild Medix. Wilderness, survival and tactical medicine and rescue trainer.
Andrew Kellett
Founder and owner of Gravity Adventures. Leader in the field of swift water safety and rescue as well as River Guide Training and certification. Passionate about exploratory whitewater kayaking. Involved in the introduction of SUP, especially on rivers, in South Africa.
TBC
To be announced.
TBC
To be announced.
More speakers to be announced soon...
Conference-only Tickets:
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Includes full conference & all evening events (lunches, dinners, presentations, workshops, CPD training, evening events).
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Package for Accommodation and Breakfast to be included is available.
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SA AIA members are those whose SA AIA membership is in good standing.
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Student options are those who are still studying and are not professional.
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Speakers/presenters are offered special student rates.
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You have full unlimited access to the campsite (within the bounds of their rules).
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Tea will also be provided.
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Attendees to bring own cutlery, crockery, toilet paper, and dish wash soap.P
SA AIA Professional Members: R2,500 per person
SA AIA Student Members: R2,000 per person
Professional Non-Members: R2,700 per person
Student Non-Members: R2,500 per person
TICKETS
CPD Workshops:
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You must choose at least one workshop per person you are booking for (it is included in the conference fee).
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These workshops are limited to certain numbers, and works on a first come, first served basis. If the workshop you choose is no longer available, we will contact you with an alternative option.
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CPD training workshops are run at the same time for the majority of the day (Thursday, 17 July 2025) in and around the ATKV Drakensville resort.
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The workshop may be run outdoors or indoors - depending on context and space available. Please ensure you have durable clothing for these workshops.
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Mountain Biking
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Stop the Bleed
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Swift Water Safety for Hiking Guides
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Safety on Steep Ground and Ropework
All-inclusive Conference Tickets:
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Includes full conference & all evening events (lunches, dinners, presentations, workshops, CPD training, evening events).Dorm-style Accommodation available (single and bunk beds available in shared rooms and units).
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Includes accommodation for 4 evenings (check-in: 15 September, check-out: 19 September). Arrival time is after 14:00 and departure time is at 11:00.
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Eleven houses and large army tent with different amount of beds per unit.
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Includes a breakfast for each of the 4 days.
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You will need to bring your own bedding, cutlery, crockery, toilet paper, and dish wash soap.
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You have full unlimited access to the entire campsite.
SA AIA Professional Members: R3,400 per person
SA AIA Student Members: R2,900 per person
Professional Non-Members: R3,700 per person
Student Non-Members: R3,400 per person