SATSA has released a new set of industry-developed toolkits and five category-specific codes of good practice to strengthen compliance and align Southern Africa’s adventure tourism sector with international standards.
The updated resources were launched at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025 under the campaign “101 Adventures” and are publicly accessible via SATSA’s website.
“SATSA’s first set of guidelines was released in 2023,” said Hannelie du Toit, SATSA’s COO, at the launch. “It introduced a new level of compliance in a sector that was, at that point, largely unregulated. Today’s launch gives more adventure operators the tools they need to meet international safety standards – and visitors peace of mind when they’re booking adventures and activities.”
The five newly released codes cover:
- Aerial non-flight activities (zip lines, canopy tours etc)
- Wheel-based activities (mountain biking, all-terrain vehicles etc)
- Boat-based activities (shark cage diving etc)
- Paddling and rafting (kayaks, canoes etc)
- Hiking and trekking
Each category is open to public comment and intended to foster broader industry input and shared ownership.
A key addition to the resources is a risk, safety and incident management toolkit, supported by existing materials such as a self-regulation roadmap, operating procedures and participant care guides.
SATSA also introduced a free self-assessment tool for adventure operators to benchmark their alignment with international standards. “Operators who complete the assessment receive tailored feedback, practical tips and links to resources,” said du Toit.
Nick Shaw, SATSA’s Adventure Chapter Chairperson, confirmed the documents incorporate elements from ISO, European and Australian standards as well as input from the Adventure Travel Trade Association. “The new documents align with international best practice,” he said.
SATSA’s CEO David Frost described the initiative as a way to help position the region more competitively. “There’s a reason this initiative is called 101 Adventures,” said Frost. “While New Zealand may call itself the adventure capital of the world, South Africa offers a far more diverse range of adventure experiences – we just need to position ourselves better globally.”
The launch is part of a broader initiative to support tourism growth across less-visited regions, such as the Eastern Cape, and to strengthen geographic diversity, job creation and youth development through adventure tourism.
An industry-wide survey is also underway to measure the sector’s economic contribution. A webinar on May 28 will guide operators through the toolkit and self-assessment process. Plans include quarterly webinars.
