SA AIA Launches South Africa’s First Professional Designation for Adventure Guides
01 Nov 2025
A major milestone in formalising professional recognition within the adventure industry.
Pretoria, South Africa — 1 November 2025
In a milestone for South Africa’s adventure tourism sector, SA AIA is proud to announce the launch of the country’s first official designation for adventure guides: the Certified Professional Adventure Tourist Guide (SA).
This designation represents a major step toward professional recognition, accountability, and the development of nationally aligned standards for guiding in adventure environments.
The designation framework includes:
Eligibility requirements
Competence and experience standards
Recognition of prior learning
CPD maintenance requirements
Code of ethical practice
Supporting industry guidelines and policy documents
All documents relating to the designation are now publicly available on the SA AIA website.
“This is the first time South Africa has a formal pathway that recognises adventure guides as professionals, not just operators in the field. It raises the bar for safety, ethics, and quality.”— Jessi Sunkel, Executive Director, SA AIA
Designation information: www.saaia.org.za/designations