Off-Road & Over-Landing Chapter
Setting Standards for All Wheel-Based Adventure Activities in South Africa
The Off-Road & Over-Landing Chapter develops and maintains SA AIA's official technical standards, curricula, and accreditation systems for all wheel-based adventure and expedition activities, including:
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Four-Wheel Drive (4X4)
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Mountain Biking (MTB) and E-Bikes
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Quad Biking / ATV Touring
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Off-Road Motobikes
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Off-Road Scooters
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Overlanding Trucks & Vehicle-Based Expeditions
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(More activities to be added)
Our purpose is to build a unified, credible, professional standard for training, guiding, outdoor education practice, safety, and environmental responsibility across South Africa's diverse wheel-based adventure sector.
About the Chapter
The Off-Road & Over-Landing Chapter brings together 4X4 instructors, MTB guides, outdoor education practitioners (facilitators), overlanding operators, quad and motorbike tour providers, industrial users, field workers, and land managers to develop clear, nationally aligned standards for all wheel-based activities.
Our work includes:
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Establishing Technical Skills Guidelines for each activity.
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Creating SA AIA-approved curricula (Level 1-3 structures where applicable).
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Accrediting Skills Development Partners (SDPs) and Instructors.
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Supporting safe, environmentally responsible practices on trails, tracks, and wilderness areas.
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Providing transparent, credible expectations for public, training, industry and regulatory use.
This chapter works across multiple sectors: adventure tourism, mountain biking operations, overlanding, safari guiding,
conservation and field work, mining, emergency response, and outdoor education.
Chapter Chairperson:
Mr JJ du Plooy
Wheel-Based Activities Covered by This Chapter
This chapter governs current and future SA AIA technical competencies for all wheel-based adventure and expedition activities.
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Mountain Biking
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E-Bikes
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Off-Road Scooters
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Off-Road Motorbike
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Quad Bikes / ATV Touring
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Overlanding Trucks & Vehicle-Based Expeditions
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Future activities to be added
Each activity will have its own Technical Skills Guideline, Curriculum, and Accreditation Requirements as documents are completed.
Technical Competencies:
Four-Wheel Drive (4X4)
(First to be Published - 2025)
The Four-Wheel Drive (4X4) competency set is the first officially published technical standard under the Off-Road & Over-Landing Chapter.
It consists of three integrated components:
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Technical Skills Guideline (public)
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Official SA AIA Curriculum (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3)
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Skills Development Partner & Instructor Accreditation Requirements
Each is available for R0 licensed download through SA AIA.
Public-facing guideline that defines the scope of practice, minimum competencies, safety standards, environmental expectations and assessment view for 4WD operators and instructors.
Accreditation requirements for 4WD training providers (SDPs) and instructors: qualifications, experience, training material, equipment, venue standards and learner certificate requirements.
The official SA AIA curriculum for 4WD training – detailing Level 1, 2 and 3 learning outcomes, course durations, training methods and assessment approach for instructors and Skills Development Partners.
Training & Accreditation Pathway
How the Framework Works
Every wheel-based activity in this chapter will follow the same national standisation structure:
1. Technical Skills Guideline (Defines what competent looks like)
2. SA AIA Curriculum (Defines the formal learning pathway, progression levels, assessment structure, and training methods)
3. Accreditation Requirements (Defines what a provider/instructor must meet to deliver recognised SA AIA-aligned training)
This ensures training is credible, consistent, and nationally recognisable, no matter who delivers it.
Chapter News & Updates
SA AIA Launches South Africa’s First Standardised Technical Competency Framework for 4x4 Off-Road Driving
A major milestone for professionalism, safety, and national standardisation in the adventure tourism and outdoor learning industries
25/10/31
SA AIA Launches Expanded Off-Road and Overlanding Chapter and more
Latest news and updates from the SA AIA Overlanding Chapter
25/04/10
SA AIA Launches 4x4 and Overlanding Chapter
SA AIA Launches 4x4 and Overlanding Chapter to Elevate Professional Standards in the Adventure Industry
24/09/30
Related Articles
Chapter Members & Industry Partners
Get Involved with the Off-Road & Over-Landing Chapter
If you're an operator, instructor, guide, outdoor education practitioner (facilitator), landowner, trail developer, school, commercial provider, or work in any wheel-based field (including mining, conservation, or emergency response), you're invited to participate.