7 Sep 2024 13 Weeks Learning Split Payment Options Trips from £7195

Overview

The crème de la crème of Ticket to Ride's offering

Riders on our 13 Week Surf Instructor Course really get to have their cake and eat it to, by enjoying everything the 10 Week Surf Instructor Course offers and more, with the final three week surfari leg in the enigmatic Southeast African country of Mozambique. A firm favourite with past Riders, the final leg of the journey will see you setting off in a 4x4 for palm trees, tropical clear waters, delicious food, sand-bottom point breaks and adventures galore. 

Gain essential ocean and surfing knowledge on this Ticket to Ride course by visiting a surfboard factory, hearing presentations on swell charts and talks on how surfboards work. You'll also get involved with helping community initatives, learn to surf, go bungee jumping or indulge in a little wine tasting. 

What to Expect

It’s easy to plateau with surfing but with experienced instructors coaching you both in and out of the water, your surfing skills are set to go sky high on this Ticket to Ride trip. Complete beginners are well catered for and are normal on this trip, but we cater for everyone and you can expect coaching from South Africa's most highly regarded surf coaches including SA National team coaches. Small 5:1 maximum student to instructor ratios. Learning on the right equipment under close observation from your trip leaders who are with you 24/7. Lots of additional information out of the water to help take your surfing to a new level, including a surfboard and swell talk to ensure you understand your equipment and can be on the best swell. 

Also included

  • The opportunity to climb Table Mountain
  • Time with the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
  • The chance to conquer the world’s highest bungee jump
  • Wine tasting
  • Surfboard factory tour
  • Safari game drive
  • An ocean safari

Community

Each project underlines Ticket to Ride’s commitment to leaving a positive impact on the host country, whilst also giving you the chance to do your bit for the local community. Ticket to Ride Community Projects include:

  • Waves for Change in Cape Town
  • Volunteering at a children's community centre in Jeffreys Bay
  • Regular beach clean ups

 

What's Included


  • Airport Transfers

  • Surf Camp Accommodation

  • Trip Leaders For Duration

  • Video Surf Analysis

  • All Surf Lessons

  • Surf Guiding To The Best Beaches

  • All Surf Transport

  • Surf Hire

  • Welcome Meal

  • Involvement In Community Projects

  • Photos Of Your Surfing

  • Additional Excursions And Activities

  • Shared Accommodation

  • Optional Food Add On

  • Surf Instructor Course

  • Free WiFi

Trip Timeline

Here you'll find a day by day breakdown of your course.

Qualifications

International Surfing Association (ISA) Level 1 Surf Instructor / Coaching qualification

This will be run in Durban and is a two day course run by Surfing South Africa. It has several different components, including beach safety, teaching methods, health and safety, teaching surf lessons and of course, the practical surfing test.

The Lifesaving Course

Designed specifically for surf coaches and run in Durban, it covers everything from first aid, spinal board rescue and board rescue. There is also a timed swim where you're required to swim 400m in a pool in under 9 minutes. The whole Ticket to Ride trip prepares and trains you for surf instructor success, so get ready to pass and live the dream. Life's Good. 

Course Video

What past riders say


FAQs

Got a question about this course? Here's the best place to start. If you don't find your answer here, you can request a callback or get in touch using our contact page.

No, you can be a total beginner on arrival in Cape Town. Of course you will have to pass the course, but our success rate is extremely high.

Please book your outbound flight to Cape Town International Airport on the start date of the course and your return flight from Durban Airport on the end date of the course (also known as King Shaka International Airport).

The surfboard hire is included for the first couple of weeks (i.e. Cape Town). Towards the end of these two week the group goes to Lifestyle Surf Shop and purchase boards (please budget £200-£300 for this). By this point your coaches have seen you surf and can help with the choosing process, to ensure you're on the best board for you.

Surfboards are much cheaper in South Africa, so worth buying out there with the team. If you don't want the board at the end of the trip, you can probably sell it for around the same price you bought it as it's worth more at home. However, most people get quite attached :)

You will get more opportunities to learn about surfboard shaping and order custom surfboards along the trip.

Wetsuits are included in Cape Town as well, but we reccommend bringing your own (3:2mil will be best). Wetsuits are cheaper at home (so the opposite to boards). If you need one then I'd suggest looking on www.surfdome.com. Having your own is far nicer than using a rental as well.

Minimum a week and maximum two weeks, long enough to start to feel at home, but short enough that you'll wish for a few more days at each stop!

We have several great contacts for surf coaching in various parts of the world, and past Riders have left a good reputation as amped and capable coaches. 

Generally speaking, people tend to struggle with the timed swim in the lifeguard course and the practical surfing element of the surf coaching course. The lifeguard course requires a timed 9 minute swim in a 400m pool and this is more than achievable, as your coaches are there to guide you throughout the trip to ensure you pass.

Similarly, we believe that everyone has the ability to pass the practical surfing element of the instructor course as long as they keep focused and practice throughout the trip. Our current pass rate is approximately 90 per cent and if you don't pass first time around, you can always retake it down the line.

The South Africa Rand (ZAR), which is a relatively stable but weak currency means that drinks and eating out will be cheap for most people.

As with anywhere in the world, and worse than some, South Africa has its fair share of crime. That's why you have your Trip Leaders with you, as they know the ins and outs of all the areas we visit to ensure your safety. Once in South Africa it won't even cross your mind.

This of course varies from trip to trip, with the maximum being 25. Saying that we generally have around 15 people including two Trip Leaders, which means you can really get to know each other and don't crowd out the surf spots at the same time!

This also varies from trip to trip, as we have quite a few people who are on their gap years, as well as various people in their twenties and up to their early 30's, who are looking to improve their surfing and travel around South Africa.

For most countries South African immigration will issue you with a holiday visa on arrival. This visa is free of charge and valid for 90 days. If you will be staying longer than 90 days you will need to apply for your visa extension early on in your trip. The 90 day holiday visas are only issued on the grounds that you have proof of return/onward travel out of South Africa. Please do double check with your embassy before departing for South Africa and check out the latest Foreign Travel Advice by going to www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Before you leave for South Africa please go and see your local GP, to get the appropriate vaccinations. It is important to do this in good time and we would suggest sorting this at least four weeks before you leave. For more information, please check out the following websites Fit for Travel – www.fitfortravel.nhs.co.uk and The World Health Organisation – www.who.int. If travelling to Mozambique you will need malaria medication.

Situated just north of South Africa, Mozambique feels like a totally different world to South Africa. It is much more 'African' if you will, more remote, yet still comfortable enough. It's a surf trip where 4*4's are a necessity! It is also tropical, with coconut trees everywhere and lukewarm water - a mini paradise.

Most foreign citizens require a 30 day visa for entry to Mozambique, costing around £50. You will need to purchase this when in Durban and your Trip Leader will be there to guide you through the process.

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check http://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Unfortunately not, you don't get a new 90-day visa from travelling into neighbouring countries as too many people were doing this just for the extention. However, you will get a short 1 - 7 day visa unitil your flight leaves.

Yes you can, just contact us for a quote to upgrade to a twin, double, or double en-suite. 

Straight from the surf