7 Sep 2024 10 Weeks All Levels Split Payment Options Trips from £4995

Overview

An unforgettable surfing adventure...

Our ten week South Africa Surf Adventure is our flagship trip and enduringly popular. Whether you're learning to surf or looking to improve, this trip from Cape Town to Durban with seasoned locals as your guides, combines all the best aspects of travelling with fantastic community projects for an unforgettable surfing adventure.

South Africa really does offer it all when it comes to an enriching surfing adventure. The coastline boasts uncrowded world-class waves and a never-ending Atlantic Ocean swell which peels all the way from Cape Town to Durban. We visit seven carefully selected locations, each with their own character, for a truly diverse surf trip.

The combination of having both top surf instructors and your Trip Leaders who are also accomplished surf coaches, means you'll take your surfing beyond what you imagined possible in ten weeks. You'll also enjoy travelling with a group of like-minded, multinational people and experience the joys of friendly competitive surfing on a daily basis.

To give our bodies a much deserved rest from surfing, your experienced Trip Leaders will show you around any given area and suggest the best activities to maximise your surfing down time. Your Trip Leaders are with you 24/7 to ensure your comfort and safety, and make this experience more than just a surf trip. They are your knowledgable tour guides, surf coaches, drivers, mentors, and of course, your friends. With our extensive experience of running these trips, we know that local knowledge plays a key role in the way you discover South Africa, often referred to as a world in one country.

What to Expect

Whether you're at the beginning of your surfing journey or already got some surfing skills, our ten week South Africa Adventure with qualified surf instructors as Trip Leaders and local surf coaches will see your surfing reach next levels. 

There is no such thing as not being good enough or even being too good at surfing to join this unique surf adventure course, as we have the resources to cater to everyone.

Master the basics

  • Paddling / wave catching
  • Negotiating the lineup to get to the back
  • The “Pop Up”
  • Speed control & trimming
  • Basic turning
  • Surf etiquette

Rapid Progression

  • Linking turns and generating speed
  • Developing style and flow
  • Introduction to different types of breaks
  • Introduction to more advanced surfing
  • Video and photo analysis

Ocean Awareness

  • Swell prediction course
  • Beach and ocean safety
  • Surf fitness

What's Included

  • Welcome braai
  • Accommodation
  • Surf rentals for the start of the trip
  • Full surf mobility
  • Coaching from South Africa's most highly regarded surf coaches
  • Unlimited additional coaching from your Ticket to Ride Trip Leaders
  • Small student to instructor ratios
  • Surfing on the right equipment
  • Getting coached on world-class consistent waves
  • Discounts on equipment including surfboards
  • A surfboard and swell talk
  • A leaving dinner party
  • Return airport transfers
  • Full UK support pre-departure

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
  • A tour of a surfboard factory
  • Safari game drive
  • A visit to the Cape Winelands

Community

Giving something back to the local community is a central part of each Rider’s experience in South Africa and overall adventure with Ticket to Ride. Each project underlines Ticket to Ride’s commitment to leaving a positive lasting 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

  • Shared Accommodation

  • Optional Food Add On

  • Free WiFi

Trip Timeline

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

  • Cape Town

    Settle in, master the basics of surfing and help out in the townships. Based right on the beach you'll mostly be surfing twice-daily, with breaks only for the best of Cape Town's other activities.

  • Plettenberg Bay

    Explore the Garden Route and its empty beaches at its best. Long white empty beaches, lots of waves, bungy jumping and the quaint town of Plett will keep you entertained.

  • Jeffreys Bay

    Surf world-class waves right in front of the backpackers and get involved in some environmental projects. Jeffreys Bay is all about beach living.

  • Cintsa

    Experience the wild coast! Nestled in amongst the trees on this secluded beach, you will find empty peeling waves. When you're not surfing, go play with lion cubs, paddle a canoe or play some volleyball.

  • Coffee Bay

    Go back in time and enjoy simple South Africa. Xhosa bread made by African mamas, a big fire in the evenings, hammocks under the trees and plenty of space to explore is just the start of what Coffee Bay has in store. Never mind the empty peaks out in the surf!

  • Durban

    Enjoy the buzz of South Africa’s ‘Surf City’. From the powerful waves right out front on the Bluff, like Cave Rock, and the running piers and fun bowls in town, to the warm waters of Durban.

  • Ballito

    Quiet lineups or be lured back into town for the surf! This week you'll refine your surfing for the future and start to reflect on your trip.

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.

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 20. Saying that we generally have around 14 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. 

Fly into Cape Town International Airport on the start date of the course and book your return flight from Durban Airport on the end date of the course.

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!

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.

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.

Yes you can, be it a twin, double or double en-suite, just contact us to get a quote.

Straight from the surf