Why Choose a SA AIA Member?
A public-facing guide explaining the professional commitments and expectations associated with SA AIA membership.
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These resources support informed decisions and better practice. Always check the document date, applicable legislation and current activity-specific requirements before relying on a resource operationally.
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Guides · operators · schools · outdoor educators Templates & Guidelines 4 resources
Practical tools for planning, operating and communicating more consistently.
Activity Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Template
A structured template for documenting the information needed to plan and run an adventure activity or trip.
General Good Practice Guidelines for Outdoor Activities
General planning and good-practice considerations intended to be read with the relevant activity-specific guidance.
Overnight Camping Good Practice Guidelines
Activity-specific guidance for overnight camping in tents, shelters, caves or huts, with or without road access and fixed facilities.
Schools · educators · parents · providers Schools & Youth Safety 2 resources
Practical reference material for choosing providers and preparing safer school and youth excursions.
Provider Safety Snap - Your Go-To Guide
A concise checklist of the evidence schools and youth organisations should request from accommodation, catering, transport and activity providers.
Water Safety on School Excursions
A practical guide for educators and parents covering swimming ability, supervision, venue questions, boundaries and post-trip review.
Providers · schools · venues · commissioners LOTC/ABL Provider Verification 2 resources
The public policy and shared language behind SA AIA's evidence-based verification pilot for LOTC and ABL programme providers.
LOTC Service Provider Verification Policy
The purpose, scope, verification levels, evidence process, governance controls, decisions, appeals and rules for using verification marks.
LOTC Service Provider Verification Language and Structure Pack
Consistent definitions for what verification is, what it is not, the two levels, decision types and the public meaning of the mark.
Applicants · registered persons · employers · assessors Professional Registration 4 resources
Frameworks and policies governing SA AIA professional designations, recognition of prior learning and continuing professional development.
Certified Professional Adventure Tourist Guide (SA)
The competency framework, awarding process, retention requirements and progression pathway for the SA AIA professional designation.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy
The policy governing recognition of prior learning when awarding SA AIA professional designations.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Policy
The policy defining continuing professional development requirements for people holding SA AIA professional designations.
Professional Designations Policy
The policy for developing, awarding, monitoring and revoking SA AIA professional designations.
Practitioners · operators · training providers · researchers Government Publications 9 resources
Acts, gazettes, codes and policy documents relevant to adventure practice and professional pathways.
Final Transitional Arrangements for Pre-2009 Qualifications - 17 June 2026
The final structured extension directive for identified pre-2009 qualifications, trades and regulatory unit standards during the transition to occupational qualifications and skills programmes.
Consolidated List of Extended Pre-2009 Qualifications and NATED Programmes
A searchable list of 630 qualifications showing whether each was extended and the duration of the extension, including qualifications relevant to tourist guiding and Adventure-Based Learning.
DHET NQF Directive - 3 June 2024
Directive on implementation and transitional arrangements for qualifications registered before 2009.
Extension of Learner Enrolment Dates for Listed Trades
Transitional arrangements and extended learner-enrolment dates linked to pre-2009 qualifications.
Commercial Zip Line and Aerial Adventure Parks
Government-incorporated health and safety code of practice for the installation and operation of commercial zip lines and aerial adventure parks.
Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993
The principal Act addressing health and safety at work and risks connected with plant, machinery and workplace activities.
Tourism Act 3 of 2014
The national Tourism Act, including provisions regulating the tourist-guide profession.
National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003
The Act governing the protection, conservation and management of South Africa's protected areas.
Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework Policy, 2021
Policy governing quality-assured occupational qualifications, part-qualifications and skills programmes at NQF Levels 1 to 8.
Operators · activity leaders · safety managers Risk Management 3 resources
Frameworks and reference material for organisational safety systems, preparedness and incident thinking.
Risk Adjustment Strategy for Outdoor and Adventure Activities - COVID-19
A sector recovery and risk-adjustment strategy developed during the COVID-19 tourism disruption.
Developing and Implementing a Safety Management System
A basic framework from which an adventure operator can develop an operation-appropriate safety management system.
Scenarios for Adventure Accidents
Preparedness considerations for incidents that may occur in different wilderness locations, by Prof Graeme Addison.
Practitioners · risk managers · researchers Case Studies 2 resources
Public court records that help practitioners understand duty, wrongfulness, negligence and causation.
Hermanus Paraglider Lawsuit - 2015
A judgment concerning a tandem paragliding passenger, the legality of transport for reward, wrongfulness and causation.
Matroosberg Reserve Incident - 2015
A judgment considering liability, wrongfulness, negligence and causation after a fatal fall at a mountain resort.
Members · public · partners Governance & Ethics 3 resources
The documents that define SA AIA's structure and the conduct expected of its members.
SA AIA Environmental Policy
SA AIA's policy commitments and expectations for environmentally responsible conduct across the adventure industry.
SA AIA Constitution
SA AIA's constitutional purpose, objectives, membership structure, chapters, committees and governance arrangements.
Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics
The minimum ethical and professional conduct expected of SA AIA members, including scope, safety, representation and accountability.
Guides · facilitators · instructors · training providers Technical Competencies 8 documents
Approved skills guidelines, curricula and accreditation requirements organised by activity.
Training and Assessment of Adventure-Guide Skills
The shared foundation for experience, first aid, planning, equipment, risk, communication, leadership and post-event requirements.
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
Skills guideline, three-level curriculum and shared off-road accreditation requirements.
Adventure Motorcycles
Skills guideline, three-level curriculum and shared off-road accreditation requirements.
Quad Bikes and Side-by-Sides
Skills guideline, three-level curriculum and shared off-road accreditation requirements.