Learn to Be a Professional Paddling Guide with PaddleZone
PaddleZone If you love the water and dream of turning that passion into a profession, PaddleZone in South Africa offers the perfect opportunity. Their professional paddling guide training courses are designed for those who want to work in adventure tourism including river guiding, sea kayak guiding and kayaking instruction. Whether you’re planning to guide flatwater trips, ocean paddling trips or challenging whitewater tours,
PaddleZone will equip you with the skills, confidence, and credentials to succeed. Based in a country blessed with rivers, dams, estuaries, and a long coastline, PaddleZone’s training grounds are as diverse as they are beautiful. Courses are run on some of Africa’s most iconic paddling locations, giving trainees the chance to experience a wide range of conditions, from calm waters to fast-moving rapids and oceans. The programme combines practical paddling techniques with crucial safety and leadership training.
You’ll learn how to assess risks, lead groups, perform rescues, communicate on the water, and manage environmental challenges. The course also includes essential theory modules like weather interpretation, trip planning, gear maintenance, and client care—everything a professional guide needs to know. PaddleZone works closely with national and international paddling bodies, ensuring their courses meet industry standards. On completion, you'll earn a recognised qualification that can help you find work in South Africa or abroad. Whether you're interested in canoe trails, multi-day river expeditions, or sea kayak guiding, this training opens doors.
In addition to Andrew who has over 30 years’ experience, we have a number of skilled instructors which enable us to run courses for larger groups and multiple locations. All of our instructors are highly experienced guides with international experience in guiding, so they know the industry inside out.
In addition to Paddlezone, we also own Gravity Adventures – one of the country’s most respected outdoor adventure operators. This allows us to keep in touch with what is happening in the industry and ensures that our training is always relevant and up to date.
Rivers | Ocean | Lakes | Dams
IRF (International Rafting Federation) APA Sea Kayaking(African Paddling Association)
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