Are you ready to push your limits and chase the ultimate adrenaline rush in 2025? Flight Centre’s Travel Experts have curated the ultimate travel bucket list packed with life-changing adventures – many of which are right here in South Africa!

Whether it’s free-falling into breathtaking depths or shooting through the skies at record speeds, these iconic experiences are guaranteed to leave your heart racing:

Bungee jumping: Bloukrans Bridge, The Garden Route, South Africa

• Adrenalin rating: 9/10
• Description: The highest commercial bungee jump in the world at 216 m, Bloukrans offers jaw-dropping views and a spine-tingling rush as you cut through the air.

“The pendulum bungee technology ensures a smooth jump, with a swing-out rather than abrupt recoil, promising a more comfortable experience. Additionally, the jump site’s renowned safety record and incredible staff make this a top-tier bungee experience,” comments Antoinette Turner, General Manager at Flight Centre South Africa.

• Who can do it? Participants must be at least 14 years old and weigh between 35 and 150 kg. The SkyWalk Adventure is available to children from 8 years old.

Ziplining: K3 Zipline, Caledon, South Africa

• Adrenalin rating: 8/10
• Description: The K3 Zipline holds the title of the longest zipline in the world, stretching a staggering 3.2 km. Riders soar up to 500 m above the Overberg region, reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h.
• Who can do it? Participants must weigh between 60 and 120 kg and be over 8 years old.

White water rafting: Zambezi River, Batoka Gorge, Zambia/Zimbabwe

• Adrenalin rating: 9.5/10
• Description: The Zambezi River, particularly near Victoria Falls, delivers some of the most intense and dangerous rapids in the world. The Grade V (and a few Grade VI) rapids have earned names like ‘Commercial Suicide’ and ‘Ghostrider,’ making them legendary for white-water lovers. With the thunderous backdrop of Victoria Falls and dramatic drops like Stairway to Heaven, it’s a full-on thrill fest.
• Who can do it? Varying by provider, participants generally need to be over 15 years old and be able to fit into a life vest.

Paragliding: Interlaken, Switzerland

• Adrenalin rating: 7.5/10
• Description: Paragliding in Interlaken comes with magical views of the Swiss Alps and Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Launched from elevations of 1,300 to 1,500 m, the flights last up to 40 minutes, sweeping riders through sprawling alpine terrain. If you’re after extra thrills, opt for an acrobatic tandem flight, which mixes spins and flips into the experience.
• Who can do it? Tandem paragliding is open to travellers from 7 years old. However, weight restrictions typically range between 30 and 100 kg.

Canyoning: Extreme Dominica Canyon Experience, Dominica, Caribbean

• Adrenalin rating: 8.5/10
• Description: Canyoning in Dominica means trekking through challenging terrain, rappelling down waterfalls, and jumping into natural pools, all while surrounded by the Caribbean rainforest. The experience includes descending places like the Trafalgar Falls, with the option to take things to the next level with night canyoning tours – a chance to explore the canyons under the stars.
• Who can do it? A relatively fit person above 6 years old (some tours may have different restrictions based on age, weight, and physical condition).

Kloofing: Suicide Gorge, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, South Africa

• Adrenalin rating: 8.5/10
• Description: The Suicide Gorge kloofing experience involves hiking, bouldering, swimming, and cliff jumping through an intense 16.2 km journey filled with mandatory 7 metre jumps into deep rock pools.

“The element of compulsory jumps, including optional ones up to 21m, makes this gorge a true test for even experienced adventurers,” says Turner.

• Who can do it? Swimmers in good physical condition and with hiking experience. Age requirements vary, generally from 18 years old.

Rollercoaster riding: Aqua Slidecoaster on Norwegian Aqua, Norwegian Cruise Line

• Adrenalin rating: 6.5/10

• Description: Debuting in April 2025, this hybrid rollercoaster-and-water slide at sea (the first of its kind) is quite literally unlike anything else. With dual slides winding around the ship, magnetic lifts that propel you, and a beautiful view of the ocean from three stories above, it’s an electrifying way to cruise and defy gravity at the same time.
• Who can do it? Age, weight, and height restrictions will be released closer to the ship’s launch.

Volcano boarding: Cerro Negro, Nicaragua, Central America

• Adrenalin rating: 8/10
• Description: Volcano boarding on Cerro Negro in Nicaragua is one of the most unique and daring adventure sports in the world. Participants hike up the active volcano, Cerro Negro, before racing back down its steep, ashy slopes – on nothing but a board. Reaching speeds of 80 km/h, you’ll zoom down 45-degree inclines, getting covered in volcanic ash. The heat from the active volcano below you adds to the thrill for an ethereal, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
• Who can do it? Participants must be in moderate physical shape to make the trek up the volcano and must be over 18 years old due to the extreme nature of the sport.

Ice climbing: Sólheimajökull Glacier, Iceland

• Adrenalin rating: 8/10
• Description: Ice climbing on Sólheimajökull Glacier is the ultimate cold-weather adrenaline rush. Equipped with ice picks and crampons, climbers ascend towering vertical ice walls formed by the frozen movement of ancient glaciers. The terrain is constantly shifting, and climbing up sheer ice makes every moment a challenge. What makes this experience stand out is the spectacular glacier landscape of deep crevasses, glittering ridges, and ice formations – picture-perfect in every way!
• Who can do it? Participants must be over 14 years old and in good physical condition. No prior experience is required, but professional guiding is mandatory.

Safety first

“While these adventures will be memories you’ll never forget, it’s important to remember safety! Always ensure everything is done under certified, professional supervision. Be sure to check local requirements and restrictions, and trust only licensed operators to guide you through these adrenalin-pumping experiences,” Turner concludes.

Inspired? 2025 is the perfect time to swing, swim, jump, or dive into an adventure worth travelling for!

In recognition of World Children’s Day and its 2024 theme, “For every child, every right,” Bolt, a leading ride-hailing platform, today announced the launch of its Mobility Alphabet Campaign at the Heart of Hope Children’s Home. This initiative aims to transform daily commutes into learning opportunities while on Bolt trips, encouraging a love for reading among the nation’s young people and upholding their right to quality education. The Mobility Alphabet Campaign introduces a unique Bolt Mobility Alphabet designed to be inclusive and engaging for all learners. Printed in various South African languages, the mobility alphabet charts will be placed in the cars of top-performing Bolt drivers cars, offering children a chance to interact with language and improve their reading skills during their trip and at home.

According to the 2023 National Reading Barometer, 69% of 10-year-olds will be unable to read for meaning by 2026. The report also found that many pupils leave Grade 1 without mastering the alphabet and that only 52% of adults living with children engage in reading with them. Bolt, having provided over 2 million rides to and from schools in 2024, is committed to playing an active role in combating this crisis and ensuring every child can learn and thrive.

“We believe that education is the cornerstone of a brighter future,” said Simo Kalajdzic, Senior Operations Manager at Bolt. “Through the Mobility Alphabet Campaign and donating educational materials to the 46 children at the Heart of Hope Children’s Home in Wendywood, we support their futures and demonstrate our belief that every child deserves access to the resources they need to learn, grow, and succeed. This donation symbolises our ongoing commitment to empowering the next generation of South Africans through education in the communities that we operate.”

Bolt’s Mobility Alphabet Campaign is a testament to the company’s dedication to social responsibility and belief in the transformative power of education. By leveraging its platform and resources, Bolt actively empowers young children in South Africa. Bolt will distribute over 2,000 alphabet charts to schools and other children’s organisations in Gauteng, and children, together with parents or guardians, are encouraged to post a video of them reciting the Bolt Mobility Alphabet to stand a chance to win a library update for their school.

Bullying in the workplace is a problem that is more common than one might expect. Office bullies create a toxic environment and cause significant stress for their targets or the broader office community. However, it is not always easy to identify certain behaviours as bullying, especially when they are subtle and veiled behind professional facades.

“An attitude where a colleague adopts a sense of self-importance and unofficial authority can sometimes cross into the realm of adult office bullying. Individuals with this mindset often feel entitled to monitor, correct, or control the actions of their peers, even when they lack the formal authority to do so,” says Peter Kriel, General Manager at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s leading private higher education provider.

He says this self-imposed hierarchy can lead to behaviours that undermine the autonomy, confidence, and contributions of colleagues. The person may criticise, belittle, or “advise” under the guise of support, but the effect is often to enforce their own dominance and diminish others’ value within the team.

“Such attitudes can be harmful even when unconscious, as the underlying implication is that their peers are less competent or need guidance. Over time, this approach erodes trust and morale, creating an environment where others feel disempowered, stressed, and undervalued, which aligns with forms of workplace bullying,” says Kriel.

BONA FIDE BEHAVIOUR OR BULLYING?

Kriel says the following scenarios can provide clarity about whether a colleague’s behaviour is legitimately intended as support or guidance, or whether it has crossed over into bullying:

• Bullies frequently target others to diminish their credibility, which can include criticising, questioning decisions, or making others seem incompetent. They may “sabotage” work by withholding information or resources, setting their targets up to fail.
• Office bullies often manipulate situations to their advantage. They may take credit for others’ work, spread rumours, or even lie to tarnish someone’s reputation. This behaviour serves to isolate their target and create doubt in the minds of colleagues.
• When bullies hold a position of power, they might misuse it to control others. They might micromanage excessively, impose unrealistic expectations, or demand work at a moment’s notice to instil a sense of fear and inferiority.
• Some bullies portray themselves as victims, justifying their actions by saying they are defending themselves or the organisation. They may suggest that their target is untrustworthy, lazy, or hostile, painting a picture that shifts sympathy toward them and away from the true victim.
• Verbal abuse, sarcasm, belittling, and even silent treatment can be common tactics. Although physical intimidation is rare, office bullies may use non-verbal cues like glares, sighs, or dismissive gestures and even constant correction to intimidate others subtly.
• A bully might engage in gaslighting, where they make the target question their own judgment and sanity. They may downplay their actions or suggest that the target is overreacting, leading to self-doubt in the target and confusion about the legitimacy of their concerns.

“Since bullying is simply wrong and, in many instances, explicitly prohibited in company policies, it is essential to address the behaviour constructively and assertively. Doing so would include documenting incidents, setting firm boundaries, seeking support, and escalating the matter to senior management. There are also many online resources that can guide you once you have identified that you are a victim of bullying,” says Kriel.

“But the first step towards addressing problematic behaviour is to be sure about what you are experiencing and being able to label it. If you are clear that you are not being over-sensitive or over-reacting, but that you are in fact the target of a bully, you can start putting in place strategies to address and resolve the issue.”

Children aged 3 – 7 and their parents have the chance to sing along, wave their hands and celebrate some of the best-loved nursery rhymes, as National Children’s Theatre (NCT) presents Rhymes and Rhythms: From Mother Goose to Dr Seuss at NCT’s Parktown Theatre campus.

Coinciding with World Nursery Rhyme Week, the show is sure to capture the hearts of theatre-loving Jozi families and schoolkids, with its unique blend of fun, entertainment, and charm.

Featuring much-loved rhymes and new-school sing-alongs, the show is NCT’s last production for the year, alongside Disney’s The Lion King Jr for ages 6 and up – also showing at NCT’s campus.

“From Mother Goose to Dr Seuss is an enchanting celebration for young kids, and it’s sure to spark fond memories for parents and grandparents alike,” says director Ivor Jones.

Whether it’s the little old lady who lived in a shoe, or the cow that jumped over the moon, nursery rhymes help children lay the foundation of reading and storytelling skills for life. The nursery rhymes of From Mother Goose to Doctor Seuss impart literacy, pronunciation, numeracy and life skills – all of which support childhood learning. It’s great entertainment with education thrown in too!

The interactive show helps children build motor skills, while also engaging and improving their ability to engage and communicate. It was conceptualised by NCT board chair Moira Katz, and features a rich selection of nursery rhymes from English and African traditions, many with a colourful twist.

NCT’s outstanding cast is led by Jayson Tsebe and includes Kirsten Dickinson and Abby Molz. Directed by Jones, with set and costume design by Dr Sarah Roberts, music direction by Christine Ludwig, stage management by Siphesihle Fakude, and assistant stage management by Gideon Moyo, the show runs for 60 minutes with a 10-minute interval.

Lead actor Tsebe has worked in children’s theatre for years, and starred in NCT’s recent production of Peter Rabbit & Me. “I love children’s theatre, and I’ve done it throughout my professional life,” he says. “It requires so much energy, but the kids also bring a unique energy of their own, so you come off stage exhilarated.”

Tsebe says the key to capturing the audience’s imagination in a children’s play is movement – and that’s exactly what children and parents can expect from Mother Goose.

“We keep it moving throughout,” he says. “You must be animated in children’s theatre. So, the little ones can expect an hour of singing, dancing, laughing, moving and clapping along to nursery rhymes old and new.”

Parents can be sure that time spent marvelling to the adventures of Mother Goose will support their child’s growth and cognitive development. Studies have recognised that rhyme schemes support memory and recall, as well as learning.

In the age of social media, the dramatic arts also assist children with developing their attention spans, learning interpersonal communication, as well as learning and acquiring knowledge.

Rhymes have also been shown to assist with language development and to help children overcome speech impediments. The joyful interaction of the show also helps children develop confidence and self-belief.

NCT also develops these abilities through its regular Saturday workshops for aspiring young actors and actresses.

“Interacting with other people – whether in the audience context, or as a cast member at a theatre workshop – is incredibly useful,” says Tsebe. “It improves your ability to socialise, and it develops empathy – you become better able to read other people’s feelings and to react to them.”

When: 13 November 22 December 2024

Where: NCT, 3 Junction Ave, Parktown, Johannesburg.

Book: www.NCTheatreSA.org/program.

School block bookings: Email [email protected] or call 011 484 1584.