Episode 1: The Surfing Midwife
Riaan meets up with Jeffreys Bay’s surfing midwife, Margreet, and takes her out to experience something completely different… a free fall from 10 000 feet above the ground! They head to Plettenberg bay airport to do some skydiving. The garden route is known for its stunning views and this is probably the best there is. Rivers, forests and the Atlantic Ocean are all that can be seen for miles as they fall through the sky at 200km p/h.
In the afternoon they head out to take on super tubes - Jeffreys famous surf spot Super Tubes is known for its perfectly round wave sets and is home to the Billabong pros. Riaan and Margreet wet suit up and grab their long boards to conquer the waves.
Episode 2: Trekking Tugela
The Drakensberg is a place of fascination for people around the world. Translated to Dragon Mountains, formed in ancient times by volcanic activity - and with the ever-present clouds surrounding these giants, they still appear as dormant dragons, still smoking. Storms on these mountains blow in as quickly as they turn into sweltering heat, so best to tackle them nice and early.
Riaan meets mountain guide Adrian for some quick, late afternoon fly fishing from a row boat, before setting up camp and an early night. In the morning they head up the Amphitheater to Africa’s highest (and the world’s second highest) waterfall, the Tugela Falls, for one of the most breathtaking views imaginable.
Episode 3: Oceans & Rivers
Riaan meets up with Woman’s Health editor, Wanita, to snorkel with Cape Town’s famous fur seals. Heading off to an island off the coast of Hout Bay they enter the icy Atlantic waters to swim with the “dogs of the sea” and the Great White shark’s primary diet. Guided by Lifeguard, Archie, they see seals as never before in there thousands. Exploring this watery wonderland, they even make a few friends.
Entranced by the magic of the Tsitsikamma, Riaan then joins up with Port Elizabeth based comedian and actor, Gino, to kayak down the Storms River from where it meets the ocean. Kayaking on rough seas, they head to the river mouth as the weather turns bad, and are surprised at how calm it is on the river. Kayaking, hiking and jumping off cliffs, Riaan and Gino explore this enchanting river and the ever narrowing cliffs surrounding it.
Episode 4: Catch of the Day
Riaan meets up with Cape Town chef Reuben to do some deep-sea fishing. Heading out to Cape Point, a great spot for yellow fin tuna and Dorado, they cast off for the catch of the day. Fighting seals, big waves and the fish themselves, Riaan and Reuben experience fishing as they never have before.
From fishing the Atlantic to fishing the Orange River, next up Riaan travels north to the Northern Cape, close to the Botswana border, where he meets up with Aerobics instructor Simone, who joins him for a day on the Orange River to do a bit of fly-fishing. After a short paddle out in their inflatable croc boat, we find them standing on a bed of rocks extruding from the river, fishing in the rapids they chat away about life and adventures, but not too loudly, or they’ll scare the fish away.
Episode 5: Into the Ravine
Architect and property developer Greg meets up with Riaan to do something most 20 year olds would consider extreme, canyoning through the Storms River! Once in the canyon the only way through is to jump off cliffs, scale rock faces and swim in 4˚ Celsius water to the other side. More than a few cuts and bruises await them as they brave the heights and jump into dark, icy waters.
Episode 6: Red Dunes
After getting a puncture on the unforgiving Klahari terrain, Riaan meats up with 4x4 expert Andre and they head out into the wild Kalahari outback to take on the sand dunes and salt pans in Andre’s customized 4x4. The harsh terrain takes its toll on the vehicles as they are forced to deal with punctures, getting stuck in the sand and the extreme Kalahari heat. After a day of adventure, Andre and Riaan pitch their tents on the dunes and enjoy the Kalahari sunset. Day two holds even more problem solving for the two and more than a few laughs.
Episode 7: Handlebars & Bridals
Heading to Cape Town’s famous Table Mountain, Riaan and Moyra find out that the fastest way to sightsee this iconic city is by off road scooter. Flying down rocky hills and 200-year-old cobbled streets, they realize that there is more to the mother city than they thought they knew.
From one mountain to another, Riaan meets up with Drakenberg boys Choir student, Neo, for a horseback outride through the forests and hills of the Drakensberg. Riding across the grassy planes, they are met by a dazzle of zebras before they unpack their lunches surrounded by the Drakensberg fauna and flora.
Episode 8: New Heights
Impressed by Archie, who took him and Wanita seal snorkeling, Riaan takes this fish out of water and teaches him to fly. Heading to Cape Town’s Signal Hill, Riaan takes Archie for his first ever paraglide. Buffeted by the winds coming off the mountain, they fly over city and sea.
Staying in the air, Riaan meets up with Orange River Wine Cellar’s sales assistant, Michael, to go on a gyrocopter adventure. High above Upington, the Orange River and surrounds, Michael flies for the first time in his life and insists it is definitely something he will do again!
Episode 9: Down The River
Riaan is joined by beauty therapist Rykie for a two day kayak trip on the Orange River. This iconic river feeds the Kalahari and is an oasis in the South African desert. Kayaking past vineyards and navigating through the many rapids and waterways, they find a secluded river beach, sheltered by tall overhanging boulders, to set up camp for the night. The next morning they are up bright and early to continue their journey and conquer the river’s rapids into the sunset, where they end their journey at the Kalahari River & Safari Lodge with sundowners on the deck.
Episode 10: Leap of Faith
Having met Etienne through Magreet at the surf shop in Jay-bay, Riaan convinces him to swap his surfboard for a bungee cord and go free falling from the highest bridge in the world! They travel along South Africa’s famous Garden Route, deep into the heart of the Tsitsikamma, to the Bloukrans Bridge, to experience the highest bungee jump in the world.
From one rope to another, next up Riaan travels to the Drakensberg, where there is an abundance of mountains to climb, but what about abseiling down these cliffs? Johannesburg based film maker, Lindiwe, faces her fear of heights and abseils down a 25 meter rock face with breathtaking views of the northern parts of the berg. It’s always scarier when going down…
Episode 11: Getting a Grip
After some training on the walls at Johannesburg’s City Rock, Riaan heads out to Hartebeespoort and the cliffs of Chospile to put his newly learned skills to the test. Joined by guest and guide Darren, they camp out in the bush and prepare for an intense day of climbing. Riaan will learn just how different it is to climb outdoors compared to a wall, while experiencing a side of The City of Gold he never imagined existed.
Episode 12: Kalahari Staple
Hunting isn’t for everyone, but in the Kalahari region it is a staple for how most people get their meat. Lamb or beef is always on the menu but there is nothing quite like game… Riaan and 21 year old beauty pageant winner Yancke undergo some gun safety training and target practice with their host, Albe, before heading out on the hunt for a Springbok. But will they actually find these antilopes, and will Yancke have the strength to follow through with hunting traditions and the process of skinning and preparing the meat?
Episode 13: Off the Beaten Track
Riaan and his guest Dan Nicol head to northern Johannesburg to see who is the champion of the off-road tracks, only to have the day take an unexpected turn. Trading racetracks for rocks, Riaan and beauty queen Michelle head out to Hennops 4X4 trails to prove that when it comes to off road, women are the better drivers.
Episode 14: Reliving the Adventure
While going on an adventure of his own, Riaan looks back at all his experiences with incredible guests and exciting adventures. He reminisces on the places he’s seen and the things he’s done: travelled the length and breadth of South Africa, seen oceans and deserts, the flat plains and jagged mountains, and tried everything from bungee jumping to hunting and surfing - proving that life itself is an adventure and that we all yearn to break out of our moulds and go do something exciting.
Episode 15: Into the Darkness
Riaan convinces his South African friend, Danie, to meet him in Israel for a fantastic surprise adventure. They meet up at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport and then head to the tiny village of Tekoa, 5 miles south of Bethlehem. Tekoa is famous for its valleys, hills and ancient caves that were dug in the karst chalk stone.
Riaan and Danie meet up with some local guides and start their adventure with a twenty minute hike through the hills of the Shomron, surrounded by mountains and scenery that still looks the way it did in Biblical times. They reach the tiny opening into the Haritun Cave, the longest and largest limestone cave in Israel (3,450 square meters), with four main levels and at least 55 chambers. There are over 4 ½ kilometres of tunnels to explore. They prepare themselves to enter this vast network of underground wonder with headlamps to penetrate the pitch black darkness and squeeze, crawl and climb through nature and history.
Episode 16: Thicker than Water
The Dead Sea is a place of fascination for people around the world. A salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and Palestine to the west. Its surface and shores are 430.5 metres below sea level, Earth's lowest elevation on land. With a salinity of 34.2%, it is 9.6 times as salty as the ocean and one of the world's saltiest bodies of water. This makes it perfect for floating but Riaan has something more unusual in mind, Kayaking. Riaan meets Kayak guide, Ofer, on a lonely beach on the northern section of the Dead Sea and they head off across the oily waters to explore sink holes, underwater chimneys pumping out fresh water and salt crystal caves.
Riaan then heads down to the Israel's southernmost city, Eilat, a busy port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea. The city's beaches, coral reef, nightlife and desert landscapes make it a popular tourist destination and Riaan is excited to get in the water and see some of this incredible sea life. He is joined by Eilat native, Claudine, who has never dived before and he helps her conquer her fear of being under water, with the help of some friendly dolphins.
Episode 17: Old city & Davids tunnels
Jerusalem's Old City is a spiritual hotbed, sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians. Pilgrims flood into the walled city to worship at locations linked to the very foundation of their faith. Church bells, Islamic calls to prayer and the shofar (Jewish ram's horn) electrify the air with a riot of melodies. Riaan will explore this city solo. He will visit its markets filled with the fragrances of incense, coffee and candle smoke. He will stand at some of its holiest sites and be moved by the passion of the inhabitants for this fascinating city.
Jerusalem's diversity grew from millennia of bloody sieges and transfers of power, leaving deep wounds. One example is Hezekia’s Tunnel. When Jerusalem was preparing defences against the approaching Assyrian army in the 8th century B.C.E., King Hezekiah decided to protect the water source by diverting its flow deep into the city with an impressive tunnel system. This engineering feat was accomplished by digging a 533 meter tunnel into the mountain. An ancient stone carving found near the entrance describes the incredible operation. Riaan will go trekking through Hezekiah’s Tunnel in knee-high water, with some tight squeezes and some of the cities history will be brought to light as he treks through the dark.
Episode 18: ATV, Mangroves & Sailing
Riaan meets up with Israeli archeologist, Hagit, to do some desert exploration in the iconic area of Sodom. Hagit is used to having her feet firmly planted on the ground but it excited to see her desert at speed, in the drivers seat of an ATV. The desert scenery is absolutely breathtaking and surreal.
Riaan then heads to the glittering city of Abu Dhabi in the UAE. An exciting city where nothing stands still, except perhaps the herons in its mangroves. Riaan and South African expat pilot, Carl, grab a couple of kayaks and head into the approximately 110 km2 of both natural and planted mangroves. They explore this rich natural habitat filled with fish, sea snakes, turtles and sea birds and are astounded to find so much life in the desert.
Riaan then joins up with Abu Dhabi local, Hassan, for a lesson in sailing ancient Dahl sailboats. It is said in Abu Dhabi that desert people stay in the desert and water people stay on the ocean so Hassan is a real fish out of water as he leaves his native sands to try his hand at sailing and not rolling the boat and tipping them all into the water.
Episode 19: Desert Adventure
Riaan heads out into the wilderness to experience the breathtaking dunes of Al Khaznah between the UAE capital and the Oasis City of Al Ain or explore the desert expanse outside of Al Faya. With high dunes and long sand valleys, Riaan and his guest, Mohammed, have an adrenaline fuelled afternoon of off-road dune bashing before they head to a desert camp where they are hosted to a traditional meal under the stars by friendly locals.
As the sun rises over the mist covered red dunes, Riaan, Mohammed and their guide Hassan head even further into the desert by fat bike where they meet with local camel breeders and taste the rich flavour of camel milk. With bellies full they head towards giant dunes for a spot of sand-boarding with a twist and end their desert exploration with some exciting falconry.
Episode 20: Water Sports in the Desert
Heading to the region of Al Ain Riaan visits Abu Dhabi’s first man-made white water rafting, kayaking and surf facility built in the foothills of the majestic Jebel Hafeet mountains and is awe-struck that there could be a water park in the middle of the desert. Riaan meets up with Australian tourist, Luigi to conquer the world’s longest, 1.7 km, white water rafting channel network. Bringing together water and adrenaline-filled adventure, Riaan and Luigi’s skills are put to the test in the wild waters that are just as treacherous and unpredictable as those out in nature.
Riaan meets up with South African expat, Jaco, for a day of wake boarding at Al Forsan Water Sports Resort in Abu Dhabi. The first park in the Middle East to introduce the water cable system, Al Forsan’s is one of the most amazing cable facilities in the world. Riaan and Jaco experience more than their fair share of face plants before they find their feet.
Episode 21: Hiking and Snorkeling
When people think Seychelles, they imagine long stretches of white powder beaches and crystal blue ocean but the Seychelles also has incredible inland adventures too. The towering granite mountains of Mahe are fascinating to Riaan. He meets up with Seychelles local and attache to the French ambassador, Rodney, to go and explore the hills. The trail they choose is a continuous uphill climb from an already high-altitude starting point in the Morne Seychellois National Park, through mist forests and to the top of the mountain of Morne Blanc, with sweeping views across the main island, Mahe.
The Seychelles is made up of 115 islands scattered just east of mainland East Africa. Riaan takes a flight in a tiny plane to the private island of Alphonse. The Alphonse atoll is considered one of the most pristine, untouched Edens of the world, making it a nature lover’s paradise. Riaan meets up with the only sechellouis living on the island, Christopher, whose passion is for everything living in the Alphonse lagoon. They get on some snorkel gear and head out to the reef to get up close and personal with with some of the most stunning sea life. Crystal clear warm water, unbleached and largely untouched corals, great visibility and a diverse range of fish species await as they free dive deep to see the tropical oceans wonders.
Episode 22: Desert Island Survival
Riaan is joined by long time south African friend, Seamus, to prove that desert island survival is not only possible but can also be fun. The Seychelles archipelago consists of 115 islands but the majority of the islands are uninhabited, with many dedicated as nature reserves. Where better than one of these to have a desert island adventure. Seamus meets Riaan at Alphonse Island, where they are supplied with kayaks, fishing rods, a box of matches and a leatherman. They are then pointed in the direction of one of the uninhabited islands in the distance and they head off across the aqua marine waters for two days of untouched island adventure.
After a morning of rowing, Riaan and Seamus arrive on their island and have the tasks of finding fresh water, building a shelter and making a fire and cooking a meal. Will they be able to get all of this done before the sun sets? Is it really that easy to survive on a desert island? The friends will have to put their heads together to work though some tricky situations.
Episode 23: Island Hopping & Granite Bolder Climbing
When your father owns boats and you’ve lived on an island your whole life it is very unusual to have never been snorkelling before but Riaan meets just such a person on Praslin. Star is a 23 year old model who grew up surrounded by ocean and boats but has never taken a look at what’s beneath the waveless surface, until now. They hop from island to island in search of the most exciting sea life and with a little help from Riaan, Star gets to see a whole new world.
Riaan then heads back to the main island of Mahe where he meets up with Seychelles local, Davis. A driver who has taken over 10 000 tourists to go rock climbing, he has never done it himself. The Seychelles mountains are punctuated with majestic granite outcrops and it is these granite outcrops that they will be scaling. Will the fear of highs prevail or will they challenge each other to climb higher and higher?
Episode 24: Series Recap
Looking back on all his incredible international experiences with diverse guests and exciting adventures, Riaan reminisces on the places he’s seen and the things he’s done. Having travelled across the middle east and tropical islands; seen oceans and deserts, flat expanses and towering mountains.
Having tried everything from caving to falconry to surviving a night on a desert island, proving that life itself is an adventure and that we all yearn to break out of our moulds and go do something exciting. Follow Riaan as he unpacks the places he’s been and things he’s seen through this incredible journey.