Special adventures,
done properly
We exist to enable bike riders, hikers and divers to experience adventures that simply would not be possible without meticulous planning, organisation and management.
Africa & beyond
Scheduled and tailor-made adventures across the continent and further afield.
We also organise trips around the signature events on the South African and international mountain-bike and road calendar, including the Cape Argus, the Sani2Sea, the Wine to Whales and more.
The way of
Secret Destinations
best local cuisine.
the adventure.
Adriaan Hefer
Secret Destinations was founded in 2011 by Adriaan Hefer. Adriaan is an absolute travel and adventure freak, always busy planning the next “big mission”. At the age of two years old he went to Mozambique for the first time with the family for the Christmas holiday in Xai-Xai, and ever since then he has been traversing the planet looking for adventure and unexplored secret destinations. He is an avid mountain biker, road biker, mountain climber, scuba diver, alpine snow skier,
white water rafter and horse rider, not to mention lover of gourmet food and a good bottle of wine.
Adriaan has travelled to over 50 countries on all continents seeking out the ultimate adventure, and trying to get close to the cultural roots of that country. Some of his favourite destinations have included Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Borneo, Turkey, Spain, Italy and of course his beloved Africa including Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.
Adriaan is a longstanding member of the Mountain Club of South Africa and has completed a Mountain Guiding training course. He has completed twenty Cape Argus bike races and many, many Mountain Bike Races. Adriaan has climbed to the top of El Misti (5882m) volcano in Peru, walked the Inca trail via Salkanty Pass, climbed Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, climbed Mont Blanc, and done various trails and mountains in the Himalayas including the Annapurna circuit. Adriaan has climbed and mountain biked every conceivable mountain trail in the Western Cape and continues to enjoy every minute spent outdoors in nature. Adriaan has scuba dived all over the planet but still rates Honduras, Madagascar and Lombok as his best ever.
Adriaan has turned his passion into a business and is actively involved in the planning and management of all Secret Destination trips, and in many cases taking the role of chief guide and host.
Our Zanzibar local partners Issa and the Happy Bike Team
Every path on this island tells a story. My job is to make sure you hear all the best ones.
Issa, Lead Guide, ZanzibarHappy Bikes are our operating partners on the ground in Stone Town. They offer cycling and walking trips around Stone Town and further afield, including day trips to a spice farm. Born and raised on the island, Issa and his team know every shortcut, every secret beach and every food-stall owner by name.
Secret Destinations has partnered with Happy Bikes to deliver an experience no outside operator could replicate. This is Zanzibar as the locals live it, on two wheels.
Your next adventure
starts here
Join a scheduled trip or let us tailor-make one for your group. We’d love to hear what you dream of riding, climbing or diving.