Monster Rollers & The Longest Zip-line in the World

by Conrad Koen & Peter Peyper

Conrad Koen comes from a small town called Meyerton. Been in tourism for about 25 years and is a happy and over friendly person who enjoys life and the outdoors, playing outdoor Cricket and Bungy Jumping Vic Falls, Sky Diving the Western Cape and Elephant Back Rides in Botswana. He flipped a Catamaran in Mozambique close to Pemba in the Deep Sea in Shark infested waters, attacked by a Zambezi Shark in Amanzimtoti, White River Rafts and loves adrenalin sports. He is 43 years of age, engaged and one daughter of 13 years who is just like him. An adrenalin sporty Junky.

Conrad met Richard Branson during his first position at Holiday Tours at the age of 20 years old and since then went into Buckingham Palace, a Private Temple in Bali, a private Island in Bali and Rio De Janeiro and also spent lovely afternoons and evenings on Private Yachts in Rio, Bali, Mauritius, Maldives and Cape Town

The last tick he had on his Bucket List was to see snow and start snowboarding. He has done that now luckily to be employed by this fantastic resort, company and Directors.

“I must say that working together with Peter on all the events just takes me to a whole different level in organizing huge events and productions.”

Peter Peyper has worked in almost all the areas of the business and has a good understanding of each integral part of the business. Currently his main focus is sales, marketing and events but very involved in the snow operations.

He gets his thrills in wakeboarding, wake skating, surfing, skating and especially Snowboarding which has become a part of his life and has kept him in the industry. He has snowboarded all over Europe and Eastern Europe and really enjoys freeriding so splitboarding, heliboarding and cat skiing has become a preferred getaway but there is still nothing that beats a ski trip and Apres ski with good mates.

Been mountain biking since 12 enjoying mostly the gravity mountain bike disciplines and in recent years he has also completed a number of multiday stage races. Loving the mountains and the great outdoors, socialising and experiencing new things with new people makes Afriski the perfect working playground for Peter.

In the world of travel and managing events, consumer attitudes are changing drastically, we are at a point where our local industry needs to make decisions on whether or not it will change along with them. Likely due to this consuming and often solitary, inauthentic digital universe we live in, these changes prompt us to seek out more fulfilling and authentic experiences.

Experiential or immersion travel, is a form of tourism where people travel with the intention of experiencing a country, city or place by immersing themselves in its history, food, culture and people through meaningful activities. This form of travel as a trend has gone from quiet and emerging to full blown for 2019. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2014 a staggering 21% increase in the amount spent by travellers on tours, attractions, events and activities.

Faced with the choice of the same boring hotels for conferences, you’ll be pleased to know that a relatively short drive from Johannesburg offers a much more interesting alternative. With a host of fun features your standard hotel could never boast, AfriSki Mountain Resort in Lesotho is unlike anything your team is likely to have experienced.

The Longest Zip-line in the World

The winter months are snow and ski - of course we boast this attraction - and you’ll be forgiven for thinking the ski lift closes at the start of the summer season. In fact, by merely popping on your mountain bike, the lift offers you a swift passage up to the top of the mountain with several elaborate routes to enjoy on the way back down.

And during the summer months…

AfriSki is soon to be home to the longest zip-line in the world, and certainly the only zip-line anywhere to offer a 180 degree turn, making it quite a unique experience for adventure junkies who aren’t afraid of heights. It travels 2.2km long and reaches speeds up to 180km/hour, which means your day on the slopes is only seven minutes away from the ground.

Ride the Monster Rollers

Monster Rollers are a whole lot of downhill fun for the whole family. Guests of all ages enjoy a trip up the AfriSki slopes in the Lesotho sun and freewheel down a single track into the resort, taking in the phenomenal birds-eye view of the resort.

These cross-country scooters that are safe and enjoyable. Equipped with large profile tires and disc brakes, the monster roller gives you a different thrill, whether you’re darting around in the snow or sun. Mountain guides are on hand with training tips and tricks on how to manoeuvre while you’re on a descent, so that you get the most out of your runs.

Warrior Obstacle Course

If you’re a fan of a good challenge for yourself and a team, AfriSki has developed a seriously fun group activity to enjoy at the resort. It also happens to be the highest obstacle race in Africa.

Ideal for mid to large groups, such as family reunions or facilitated team buildings, the competitive obstacle course race is a series of obstacle races of varying distance and difficulty depending on body type and fitness level.

Twice a year, AfriSki hosts an obstacle course and trail race event for around 200 athletes from all over the world. With gorgeous scenic runs in the beautiful Maloti Mountains, this is a real opportunity to test not only your legs and skills to their limits, but your lungs too with the high altitude of 3222m. This is any athlete’s dream when it comes to experiencing real climbs and a rigorous challenge, with no pollution or noise, ensuring a good time is had by all.

A Conference on Top of a Mountain

Business conferences are, by design, meant to encourage new ways of engaging, thinking, learning, collaborating and networking. How often are they long and dull instead, with little else to enjoy beyond the hotel bar for drinks afterward? How often are they based in a city you’re likely to have already been to, with no other stimulation to shake things up?

For those conferences that are based in resorts, they may be in the valleys or foot hills of big mountain ranges, but AfriSki is on top of the Maloti Mountain range, which makes it, surprise-surprise, the highest conference in Africa.

With a multitude of venue options available for different group sizes and breakaway requirements, whether you require conferences, workshops or team-building, Afriski has you covered.

Because you’ll be conferencing at the resort, you can end off every day’s conference session with a team hike, stargazing, paintball, a session on the monster rollers, and loads more. This is how you build memorable and effective conference experiences for all involved.

Introduce Your Staff to the Local Malutis

A trip to Lesotho for your conference wouldn’t be complete without dipping your feet in the local culture. Regardless of the season, many locals wear seanamarena blankets, and when guests are taken to the shebeen in the town below or to Basotho rural culture themed evenings, they collect their blankets –known as “mountain rugs” – and mokorotlo hats.

These are woven into the kingdom’s fabric and add to the experience. When temperatures fall below freezing point, travellers are encouraged to ward off the cold, wrapped in their blankets and clutching an icy Maluti beer. A trick from the shepherds nearby. Here they enjoy local musicians and storytellers while mixing with the local Malutis and walking away with a rich experience and amazing memories.