If you thought an average office going Indian professional was happy with sightseeing and fine dining during his holidays in South Africa, you were wrong. He bungee jumps in Titsikamma forest, engages in white water rafting in Kwa-Zulu-Natal, shark cage diving in Gansbaai and surfs over wild waves in Hout Bay.

For the past three years, apparently, Indians have been seeking hardcore adrenaline-rushing adventure sports in South Africa.

“Among the total number of Indian tourists travelling to the country every year, 50 per cent are taking up such adventure sports. Indians have joined the group of Americans and Australians, who are traditionally keen on adventure sports. Even Indian women are ready for experimenting such hardcore adventure activities,” says Hanneli Slabber, country manager of South African Tourism.

The number of Indians packing their bags for holidays in the Rainbow Nation is increasing continuously over the past five years. Barring 2008, Indian tourist arrivals in South Africa have registered over 16 per cent growth. In 2009 and 2010, the numbers grew 17 per cent. In 2011, the country hopes to receive 85,000 Indian leisure travellers up from 71, 500 in 2010. Between January and September 2011, 70,000 Indians have already travelled to the country.

“We look forward to touch the one lakh mark in 2012. For this, we are networking well with over 2,000 travel agents selling South African travel products in India. We are making information digitally available for all, launching more products, especially adventure related products, emphasising on the MICE segment and also focusing on cricket tourism,” says Slabber.

The country had not given much importance to the potential of cricket in wooing Indians till now. But now, it has got a shot in the arm with former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes endorsing the tourism brand in India. “Jonty has great ties with India as being part of the Indian Premier League Team Mumbai Indians. He also is involved in coaching up and coming talents. Jonty himself had volunteered to help us promote the brand in India,” she said.