Cima (pronounced : Chee-ma)
is an Italian word for ‘summit’.
The oxford definition being ‘the highest point of a hill or mountain’.
From an early age, my memories are of taking daily hikes in the Northern Berg during our family vacations. The Berg was my parents go to, to connect with nature and the freedom to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. This might have something to do with their Italian roots as they both grew up in the Fruili-Venezia Guilia Region close to the Italian Alps. My father would often reminisce about his adventures in the mountains and although as kids, we found it boring and strenuous hiking for hours, somehow the outdoors grew on us.
At CIMA Adventures, we believe that spending time outdoors allows you to disconnect from the grind but reconnect with the beauty and wonder nature has to offer.
What started as a passion to head into the mountains guiding friends through local trails has grown into a trusted adventure company committed to helping people reconnect—with the natural world around us, with others, and with themselves.
Your next adventure starts here.
Why we do it;
Driven by a deep respect for nature and a passion for the outdoors, our focus is simple: to create rewarding, engaging adventures that spark enthusiasm, foster genuine connection, that leave lasting memories.
Every trip is an opportunity for learning—about the world and ourselves. Our experiences are designed for all ages and abilities, with many adventures tailored to be child friendly and family-focused.
Whether it’s a day’s hike to a beautiful waterfall or a multi-day wilderness experience across the Drakensberg. Led by expert guides and built on sustainable practices, our adventures don’t just explore the wildness
—they protect them.
We're proud to be a sustainable company, ensuring the places we love remain wild and thriving for generations to come.
Join us for an adventure that goes beyond the trail. Discover the reward of exploring boldly, learning with joy, and creating meaningful connections in the great outdoors.
Meet Our Founder
& Guide
Paolo is a qualified Mountain Guide with CATHSSETA and a registered guide in South Africa through the Department of Tourism. He also holds a Level 2 First Aid qualification.
Unbeknown to Paolo, his passion for the mountains started at an early age as he tackled various hikes in the Northern Berg during family vacations. Fast forward to early adulthood, and he spent any spare time he could climbing mountains and in the outdoors. His most memorable trips would have to be climbing Mt Kenya (a technical peak) in the 90’s and hiking / climbing various peaks in and around the Central and Northern Berg.
His greatest passion is to share his continued fascination with the mountains with others and at the same time, taking care of our natural wilderness areas.
He’s also an avid mountain biker and trail runner and loves to prepare good camp food and freshly ground coffee.
EXPLORE OUR HIKES
Cima Adventures focuses on providing a personal and professional approach to our day or multi-day hikes in and around the beautiful and rugged Drakensberg mountains in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
You can join one of our scheduled seasonal hikes or arrange a private trip adapted to your requirements and fitness. All our trips include a qualified and experienced guide (CATHSSETA & Department of Tourism registered) ensuring that your safety, your experience and the environment we tread on remain our priority.
All our trips are fully catered for and any dietary requirements are taken into account when we plan our trips.
We adhere to ‘Leave no Trace’ principles so we can leave one of our most valuable UNESCO Heritage sites for future generations to enjoy and provide as much pleasure as we receive in exploring the many beautiful areas it has to offer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What should I bring? You’ll need comfortable hiking shoes, a sense of humour and a can do attitude but honestly, we’ll let you know what you need ahead of time with a comprehensive checklist of gear based on the season and length of trip. You can also hire a backpack, hiking poles, sleeping matt and tent (depending on the trip) from CIMA Adventures if you require these.
What is included? Click on the tab for our seasonal hikes if you require specific details regarding price, dates and difficulty level / fitness required for each trip. We include 3 meals a day and drinks (tea, coffee or hot chocolate). All trips are guided (our guides all have a minimum level 1 First Aid) and include hiking permits, tents and cooking facilities. We don’t provide transport to the trail head unless on prior arrangement, at an additional fee.
Fitness level required? This will depend on the hike chosen and the length, elevation gain and difficulty of the trail but a good base line level of fitness and walking at a reasonable pace (5 km per hour) for a few hours is a good place to start. Our experienced guides will always provide some guidance on booking your trip with us.
Booking & cancellation policy If by any chance we cancel the hike a full refund is given. Once a deposit is paid a full refund is given with 30 days notice – R150 handling fee applies. 14 days notice 50% refund. Less than 7 days notice there is no refund unless you book another trip or get someone else to fill your spot.
What happens in bad weather? Due to bad weather and as your safety is a priority to us, we may change the route at short notice or deviate from our original planned route. If we cancel a trip due to extremely bad weather, you will receive a full refund.
