Rated as the top adventure company in South Africa and among the Top 10 in the world, local adventure operator WildX Adventures husband and wife team, Johnnie and Marisa Borrett, is a gem in the adventure landscape of the Cape provinces.
With 600 quad bikes in the fleet at any given time, Segways, kayaks, paragliders and so much more, the company sells itself on the business of making memories – making armchair adventurers’ dreams come true. Whether it be in the saddle of a powerful 4×4 quadbike, a paraglider or lost in the wilderness with a kayak and a heart full of adventure, or all of the above, they make it happen hundreds of times every day.
Speaking to the dynamic duo they let us in to a few secrets on how to run a successful business and how they have stayed ahead of the pack of upcoming adventure operators for more than 15 years and counting. And the secret is out! For Johnnie it’s all about having the right equipment at the right locations, with the right support at the right price that allows you to turn a profit when all is said and done.
Aesthetics counts
That is why he has turned to a fleet of tough, rugged and handsome quads from Linhai. “If you not in the business you won’t understand. Adventures on a quad are about more than just the experience. The quads need to be powerful, easy to operate and reliable. But, perhaps more important for the modern adventurer is they have to be visually appealing and make for a good photograph to pour over later on and share with friends and family. After all, who wants to be photographed on an ugly old quad?
According to Marisa the reliability and good looks of the quads are important reasons the company buys Linhai Rustler quadbikes as the most photogenic and reliable quads on the market, with a price tag that allows them to price their adventures well within the means of the average middle-class adventure seeking family.
Linhai quads are distributed and supported by Smith Power Equipment in South Africa, a multi-brand company that includes Polaris Offroad Vehicles, ClubCar golf carts, Kubota tractors and many more. The company’s dealer network spans all areas of South Africa including some off the beaten track. Smith Power Equipment general manager for Turf and Utility, Mark Chittenden, says our Linhai quads are the most popular in the country and have a wide following in all forms of outdoor and recreation including off-roading, hunting and farming activities among others, where their rough terrain capabilities come into their own.
Young fleet
With such a big fleet of quads in the business it stands to reason that WildX Adventures trusts its main suppliers and works closely with Linhai’s distributor to constantly improve the fleet, while providing spares and parts to keep them in good condition for as long as possible. While the machines are rough and rugged, Johnnie says the average adventurer will not sit on a quad that is older than two years old. After years of operating the business he has found this to be the most viable lifespan of a quad in the fleet where they still have a good used value or can be disassembled and profitably sold as good condition spares.
Like an old kettle loses its shine the quads at this age have taken their share of bumps and knocks and may be losing their photogenic appeal. Monthly inspections of the tough quads may extend the lifespan if they are still deemed trail-worthy, but newer better-looking updates will always be threatening to take their place in the sheds.
But one thing is for sure, the big Linhai’s thus far have proven to be a worthy partner for the country’s best adventure operator and in Johnnie’s words “have played a big role in the success and expansion of the business”. With great quads, the right crews and best guides available the company has set the benchmark for others to follow.
Inspiring story
Having owned a piece of vacant land near Wilderness for several years, Johnnie received a 6000% increase in his rates and taxes bill and decided to make the land pay for itself. Soon he and Marisa brought a hand painted sign and four small quads to the grounds next to the highways and set up with the sign reading “kids quad parties” next to their two camping chairs. Little did they know that this was the start of a giant new venture and their own adventure of a lifetime.
It has since evolved into a multifaceted adventure empire encompassing quad biking, paintball, paragliding, airsoft and an array of other thrilling activities. Today, WildX Adventures boasts a vast property on the original site with a restaurant, buildings and numerous adventure activities. Not to mention that the strategic expansion led to exponential growth in property value and enabled the purchase and leasing of 14 others.
The company’s activities include sandboarding, canoeing, kayaking and quad biking. This diversification allows WildX Adventures to cater to a wide range of adventure enthusiasts, making it a sought-after destination for group outings, team-building activities and more. Its huge fleet enables these activities to take on monstrous proportions with recent team building exercises catering for 450 guests and each enjoying their own means of adventure and choice of Linhai Rustler M170, Linhai Rustler 300 and Linhai Rustler 300 4×4 quads.
WildX Adventures attributes much of its success to its partnership with Smith Power Equipment and the affordable quality quads they provide combined with their own stellar customer experience. With customers using phrases like “life-changing experience” and “best experience of their life,” it’s evident that their quadbike adventure offerings resonate with people.
Issued on behalf of Smith Power Equipment, Geoffrey Green, Digital Marketing Manager, Tel: (011) 284 2053, Email: geoffrey@smithpower.co.za, Web: www.smithpower.co.za
