About Us

For Cornelia, adventure began as a child, exploring Southern Africa with her family through hiking, canoeing and 4x4 trips. One unforgettable winter hike in the Central Drakensberg would later prove especially meaningful — years later, these same mountains would become home.

While working as a river guide, Cornelia met Jakes, an experienced river and canyoning guide whose adventures had taken him across Africa and Europe. After marrying, they moved to the Central Drakensberg and began building a life together in adventure tourism.

With little more than enthusiasm, a three-door Ford Fiesta and a trailer, their dream of creating family-focused adventures began to grow. They introduced Scootours to the area and helped establish locations across South Africa.

After twelve years at Dragon Peaks, the family moved onto their own 20-hectare property in the heart of the valley. The move came during the uncertainty of the COVID lockdown, forcing them to start again from the ground up.

Through faith, perseverance and the incredible support of the surrounding community, they continued building.

Today, Vertical Rush remains very much a family adventure — rooted in the Central Drakensberg and driven by the same spirit that started it all.