How 5 South African Teams Took Their Performance to the Next Level — and How Yours Can Too

Sean Uys
9 March 2026

Last week wasn’t just about fun and games for five South African companies. Yes, there was plenty of laughter and excitement — but something more important happened too. Teams came back to work sharper, more connected, and re-energised for the months ahead.

Here’s a look at what they experienced — and how your team could benefit in the same way.

✈️ Airlink – Minute to Win It @ Benoni Northern Sports Club

Airlink kicked things off with the fast-paced Minute to Win It challenge. Think quick, quirky 60-second games that demand sharp thinking, teamwork, good communication… and a sense of humour.

What it did for their team:

• Lifted energy and morale through loads of laughter
• Brought different departments together as colleagues cheered each other on
• Helped the team think faster under pressure, boosting decision-making confidence

What this means for your team:
Short, playful challenges create a safe space where people feel comfortable speaking up, contributing ideas, and taking smart risks back at work.

🔗 Learn more: www.teambuilding.co.za/team-building/on-site-team-building/minute-to-win-it

🚥 Bidvest – Go-Kart Construction & Race Challenge

Bidvest took teamwork up a gear with the Go-Kart Construction Race. Teams had to design and build their own karts — and then put them to the test on the track.

What it did for their team:

• Strengthened collaboration as teams planned, delegated, and built together
• Sparked healthy competition that kept energy levels high
• Helped natural leaders step forward during both the build and the race

What this means for your team:
When people create something together and share a competitive goal, leadership, innovation, and teamwork develop naturally.

🔗 Find out more: https://www.teambuilding.co.za/team-building/on-site-team-building/go-kart-construction-race/

🧭 GIBBS – Lost in Africa Challenge

GIBBS stepped into adventure mode with the immersive Lost in Africa experience — a challenge that blends navigation, strategy, and problem-solving in a dynamic team setting.

What it did for their team:

• Encouraged strategic thinking as teams decoded clues and mapped routes
• Built trust as members relied on one another’s strengths
• Developed resilience by overcoming unexpected twists and challenges

What this means for your team:
Experiences that mimic real-world uncertainty help teams stay calm, adaptable, and solution-focused when workplace pressure hits.

🔗 Explore the challenge: www.teambuilding.co.za/lost-in-africa

💣 WesBank – Bombsquad Escape Challenge

WesBank’s team faced the adrenaline-filled Bombsquad Escape, where they had to crack codes, solve puzzles, and “defuse” the situation before time ran out.

What it did for their team:

• Sharpened critical thinking under pressure
• Improved communication in high-stress moments
• Strengthened time management and focused teamwork

What this means for your team:
Working against the clock teaches teams how to prioritise, collaborate efficiently, and keep cool when deadlines are tight.

🔗 Learn more: www.teambuilding.co.za/team-building/on-site-team-building/bombsquad-escape

🏹 Standard Bank – Indiana Jones Challenge

Standard Bank wrapped up the week with the adventurous Indiana Jones Challenge — a story-driven quest filled with obstacles that demanded planning, coordination, and creative thinking.

What it did for their team:

• Combined creativity with strategy to solve challenges
• Encouraged team members to step up and support each other
• Strengthened team bonds through shared achievement

What this means for your team:
Adventure-style challenges that balance fun with strategy build stronger relationships, better collaboration, and real team spirit.

🔗 Discover more: https://www.teambuilding.co.za/team-building/on-site-team-building/indiana-jones-challenge/

🔍 What This Means for Your Team

All of these experiences prove something important: team building isn’t just about having fun (although fun definitely helps). It’s about creating powerful shared experiences that improve how people work together every day.

With the right facilitation, your team walks away with:

✔ Clearer communication
✔ Greater trust and psychological safety
✔ Shared memories that strengthen relationships
✔ Stronger problem-solving confidence
✔ Fresh energy and renewed motivation

These aren’t “soft” benefits — they lead directly to better performance, stronger collaboration, and a happier workplace.

🚀 Ready to Take Your Team to the Next Level?

Whether you’re looking for high-energy fun like Minute to Win It, immersive adventure like Lost in Africa, or strategic pressure challenges like Bombsquad Escape, there’s a proven experience waiting for your team.

👉 Visit www.teambuilding.co.za to explore your options and book your next unforgettable team experience.

Want to kick start your team work?

Checkout one of our team
building activations.

Lost In Africa

Complete tough puzzles – solve tough puzzles such as the Cryptex, Islamic Scroll Challenge and Madagascan Slide Puzzle.

Explore Africa in a unique way – teams visit 8 African countries and learn more about our vibrant and mysterious continent.

Pull together as a team! -only the most resilient and focused team will solve the challenge.

Assemble the Staff of Ra – the final challenge involves assembling a pryamid tower – use an ancient amulet to illuminate the final secret

Compete and Win – the first team to find the professor wins!

uShaka

The Ushaka Challenge team build is an on-site adventure challenge which is a cross between the “Amazing Race” and “Fear Factor” Team Build” held at uShaka Marine World, Durban.

Exciting Amazing Race Format with unique and varied activities

Every activity has a group dynamics outcome to build a stronger team

Get wet, meet a pirate, build a raft, test your artistic talents as your team races to win.

Maboneng Amazing Race

Your team takes part in a fantastic team adventure race around the cool and hip Maboning district in Southern Johannesberg. Exciting challenges await, including food, art and cultural themed activities.

Race around the trendy, up and coming Maboneng District in Johannesburg’s South

Exciting art, culture and food challenges as you explore together.

Teams race to complete all challenges to be crowned ‘Kings of Maboneng’

The Big Quiz

Many years ago we set out on a mission to re-invent the Corporate Quiz. Filled with unique interactive elements – a hit option for numerous South African organisations over the last 20 years. Is your team tenacious enough to take it on?

Our Quiz MCs are highly experienced and skilled at entertaining and engaging groups

The Quiz format is highly customisable – pick what suits your team

A great team ice-breaker and suitable for very large groups or intimate sessions

Cape Town Waterfront

Spoil your team with an exciting corporate adventure race around Cape Town’s world class V&A Waterfront. Filled with unique team-bonding experiences, it’s a hit with any team.

Teams race around the awesome Cape Town Waterfront, completing fun, engaging challenges.

Activities are fun but also feature group dynamics outcomes

The first team back is the winner, real Amazing Race format.

Charity Construction

A unique team building challenge where teams work together to construct Bikes or wheelchairs for charity. Doing a good deed as an organisation is a powerful transformative experience.

Teams work together to build a bike or wheelchair as quickly as possible

Bikes are donated to a charity of the company’s choice

The joy of doing good together as a group is a powerful outcome in itself

Food Truck

A powerful team development activity – your co-workers compete to build and brand a food truck from scratch and produce street-food for the group. A funky creative and collaborative challenge – interactive and great fun…

A great extension of Beach and Bush’s highly popular Masterchef Challenge

Each team must create and brand their own food-truck and prepare street food for the group

Outcomes include creativity and coordination plus planning and communication. Super fun …

Beach or Field Olympics

Beach or Field Olympics team build combines an exciting morning or afternoon of low impact activities with a fun day on the beach or any sports field.

A chance to get active with your co-workers while experiencing a day out of the office with a difference.

Healthy competition across a fantastic range of fun activities

Something for everyone, a combination of traditional sport and low impact activities such as frisbee golf

Custom Programmes

We create customised Team Builds for clients with specific requirements. Need to mix elements of 2 separate events into a ‘hybrid’ program? We can do it. Need to conform an activity to a. specific time frame? We can do it. We love a challenge!

Give us an idea and we’ll run with it … we love a challenge.

We often combine programs for clients or include elements of different activities into one.

Many of our standard events have evolved from crazy ideas suggested by clients.

Reconnect!

A virtual team building session designed to energize remote teams while promoting collaboration and restoring the human connection.

Cyber CSI

CYBER CSI by beach and bush is a world first, unique team building activity, featuring cutting edge interactive 360 degree tour technology.

Re-motivate

Re-motivate is a powerful, interactive Motivational Session specifically aimed at giving remote team members the tools they need to stay focussed and energised.

How good (or bad) is your team - Quiz.

We’ve created a quick quiz to help you assess your team’s cohesiveness, and where it needs to improve.