Expedition Africa – Race in the Drakensburg Mountains
Rob Howard / 18.01.2013
Expedition Africa is shaping up to be one of the most competitive World Series events this year and entries are still open for teams wanting to experience the Drakensburg mountains and to race in South Africa.
At 500km Expedition Africa is the biggest Adventure race in South Africa and the African leg of 11 AR World Series qualifying races worldwide, with the winner qualifying for the World Adventure Racing Championships in Costa Rica.
2013 will be the 3rd edition of Expedition Africa and so far there are 8 International teams confirmed and registered, many in the top 25 of the world ranking list. South Africa’s highest ranked teams are also taking part. The visiting teams so far are all from Europe, taking advantage of the modest entry fee, good exchange rates, minimal time difference and the wide range of inclusive services the race offers. It is an unsupported race so no support crews are needed, and even includes 5 nights hotel stay either side of the race and all airport transfers.
The race registration and hotel accommodation is at the Orion Hotel Groups Mont-Aux-Sources hotel so all the teams will be based together (and in some luxury). It’s an amazing venue, right next to Kwazulu Natal National Park, with a stunning view of the Drakensburg amphitheatre. The area is a World Heritage Site and includes snow capped mountains up to 3,482m, riverine bush, dense forest and the world’s second highest waterfall.
During the race teams will pass though Nature Reserves and local rural communities. Here they will be able to stop at a local “Shebeen”/Spaza shop (the African name for a small shop with a few supplies) and will encounter the local tribes, small children, cows, donkeys, pigs and sheep as they graze the land freely.
In this terrain teams can expect to be trekking, kayaking, mountain biking, completing rope work and navigating on the non-stop event, with the first team expected over the finishing line in 3-4 days. The race begins on Sunday, 4 May at the Mont-Aux-Sources Hotel when teams will participate in a community project, visiting a nearby orphanage with gifts for the children. The official start then takes place on Monday morning.
For more information and to see the full entry list go to the race website and follow their Facebook page.
