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The Limpopo Mystery Tour

Arnold de Swardt / 16.10.2003

This was the first unsupported expedition style adventure race to be held in Southern Africa. Enough food and water had to be carried with us for 4 days and with the additional mandatory equipment this resulted in extremely heavy backpacks. Add in to the mix an unknown country, language and region and the race was sure to be an epic.

Food supplement testing, water purification systems, malaria tablets, medical insurance arrangements, boat testing and repairing, visa arrangements, border post bribes, a 10 hour journey; all of this just to get to the start! Race registration was at Zongoene Lodge, at the mouth of the Limpopo River. Teams were given their maps at registration but the coordinates of only two points were supplied, the start and another point about 12km away. This was all part of Hano Otto, the race director’s mental game. New race instructions were only provided on reaching the next point, so the teams never knew what lay ahead or where the finish would be.

The start was planned for sunrise, from the top of a high dune next to the lighthouse about 3kms away from the lodge. Instructions indicated that the race would start with a hiking leg. It did, but the hike ended up being a mad dash for the airstrip about 2kms away, where our boats were dropped for the first of two ocean paddling legs. With the sun rising over the ocean and the helicopter with the TV crew zooming above, the epic began.

Christelle and I experienced some difficulty going through the surf to the back line. Gerrad and Deon had no problem and were waiting patiently for our arrival. We later heard that our 10 minute struggle was short compared to the ordeal some other teams had, being unable to reach the back line and with no other option but to portage their boats the 10kms along the coast. We beached our boats in sixth position, a position that we maintained for the majority of the race, and found the next coordinate fixed to a bush on the top of a nearby dune.

The next leg was a hike to a little inland lake about 5kms away. We attempted to clean our socks and shoes, which were filled with sand, a feat that proved to be impossible. The wet and sandy shoes were sure to play a big part in the race ensuring that all competitors struggled with some sort of foot problem. The next instructions led us back to the boats to complete our second ocean paddle of 22kms to the mouth of the Bilene Lake. This launch went better, and the paddle was soon over with the help of a strong tail wind.

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