The WILDSERIES Somkhanda Challenge is a brand new 100km 3-day stage mountain biking event
Event Date: 1st November 2019 – 3 November 2019
Registration: 31 October 2019, 15h00
Camping Bookings Open: 16 August 2019, 10h00
Distance: Day 1: 48km, Day 2: 42km and Day 3: 28km
Format: Mountain bike
Venue: Somkhanda Community Game Reserve
Province: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
The WILDSERIES Somkhanda Challenge is a brand new 100km 3-day stage mountain biking event which traverses through the rolling hills, natural bushland and rugged terrain of the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve. Participants experience this 12 000-hectare reserve in a way the reserve has never been seen before, making it an event that will soon be recognised as a must do event on the mountain biking calendar.
Please note that for the safety and security of all the riders, the challenge will be cycled on a start stop format. Riders will be expected to stop at certain places to wait and ride on as a group.
Organised through a new and dynamic partnership between WILDLANDS, Africa4Africa and Emvokweni Community Trust, the WILDSERIES Somkhanda Challenge offers you a first-class mountain bike experience, providing access to one of South Africa’s iconic conservation areas and generating funding to underwrite and improve the ecosystem management as well as driving interventions that conserve endangered wildlife and species vulnerable to poaching and the illegal trade. Somkhanda promotes growth for the Gumbi community through ecotourism and environmental education opportunities, currently employing around 100 community members.
The accommodation bookings for the event will open at the same time as the entries, and will operate on a “first mail, first allocation” system, based on the date and time received. Accommodation offers for the event include campsites for you to bring your own tent within the reserve as well as self-catering safari tents. Check out the online entry page for more information. Not only does the race weekend promise a breath-taking experience in the land of the Gumbi people, but participants, family and friends will get a unique opportunity to mingle with experienced and innovative conservation minds in South Africa.
Day 1 – 48km
Day one of the Somkhanda Challenge covers a large area of the central west section of the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve. The cyclists will experience routes from around the camp sites to the lower point of the reserve and then cycle to the second highest point on the reserve. The total length of day one is 48 kilometers and has an absolute vertical difference of 430 masl. The cycle starts at Kudu Lodge and moves away from the main gate along the main road past a few rondavels. The route turns left and takes a small dip going past the Lodge dam, then following a small incline past the airfield, Louis trough and to Scotia camp. A small loop will take the cyclists past Bass Dam reservoir and Bass Dam. The route then takes a downhill slope to Mike’s 3 outpost. Mike 3 is in the lower area of the reserve at about 210masl. From Mike 3 the cyclist will start the ‘climb section’ in which the cyclist will climb 400m vertically for 11kms. This climb will pass Broken Reservoir and climb to the water table set up at Cultural Village. Cultural Village is the Second highest point on the reserve standing at 640masl. From Cultural Village, the route will be mostly downhill on the return trip heading to Marula House via the Millini Road ridge. From Marula the cyclists will have a smooth ten kilometers of relatively flat rolling hills to the main road taking the cyclist back to Kudu Camp.
Day 2 – 42km
Day two travels to the eastern section of the reserve where the riders will experience a different type of scenery to that of day one. Day two does not have a difference in absolute height as to the first day, but will still be a demanding ride. Also starting at Kudu Camp heading away from the main gate, the cyclists will turn left and take some roads through the eastern side of Kudu Camp (the initial route of day two is a variation of day one to get to Mike’s 3 outpost). From Mike 3 outpost the cyclists will ride up to Broken Reservoir and continue on to Hotel Charlie in the east. There are a few dips and climbs on the way leading to what will be the Hotel Charlie waterpoint. From Hotel Charlie the cyclists will cycle the eastern routes passing KwaBooi water trough, to Redpot Reservoir, to Thekwane Trough, and eventually past Eskaleni Trough. The route will then finish with a loop towards Hotel Charlie before returning to Kudu Camp.
Day 3 – 28km
Day three is a shorter route that occurs in the west. As for day one and two, the cyclist will begin at Kudu Camp and cycle away from the main gate. The cyclists will pass the rondavels and turn left. After a few routes the cyclists will pass over a bridge and climb up the old fence line path that passes near Bass Dam. The fence line has many up and down hills that are rough but exciting. After the hills the cyclists will come out on the road alongside Scotia Camp, and cycle past Scotia Pan. The cyclists will briefly return to the main road before going on a quick detour around the tourism area via back roads, The route then drops to near the Mkhuze river before doing a loop around Gigigi Mountain after which the cyclists will return to the Finish line at Kudu Camp.
Entry Fees
Option One: Tented Camp Accommodation – 30 Riders Only
R5 000 including:
- Entry Fee (including all Meals): R3 500 (including VAT)
- Minimum Donation: R1 500 (But the sky’s the limit should you wish to further show your support for the conservation efforts of the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve)
Option Two: Camping Accommodation (Bring your own Tent) – 70 Riders Only
R4 500 including:
- Entry Fee (including all Meals): R3 000 (including VAT)
- Minimum Donation: R1 500 (But the sky’s the limit should you wish to further show your support for the conservation efforts of the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve)
SUPPORTER FEES
- Supporter Fee – Adult (including all Meals): R2 000 (including VAT)
- Supporter Fee – Scholar (including all Meals): R1 000 (including VAT)
Please note the Somkhanda Challenge is only open to participants aged 18 years old and over.
Gates open at 05:00 am and close at 10:00 pm.
A list of all riders will be at the gate, and you will be required to show some form of identification to ensure that your name is ticked off the list.
Meals
All meals are included in the entry fee. Please indicate if you are vegetarian on the entry form.
Please indicate on your entry form how many supporters (adult and scholar) will be joining you. All of their meals will be included in their Supporter Entry Fees.
A full bar and refreshments will be catered for by the reserve staff and a coffee station will be available with hot and cold drinks and cakes, chips, sweets and chocolates on offer for purchase.
Garments
Thanks to support from JONSSON WORKWEAR, we’d like to offer you the opportunity to donate the value of your sponsored event garment (R250) towards a kitty that will enable uniforms for the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve Rangers. Please indicate on your entry form if you’d rather support the Somkhanda Rangers with uniforms then take an event garment for yourself.
Weekend’s Itinerary
Thursday 31 October – Registration
15:00: Registration starts
18:30: Race briefing, video presentation
19:00: Registration closes
Friday 01 November – Day 1 48km
07:30: Inaugural Somkhanda Challenge starts from the Race Village
18:30: Dinner followed by photo and video presentation
19:00: Conservation Talk
Saturday 02 November – Day 2 42km
07:30: Somkhanda Challenge starts from the Race Village
18:30: Dinner followed by photo and video presentation
19:00: Conservation Talk followed by a fundraising auction
Sunday 03 November – Day 3 28km
08:00: Final day of the Somkhanda Challenge starts from the Race Village
10:30: Brunch followed by prize giving
Please note that our ‘no refunds’ policy applies to all entries – unless a substitution can be found at least two weeks before the event. It is the participant’s responsibility to find a substitution, not the organisers’. If a participant intends to withdraw, he/she must inform the organisers immediately. If there is a waiting list in place their entry will be offered to the next cyclist in line. If not, the participant must find someone to take their place. Please note that a refund will only be given once a substitution is found and they have paid for their entry. Under no circumstances may someone take part under another cyclist’s name. Please be aware that failure to appear at an event for which you are registered means that your entry fee will neither be refunded nor transferred to the following year’s event.
Please note that the minimum donation of R1 500 or any additional contribution specified will be treated as a donation. For this you are entitled to a Section 18 A certificate, however this will only be issued on email request to Buyisiwe@wildtrust.co.za