Beautiful Babanango
Dear Trail Runners & Walkers,
I’m sitting overlooking the Babanango Game Reserve from a vantage point at Zulu Rock, watching the sun rise as I write this. Its no exaggeration to say that this is a piece of African paradise. It’s Babanango Game Reserve, South Africa’s newest community/private partnership game reserve, set on the banks of the White iMfolozi River.
Let’s go back a bit…… Babanango what does this word mean to you? For many people, memories of a school camp in their youth come rushing back – those few days spent running wild in the KZN bushveld, being glazed by the sun and forgetting to shower… Things change, but at the same time they stay the same… Babanango is on its way to becoming a fully fledged Big 5 Game Reserve, but our desire to run wild is stronger than ever.
The 2021 event is the first of its kind at Babanango Game Reserve, and this year we will get to roam free on the trails and tracks around the reserve. But next year the way in which we do things will change because by May 2022, if everything goes to plan, a pride of lions will be roaming these grassy plains. We finalised the route yesterday and made some adjustments to the 40km that ensure a full tour of the reserve from its lowest point along the river at 750m to the highest in the surrounding hills at 1400m. The 21km route also enjoys river frontage for the first 8km before venturing into the hills on the return journey. The 5km and 10km are also little gems based around Matatane Camp, from where the event will be hosted.
Key to a good event is accommodation and we have restructured the options to offer everything from self camping to family chalets (catered or self-catered). Only 3 hours from Durban and 6 from Johannesburg, if you are going to pick a new venture in trail running and be part of a unique 2021 event, this one is it!
Entries limited to 250 total (in line with the camp capacity).
Accommodation packages launching 24 March!
See you on the trails,
Andrew, Lauren & the KZNTR Team
For Entries and More Information:
Blythedale Trail Run
Planning to spend the long weekend at Ballito? We have got you covered!
Just 20min away, Blythedale offers stunning seaside trails through the indigenous forests, plantations, past mangrove swamps and an estuary.
5km, 12km, 20km options all pack a bit of a punch on the soft sand, but the sea views more than make up for it!
Grumpy’s Beach Bar will be open for a post-race drink and feed, coffee & soft drinks on sale at the venue, as well as Trail Shed’s pop-up shop with all your gear requirements.
QUICK INFO
Sunday 14 March 2021
Blythedale Event Bowl
20km | R180 | 6am
12km | R150 | 6:30am
5km |R110 | 7am
U18s pay HALF-PRICE!
Batched starts – 100 runners per batch.
Hope to see you at Blythedale!
For Entries and More Information:
New series coming to the Midlands
Having hosted the Winter Series since the early days of KZNTR when we were based out in the Table Mountain area, no kids and trail running in its infancy in SA, Andrew & I were feeing the need for a change. Now fully centred in the Midlands (though we all know Andrew has one foot permanently in the Lowveld…!), we have evolved and so has KZNTR.
The Midlands Series just made sense!
Centred around the KZNTR HQ, the series will wander through around the Midlands, taking you to verdant farmlands, rolling veld and vleis, and the dense indigenous forests that the area is know for.
Including some old and some exciting new venues, we are finalising some details and look forward to launching this new collection of events, starting with the Howick Trail on 18 April.
Of course there will be a Series Special, and runners who have already entered the Howick Trail will be able to convert their single-race entry to a series entry, should they want to.
Watch out for the announcements next week!
