iSimangaliso Wetland Park
This unique 4-day-stage, 260 km event allows Mountain Bikers access to areas within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, far off the normal tourist routes, allowing riders to experience the values this park has to offer. iSimangaliso is among the most diverse parks in the world with eight interlinking ecosystems, one of the highest bird counts in the country, incredible plant and game species biodiversity (all of the Big Five) and superlative natural beauty. The third day the route transits through Phinda Private game reserve, Big 5 country, after traversing the False Bay hiking trails and St Lucia lake single track and exiting onto the Mzinene floodplain. This is an amazing opportunity to experience and one that will never be forgotten.
Day 1 Each day starts with riders gathering in the start chutes by 6.45am and starting at 7.00am The starts out towards the beach along the Estuary boardwalk - an experience in itself - along the beach route, heading out through the main Bhangazi Gate into the big game territory of the Eastern Shores (including most species except lion), to Mission Rocks and back through St Lucia town, through iGwalaGwala Trail to finish at the St Lucia Sugar Loaf Camp across the road from Ski Boat Club, where one or two sundowners whilst viewing the Hippos would be a great way to end your first day.
Day 2 From St Lucia the route takes in a short section of the main road through the tourist village of St Lucia in what should be quite a spectacle as the riders are led through the village in a mass controlled start before entering the Western Shores section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park through the DukuDuku gate. Enjoy sights here of pans and open grasslands back-dropped by forested coastal dunes and view game with possible sightings of elephant, rhino, hippo, buffalo, giraffe and numerous others. The ride heads north to a 10 km section of gum forest the only plantation riding on throughout the route and exits onto the Nyalazi Flood plain with it’s 25km of single track criss crossing the flat grass land with the most incredible bird life, heading North toward the Hluhluwe River, crossing over and entering into the Big 4 reserve of Bonamanzi where the riders spend the night resting.
Day 3 We leave Bonamanzi heading out over the Hluhluwe River and head toward the Hluhluwe River Lodge, famous in past years for its "high tea" served by the owner Gavin Dickson,as well as a tricky bit of single track that finishes through the owners lounge!! From Gavin's place we enter the False Bay section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park with its maze of hiking trails and single track running along the edge of Lake St Lucia. Exiting North onto the Mzinene floodplain, under the R102 and into the private Big5 reserve of Phinda. Here they have cut km' s of single track using natural game paths taking the route for 23km's through Big 5 country up onto the UMkhumbi Plateau where the riders cross into the uMkhuze Game reserve. Here they are treated to views all the way to the coast as they head across the plateau and down over the Umsimduzi River and onto Mantuma Camp.
Day 4 On the last day the riders head through the uMkhuze Game Reserve section of iSimangaliso, now boasts all of the Big 5 and the highest density of rhino in SA and includes other game such as elephants, buffalo, hippo, cheetah and wild dog to the eMshophi Gate, and into the Lebombo mountains. The re-entry is via the Dakela game management gate at the southern end of the reserve and riders will ride back through the reserve to Mantuma using a mixture of natural game paths and game management tracks. Lunch starts at 12 with the main prize giving during lunch.
Registration will take place on Wednesday 19 th August 2015 from 4.00pm until 6.30pm followed by compulsory Dangerous Game Briefing and the Event Overview at 7.00pm. Dinner will be served at 7.30pm
Entry Fees and Accommodation Options (excluding VAT) Per Rider
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ENTRY FEE PER TEAM MEMBER (Teams of 2) |
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Accomodated Options (Sharing) |
Description |
Basic Fee Per Team Member |
Conservation Fee per person |
Total Entry Fee per team member |
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TENTED |
4 Nights Camping |
R 4 500.00 |
R 1 000 |
R5 500 |
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PARTIAL TENT |
3 Nights Accommodated 1 Night Camping |
R 4 900.00 |
R 1 000 |
R5 900 |
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CHALET (sold out for 2015) |
4 Nights Accommodated |
R5 600.00 |
R 1 000 |
R 6 600 |
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SAFARI (sold out for 2015) |
4 Nights Accommodated (Own Bathrooms) |
R6 100.00 |
R1 000 |
R 7 100 |
