Words: Steven J Brown
Now mountain bikers and trail runners can follow an ancient trail along the southern bank of the Mzinene River towards the Isimangaliso Wetland – a path trodden by King Shaka and his soldiers during the age that birthed the Kingdom of the Zulu.
Photo supplied
This unique opportunity forms part of the Amorello Challenge MTB and Trail Run hosted by Amorello Safari Park in Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal.
The Amorello Challenge MTB and Trail Run will kick off on August 8th and 9th and, although it will certainly test the endurance of cyclists and runners alike, has been planned so that it will accommodate athletes wanting to participate in a fun race and to take the winning spot.
The Amorello Challenge MTB and Trail Run includes a 25km or 50km MTB Safari, a 10km or 25km Trail Run Safari, a 10km MTB Safari time trial (leader board) or a Trail Run Safari time trial (leader board).
The Amorello Challenge will not only appeal to individuals, but also corporates who are encouraged to get involved by sponsoring their very own athletes to represent their companies. You can either sponsor your own employees or a professional. If you are looking for a professional athlete to wear your company colours, contact our organisers who will be happy to help you to find a candidate. There is no restriction to how many athletes can compete per company.
For those interested in entering their corporate athletes into The Amorello Challenge the weekend package costs R5500 excluding VAT for an all-inclusive package. This includes accommodation with an en suite bathroom for each competitor as well as a race entry into as many preferred categories as required, a massage, bike wash, all meals, entertainment and medals. There are also two other entry fee options – a R4500 all-inclusive package that includes accommodation with a shared bathroom or the R4000 package which is inclusive of a massage, bike wash, all meals, entertainment and medals, but excludes accommodation.
Entries are limited to 200 athletes for the weekend packages and the closing date for entries is Friday, July 24th.
For those who are in it for the fun of it and only wanting to participate in selected events for either day, the general entry fee is R100 for 10km, R120 for 25km and R180 for 50km and only includes a ticket into the race selected.
Whether you are wanting to enter for fun, in an individual capacity, want to sponsor an athlete or want to become a partner of the event, why not make history by supporting The Amorello Challenge – after all, it’s the first of its kind to be hosted in Zululand!
For more information on the event or to become a partner, contact the Race Director, Russell White on 083 700 2407, Mitch Rankin on 082 777 0697 or the Event Organiser, Klint Mills from Powasol Eventing on 031 701 8647. Visit www.amorellosafaripark.co.za and like us on the Amorello Challenge Facebook page or follow @shaka50_100 on Twitter.
