Blogs

Braamfontein Spruit Trail

30 Dec 2015

The Braamfrontein Spruit – or just ‘The Spruit’ in local lingo - is the first place to head for a long, local trail run. Take care to invite a friend along if you plan to run outside of the Emmarentia Dam and Johannesburg Botanical Gardens area (these two spots together are affectionately known as ‘Emmies’). Emmies is the southernmost point for Spruit activities. A little further north, Delta Park is a substantial 104ha of woodland and grassland. The trails linking these two large park areas and everything further northwards, are a trail runner’s playground...

(GPS coordinates: -2615153, 28.002548)

Katberg Eco Trail & Event

Nightjar Travel

11 Sep 2015

Situated a lofty 1 000m above sea level in the Winterberg, the Katberg Eco Golf Estate, Hotel and Spa is a perfect Eastern Cape getaway for the whole family. It is reached by a wonderful drive off the N2 via Fort Beaufort. Game footpaths and single tracks traverse dense indigenous forest to join up with forestry roads and jeep tracks through the surrounding plantations. Various hiking trails traverse the bold mountain ranges, crossing perennial streams with water more pure than any you can buy. The entire route is 95% runnable for the fit, even if you are only an average athlete...

(GPS coordinates: -32.487617, 26.68112)

Rhodes Trail Running Event

Nightjar Travel

6 Sep 2015

Named after Cecil John Rhodes, the historic Victorian village of Rhodes was established in 1891 and proclaimed a ‘Conservation Area’ in 1997. In the Eastern Cape Highlands near the escarpment, Rhodes sits on the southernmost end of the mighty Drakensberg. Set at 1 832m above sea level it is only 16km due south of the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. Pristine rivers and magnificent mountains surround the timeless charm and beauty of Rhodes. The Rhodes Trail Run, one of South Africa's iconic trail runs, takes runners into the southern Drakensberg on the Lesotho border in the remote and rugged far north-eastern Cape...

(GPS coordinates: -30.795268, 27.963931)

Iron Crown Run Trail & Event

Nightjar Travel

16 Aug 2015

Right on the edge of the great escarpment, midway between the Highveld and Lowveld, you will find the tiny village of Haenertsburg. Lying between Polokwane and Tzaneen along the R71, it is situated at the foot of the Iron Crown, the highest peak in the Limpopo Province at 2 126m. To run this trail outside the race, you must first obtain a permit; the route is marked on race day only. Your GPS will inform you that the 21.1km route climbs 687m from 1 439m in the village to the top of the Iron Crown. The 10km route is less testing and climbs to 1 600m, while the 5km fun run is for the less energetic…

(GPS coordinates: -23.94708, 29.937167)

Berg and Beach Run Trail & Event

Nightjar Travel

2 Aug 2015

Hermanus has the status of being the best land-based whale watching destination in the world. The town is also blessed with rugged mountain ranges, the pristine Klein River Lagoon estuary, excellent beaches and plenty of outdoor adventure activities. The ‘Berg & Beach Stage Run must surely rate as one of the most scenic trail runs in the country. Day one follows a 23km coastal route through Walker Bay Nature Reserve, followed on day two by a 27km mountain run in Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Entries are restricted to 200 runners...

(GPS coordinates: -34.394603, 19.266117)

Rietvlei Nature Reserve Trails

Nightjar Travel

18 Jul 2015

Pretoria seems to brim with trail running routes within the proverbial stone’s throw from the CBD. Rietvlei Nature Reserve is one such destination. Situated 38km from OR Tambo International Airport and 18km from the Pretoria city centre, this 3 800ha reserve incorporates a mix of both grassland and undulating hills. Spectacular views combine with an antediluvian lava stream and the Rietvlei Dam to create an outdoor arena with massive appeal to trail runners. Rietvlei Nature Reserve boasts two main routes, each featuring completely different terrain. Both are nonetheless ideal for beginner trail runners or those in search of easy and relaxing runs…

(GPS coordinates: -25.866166, 28.264612

Save the Rhino Trail Running Event

Nightjar Travel

6 Jul 2015

Botlierskop Private Game Reserve is nestled between the magnificent Outeniqua Mountains and the unspoiled beaches of the Indian Ocean. Botlierskop is named after one of the spectacular rock formations on the reserve. Trail running through the 3 000ha Botlierskop Big Four Game Reserve takes you along a combination of single-track, jeep tracks and game tracks. The area is home to four of the Big 5 animals, with breathtaking views of Mossel Bay and the Indian Ocean…

(GPS coordinates: -34.030784, 22.14182)

Kurland Summer Run Trail & Event

Nightjar Travel

20 May 2015

The Kurland Hotel lies east of the prime holiday destination of Plettenberg Bay and just inland of Natures Valley. The estate lies in the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains with vistas of the whole of Biai Formosa and The Crags. Beyond the manicured grounds of the hotel are hectares of mountains and valleys covered in indigenous forests, fynbos and some commercial forestry. The trail offers a mix of every type of terrain you could ask for. Single-track, jeep track and forestry roads will take you through forests, up mountains and across several streams...

(GPS coordinates: -33.94064, 23.486798)

Wildcoast Wildrun Trail

Nightjar Travel

1 May 2015

The Wildcoast Wildrun is a three day, 112km trail running stage race along one of the most rugged and beautiful coastlines in South Africa. The Wildrun is not marked. Simply keeping the sea on your right will be enough to guide you into the finish of each day (however, there will be a GPS track log available). Between points is some of the most incredible wilderness scenery in South Africa...

(GPS coordinates: -32.679552, 28.384549)

Num-Num Challenge Trail & Event

Nightjar Travel

21 Apr 2015

The Emakhazeni district, encompassing Dullstroom, Belfast, Machadodorp and Waterval Boven, is situated an easy 3hr drive from Johannesburg. This is the start of the Drakensburg escarpment with a rich Boer War history. The Num-Num Trail is a 36.5km self-guided, 5-day hiking trail. Though open throughout the year, you have to pre-book to get onto the trail. The organisers will plan a trail running route for you...

(GPS coordinates: -25.797029, 30.373942)

Salomon SkyRun Trail Running Event

Nightjar Travel

13 Apr 2015

The highest of the Witteberg peaks top out at a dizzying 2 408m, stretching along the horizon for about 60km from Lundin's Nek in the east to Lady Grey in the west. Lady Grey lies within the shadows of these rugged ranges. It marks the trail head for the annual Salomon SkyRun, one of South Africa’s premier trail running events. The tiny village is also famous for its annual nativity play, its quaint houses, incredible scenery, San rock art and endless list of outdoor activities. There are two races: a 65km one-day run, and a 100km SkyRun...

(GPS coordinates: -30.713087, 27.217152)

Hedianga Farm Trails

Nightjar Travel

29 Mar 2015

Situated to the east of Pretoria on the Bronberg section of the Magaliesberg, Hedianga Farm promises an exciting trail running, mountain biking, birding and walking experience. The farm encompasses an area of 140ha, mostly on the north facing slopes of the Bronberge overlooking Shere and Silverlakes. The trails at Hedianga Farm include lots of loose rocks and sandy sections, making the surface technical for beginner trail runners. There are four primary routes of 5km, 8km, 12km and 18km, respectively. All traverse the woodland slopes of the Bronberg Mountains...

(GPS coordinates: -25.806708, 28.351117)

Helderberg Mountain Challenge Trail

Nightjar Travel

17 Mar 2015

The Helderberg Mountain Challenge (HMC) is a mountain trail run of epic proportion. It will undoubtedly get your heart pounding and your legs pumping. This mountain challenge has everything to offer - forest, fynbos, boulder hopping near the summit, narrow ridge line running, incredible views, tricky slopes and traverses below huge rock faces...

(GPS coordinates: -34.066423, 18.874983)

Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge Trail

Nightjar Travel

16 Mar 2015

The Jonkershoek valley is without doubt one of the most beautiful mountain scenes in the Western Cape. With the kind permission of Cape Nature, Wildrunner have been given access to the wilderness area hiking trails, and with the MTO forestry tracks and mountain bike trails, have strung together what is arguably one of the most incredible mountain trail running challenges on the calendar...

(GPS coordinates: -33.969381, 18.93501)

Emgwenya Waterval Boven Trails

Nightjar Travel

28 Feb 2015

Waterval Boven is a rock climbing and trout fishing town. Stupendous crags cutting sheer lines along the escarpment have made more than 700 different climbing routes possible. Lately climbers have started mountain biking and trail running on ‘rest days’. Glenn Harrison is (almost) single-handedly responsible for constructing a trail network second to none in the region. There are superb vistas on the Rim Trail, swooping S-bends through shady forests and past historical sites, and big climbs up to Imemeza's summit (aka ‘The Place of Shouting’). By combining the various trails, you can have the best of all worlds with a smidgen of jeep track, some ankle-testing rock gardens and loads of groomed and bermed single-track, all with minimal urban interference...

(GPS coordinates: -25.643681, 30.328342)

Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve Trails

Nightjar Travel

4 Feb 2015

Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve with its kloofs, koppies, ridges and open plains takes its name from the sugar bush (suikerbos) protea. Suikerbosrand is the site of many Late Iron Age settlements and ruins of kraals decorate the hills. The stone walls are easy to spot from the trail, especially around the 6.5km point of the Bokmakierie Trail. Runners are also sure to see game, usually zebra and a variety of antelope. Although there are some smooth and open sections, the trails at Suikerbosrand are challenging. Ascents and descents are interspersed with Highveld rocks. For the less technically adept runner there may be quite bit of walking...

(GPS coordinates: -26.453576, 28.220542)

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