Wild Series
Bonitas Wild Series
The Bonitas Wild Series is a series of sporting events that aim to raise funds for Conservation around South Africa.
Get out into the Wild Outdoors and make a difference !
Bonitas Mondi iMfolozi Challenge
The iMfolozi MTB Challenge is the signature Wild Series event in Zululand, it is a 55 km mountain bike ride that takes place within the iMfolozi Game Reserve. It takes riders through some of the most pristine Big-5 bushveld wilderness in the reserve, giving the riders frequent and superb game sightings, an amazing experience ordinarily not open to the public. This experience for 300 riders, apart from its value to the riders, has an important conservation outcome. The iMfolozi MTB Challenge has adopted the wild dog as its conservation project of choice. The funds raised from the 2010 event were focused on the monitoring of the wild dog populations in Hhluhluwe iMfolozi Park, which has the largest and most important wild dog population in the province.
uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park Wild Series Events
Wildlands hosts two Wild Series events in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, namely the Giants Castle MTB Challenge and the Mount Aux Sources trail run. The funds raised from these events are collectively used for improving the management of the Park, as well as activities to monitor and conserve the threatened bearded vulture.
Bonitas Sunday Tribune Giants Castle Challenge
The 15th edition of the Giants Castle MTB event was held on 17 April in extremely wet, rainy and cold conditions. This unfortunately resulted in lower than normal participation, with an extreme route change required due to the potentially dangerous conditions in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Mountains. Despite this setback, the riders enjoyed a different route this year, and still managed to contribute to the much-needed conservation support in the reserve, including a Giants Castle solar power upgrade project, field ranger camp upgrades and a weather monitoring system for the park.
Bonitas Sunday Tribune Mount-Aux-Sources Trail Run
The Mont-Aux-Sources 50 km Challenge is probably one of the most well known and sought after Trail running events in the country, and has been voted top Trail Run in South Africa for four consecutive years by Runners World magazine. The event is a gruelling 50 km trail challenge that takes runners from Mahai Campsite in Royal Natal Park, right to the top of the mountain, over the source of the Tugela River, and back down to the campsite.
The funds raised from this event assisted the northern sections of the Park with the following projects:
- Cathedral Peak solar heater project
- Monks Cowl infrastructure upgrade
- Cybertrackers units for field rangers
- Field ranger equipment – for monitoring and mountain rescue
- San Rock Art environmental education programme.
Bonitas Sunday Tribune Three Cranes Challenge
The 3 Cranes Challenge is one of the Newest Wild Series events on the calendar, with the second edition taking place at Bushwillow Park in the Karkloof Valley. This is one of the very few multi-day trail running experiences, with runners covering a total of 100 kms through the Karkloof Nature Reserve over 3 days. Wildlands Conservation Trust purchased the property Dartmoor in 2010 with the aim of consolidating the overall Karkloof Nature Reserve.
The funds raised from this event are aimed at the following:
- Supporting both the local Karkloof Conservancy and the management of the Karkloof Nature Reserve
- Provide support to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for the Karkloof Nature Reserve for the incorporation of the Dartmoor Property into the reserve allowing its formal proclamation.
Bonitas Sunday Tribune Michaelhouse MTB Festival
There are few MTB events, other than the Michaelhouse MTB Festival, that marry health, fitness, fun and family time, as well as raising funds for conservation. So much that out of all the Bonitas Wild Series events, Michaelhouse sees the largest field of participants with around 1200 riders. This is a perfect way to get the whole family off the couch, out the house into the fresh air and have some fun in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
This awesome family mountain biking festival offers a 50km, 20km and a 10km fun ride, that follows a course within the school grounds. The 20km and 50km routes follow open district roads, NCT plantation roads and some awesome single track, with the finish and start areas based on the Michaelhouse rugby fields. Because this event is totally focused around families, there is literally something for everyone. While mom or dad or both are out riding their chosen races the kids can take on the fun ride or even join in on our Kids Zone.
Michaelhouse MTB Challenge forms part of the Bonitas Wild Series. For information on any Bonitas Wild Series events please contact the ‘Wild Child’ Heidi Mocke on 033 343 6380 or e-mail heidim@wildlands.co.za or visit our website at www.michaelhousemtb.co.za
Bonitas Sunday Tribune Cowan House MTB Super Classic
2011 sees the addition of the Cowan House MTB Super Classic onto the Bonitas Wild Series Calendar. This is the second family filled fun Mountain Biking event that the Bonitas Wild Series hosts. So why not grab the kids, get out the bikes and join us for some magic mountain biking.
With all skill levels catered for, you are sure to find something for everybody and the little ones that aren’t yet ready for the challenge, the Kids Zone will keep them safe and entertained while you out on route. This MTB Challenge offers a 40km,20km and a 10km family fun ride.
The 40km and 20km routes follow open district roads, Mondi plantation roads and some awesome single track and is designed for you to develop your skills from the intermediate level rider which will see some technical aspect, while the 50km will present some technical fast flowing single track for the more adventurous rider. We are limiting entries to a 1000 riders this year for your riding pleasure, so make sure you get your entries in fast.
Cowan House MTB Super Challenge forms part of the BonitasWild Series. For information on any Bonitas Wild Series events please contact the ‘Wild Child’ Heidi Mocke on 033 343 6380 or e-mail heidim@wildlands.co.za or visit our website at www.cowanhousemtb.co.za
Bonitas Golden Gate Challenge
This 3 Day Track & Trail run will see participants cover just over 70km’s in 3 days staged out of a single base camp in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. A race village will be set up, each participant will be accommodated in her/his own tent for the duration of the challenge and can expect nice hot showers, clean ablutions and a great atmosphere. Full catering will be available to all participants for the duration of the challenge, and will include a 24 hour snack and coffee bar! The run will incorporate mainly hiking trails and jeep tracks – a true off road experience! We will take you to places you will not normally be allowed to go like Little Serengeti, Cathedral Caves and lots of other hidden gems within this park.
Please do not judge the race by its distances as it truly is a challenge that come with great rewards but that means conquering big mountains and high altitude. You truly feel small once in and among these historic mountains! While running we will also make sure that you contemplate life by getting you in close contact with your past and the future – you will be running for the survival of a species (Bearded Vulture) but also be confronted by ancient rock paintings and past civilisations. By running this event you will set off on a journey – make sure to enjoy it with eyes wide open! The last day will start off with an early morning night run which will add a new dimension and adventure to this challenge and promise to bring out the adventurer in you!
The Golden Gate Challenge forms part of the Bonitas Wild Series. For information on any Bonitas Wild Series events please contact the ‘Wild Child’ Heidi Mocke on 033 343 6380 or e-mail heidim@wildlands.co.za or visit our website at www.goldengatechallenge.co.za
