Day 1 of the challenge is a 28km route, which takes place in the Blue Canyon Conservancy that lies adjacent to the Kruger National Park. The conservancy is inhabited by all the Big 5, besides buffalo. Measures will be put in place to ensure runner safety, including patrols by rangers on horseback. A comprehensive race plan is also being developed with landowners, rescue crews and medical services.

Day 2 is a 45km long route and a fair bit more challenging than Day 1; participants will be required to climb up the escarpment to one of the most northern tips of the Drakensberg, known as Mariepskop. In contrast to Day 1 whereby runners are in the bushveld, on Day 2 they experience beautiful indigenous forest on the slopes of Mariepskop. The route is on well-established trails that climb over the escarpment and into the Blyde River Canyon, the 3rd largest canyon in the world. There are several tough climbs and a great diversity of vegetation providing a true and honest trail challenge.

“The Old Mutual Wild Series is about providing opportunities for people to experience wild destinations, and our new Kruger2Canyon Challenge epitomises this,” said Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of Wildlands. “The Wild Series is also about raising money for conservation efforts across the country, as well as creating awareness around conservation issues relevant to each area in which these unique events are held. We have partnered with the Kruger2Canyons Biosphere, a local NGO who are doing great work conserving the diversity found in the bushveld, mountains and canyons through which this challenge runs,” said Venter.

To find out more about the Kruger2Canyon Challenge and the Wild Series visit www.wildseries.co.za