Ultra-Trail Drakensberg

Ultra-Trail® Drakensberg 160 (UTD160) is 164km in length and starts in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho where it traverses 73km of high altitude terrain before joining into the UTD100 course at the top of Sani Pass.

The race will start at Sani Mountain Lodge (The Highest Pub in Africa), at 10h00 on Friday 22nd April, and head into Lesotho on a circuitous route that is almost entirely above 3000m (9842ft) in altitude. A number of high points will be passed with the highlight of these being Thabana Ntlenyana at 3482m (11424ft). Thabana Ntlenyana is the highest peak in Southern Africa and the highest point south of Kilimanjaro on the African continent. Tagging it will be a significant milestone for many of the runners.

After 73km the runners will return to the Lesotho Border Post at the top of Sani Pass. After entering South Africa, they then plunge down the first 6km of the Sani Pass and into the trail which traverses the Twelve Apostles for 6km. What follows, is a long and fast 19km descent down the Khanti Ridge to the checkpoint at the waterfall below Premier Resort Sani Pass at 100km. Here the runners will have the option of picking up their pacers.

From the waterfall it’s the short sharp climb up the Stromness before the runners turn inland into some of South Africa’s most beautiful farming country. For the next 28km there is a wide variety of terrain including forests, fast flat trail, rolling hills and lakeside running. At 130km there is the final cut-off at the Old Duck where runners can swap pacers and enjoy the relative civilisation of the Old Duck and its facilities. It’s then a fast and flat section along the Mzimkulu river with some gradual climbs before the tar crossing at the Goschen entrance. Here runners must say goodbye to their pacers and prepare for the final 25km which takes them back into the heart of the mountains.

The last 25km re-connects with the Giant’s Cup trail, deep in the World Heritage Site, and passes through Mzimkulwana Hut and Cobham which will feature the last two Aid Stations. The final descent is down the spectacular Gxalingenwa Gorge before emerging onto the Sani Pass Hotel golf course and the last few hundred meters into the Finish.

The Giant’s Cup Uncut (GCU62) is 62km in length with 2400m of vertical climb and occupies an altitude window between 1600m and 2150m. The GCU62 is a non-stop traverse of the entire Giant’s Cup Hiking Trail which is certified as a 5-day hike. The event is entirely on mountain trail and provides the runners with a uniquely pure trail running experience.

The Race Start is at the Bushmans Neck Hotel at 07h00 on Saturday morning, 23rd April. From the Start at the Bushman’s Nek Hotel the field gets a chance to spread along the short district road section before entering the head of the Giant’s Cup Trail. From here it’s immediately into the big climb up to high point of the day at Langalibalele Pass at 2,150m.

It’s then a fast-flowing descent down to the Mzimude River followed by the short climb out of the valley and the gentle drop-down into Swiman Hut at 15km. From Swiman, it’s 15km to Castleburn which includes the gradual climb along the Garden Castle ridge towards Black Eagle Pass and the technical descent of Garden Castle.

From the Castleburn Aid Station there are two river crossings in quick succession before the solid climb up to Crane Tarn. This is followed by one of the fastest sections of the course down to the Mzimkulwana Hut at 41km. Cobham follows relatively quickly 9km later and then it’s the final climb around the front of Ndlovini and the exhilarating descent down the Gxalingenwa Gorge to the finish at Sani Pass Hotel.

Ultra-Trail® Drakensberg 100 (UTD100) is 100km in length with 4,158m of vertical climb and occupies an altitude window between 1600m and 2865m.

The Race Start is at the South African Border Post on the Sani Pass road at 05h00 on Saturday morning, 23rd April. The first 13km of the race is on the dirt road of Sani Pass which allows the field to spread out before the athletes drop into the first long 25km section of mountain trail. The climb to the summit of the Sani Pass includes just over 1,000m of vertical climb in the first 8km and the runners top out on the escarpment with the sunrise at 2,865m. Runners then plunge back down the Sani Pass and into the trail which traverses the Twelve Apostles for 6km. This section is followed by a long and fast 19km descent down the Khanti Ridge to the waterfall below Premier Resort Sani Pass where runners will have the option of picking up their pacers.

From the waterfall, it’s the short and sharp climb up the Stromness before the runners turn inland into some of South Africa’s most beautiful farming country. For the next 28km there is a wide variety of terrain including forests, fast flat trail, rolling hills and lakeside running. At 65km there is the final cut-off at the Old Duck where runners can swap pacers and enjoy the relative civilisation of the Old Duck and its facilities. It’s then a fast and flat section along the Mzimkulu river with some gradual climbs before the tar crossing at the Goschen entrance. Here, runners must say goodbye to their pacers and prepare for the final 25km which takes them back into the heart of the mountains.

The last 25km re-connects with the Giant’s Cup trail deep in the World Heritage Site and passes through Mzimkulwana Hut and Cobham which will feature the last two Aid Stations. The final descent is down the spectacular Gxalingenwa Gorge before emerging onto the Sani Pass Hotel golf course and the last few hundred meters into the Finish.

The Sundowner Run (SDR32) is 32km in length with 1,200m of vertical climb and occupies an altitude window between 1,600m and 1,950m.

The Race Start is at Castleburn Farm at 13h30 on Saturday afternoon, 23rd April.

SDR32 provides runners with the unusual experience of running into the sunset and possibly the dark to provide an opportunity for many to experience night running for the first time. SDR32 participants will also have the inspiring situation of being out on the course with many of the UTD160 and UTD100 runners as they complete the final 21km of their day.

From the Start at Castleburn there are two river crossings in quick succession before the biggest climb of the day up to Crane Tarn. This is followed by a very fast section of the course down to Mzimkulwana Hut at 11km.

There is then the climb out from Mzimkulwana and the contour around the face of Siphongweni before the drop into Cobham 9km later. The final climb of the course then begins which is followed by the traverse around the front of Ndlovini and the exhilarating descent down the Gxalingenwa Gorge to the finish at Sani Pass Hotel.

The Drakensberg Rockjumper Run (DRJ21) is 21km in length with 990m of vertical climb and occupies an altitude window between 1,500m and 1,960m.

The race is circular in nature and starts and finishes at the Premier Resort Sani Pass.

The DRJ21 Starts at 7am on Saturday 23rd April. Runners head out along the Golf Course for the first 800m which allows the field to spread out before entering the trail head at the Gxalingenwa Gorge. Runner then run up this magnificent section for the next 4km before climbing out of the Gorge and onto the Giant’s Cup trail. They follow the Giants Cup Trail in reverse before exiting at 8km onto the Sani Pass Road for a brief descent down the road after which they start the big climb of the day up to Salt & Pepper.

When reaching the ridge line at Salt and Pepper, runners will experience unrivalled views of the Drakensberg in all directions before descending down a long and fast section of trail towards the hotel. There is a brief technical downhill section at the bottom of this descent before the final gentle climb towards the finish at the hotel.