Earn A Wild Card Entry For The UTi Rhodes Run in South Africa

Looking for a new challenge for 2012? Then look no further than the UTi Rhodes Run, a grueling 52km (32.3 mile) race through the beautiful Drakensberg mountains of South Africa. This year's race will take place on July 14, in the heart of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and as always, the course will wander through rough terrain that offers the potential for encounters with wild animals.

This will be the 24th edition of the Rhodes Run, and over the years, it has earned a reputation for being quite the challenge for long distance runners. As a result, the race sells out very quickly. But runners who are looking to take part in the event, but weren't able to get their application in on time, still have some hope. Athletic footwear company Inov-8 is giving away a "Wild Card" entry to the race and accommodations in the race village for the weekend of the run.

To enter the contest, all you have to do is send a photo of yourself, wearing Inov-8 shoes of course, to facebook@rebel-inc.co.za. They'll choose a winner from the entries, which will earn one lucky endurance runner a free-entry into this iconic South African race.

Find out more details on the Inov-8 Facebook page and good luck!

Solo Sailing Update: Laura Crosses Indian Ocean

Teenage solo sailor Laura Dekker completed her crossing of the Indian Ocean last week, safely arriving in Durban, South Africa. This marks the end of the third leg or her solo circumnavigation attempt, which began in August of last year.

Laura remained mostly silent about her route across the Indian Ocean in an attempt to avoid becoming a target for pirates, but reaching South Africa is another significant milestone on her journey. According to her most recent blog update, she is currently in Port Elizabeth, and will soon be sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, which should be the last of the major challenges before she turns for home. That last stretch run will have her sailing up the western coast of Africa and returning to Gibraltar where she began.

The 16-year old has now crossed the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean, and seems to be a lock for finishing her voyage safely, and thereby claiming the title as the youngest person to sail solo around the world. Laura made headlines when she announced her intentions to do just that at the age of 13, but bureaucratic  red tape kept her on dry land until she was finally able to set sail last year at the age of 14. Since then, she has been casually making her way around the planet, and seemingly having a great time doing it.

There is no word when she'll set sail again, but reading her journal entries online, Laura seems eager to get going. If the weather works in her favor, I imagine she'll brave the Cape soon enough and start final stage for home.

Win A Trip To South Africa By Starring In A Commercial

Have you always wanted to earn international fame while jet setting across the globe? Than I have just the opportunity for you. South African Tourism is looking for an American couple between the ages of 24-36, who are either married or in a committed relationship, to star in a new commercial that will air on CNN International, the BBC, and other major networks across the globe. The commercial will be a part of their new 20 Experiences in 10 Days campaign, which is designed to convince travelers that SA is a fun, adventurous, and romantic destination. The luck couple will be whisked away for an all expense paid trip to film the commercial, while also indulging in everything that South Africa has to offer. 

To apply for consideration, simply go to the Visit South Africa Facebook page and click on the very prominent banner on display there. After that, simply fill out the application form that downloads to your computer, submit it, and keep your fingers crossed. The application deadline is November 28th and if you're selected for the next round, you must be able to attend an audition in either New York or Lose Angeles in early December. The couple that is ultimately selected, must also be available to travel from January 20th - February 5th of 2012. 

While in South Africa, the winning couple will stay at luxury resorts, visit the country's famous wine country, surf and spot whales along the coast, and go on a wildlife safari. All of their adventures will be filmed of course, and eventually turned into the commercial, which will air in a number of countries around the world. 

Having visited South Africa earlier this year, I can tell you that this is a great opportunity. The country is simply spectacular and I definitely recommend it as a destination for anyone looking to mix culture, luxury and adventure. It sounds like this trip will pack in a lot of activity and give the winners a chance to really see everything the country has to offer. 

A Night Of Nine Feats

Last week, while I was off playing in the Costa Rican rainforest, my friend Lisa de Speville was hosting the third edition of the Fascinating Expedition & Adventure Talks, better known as FEAT, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

For those that aren't familiar with FEAT, it is an event that brings a group of South African adventurers together for one night to share insights into their expeditions. The format is simple, they each have exactly seven minutes to discuss a certain aspect of their adventure, making it very important that they convey their message in a succinct and coherent manner.

This was the third FEAT event so far, and more are in the works. To get a taste of what FEAT is all about, check out the video below of Kobus Bresler, who came up with the idea of creating a "microadventure" for himself, in which he would climb nine local peaks in nine days.

Mountain Biker vs. African Antelope

So you think you've had some rough days on the mountain biking trails? Check out the video below in which rider Evan van der Spuy of South Africa literally gets bowled over by a red hartbeest, a type of antelope, that according to the Adventure Journal, can grow to be in excess of 300 pounds and run at 40 miles per hour.

This encounter took place near Albert Falls Dam in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Fortunately, Evan came away with just a sore neck, but had to go to the hospital to be checked-out none the less. He did have his helmet broken in the encounter as well.

So what't the wildest thing you've come across out on the trail? I've encountered a few deer on occasion, but that's about it. They've mostly left me alone though, and fortunately didn't decided that I was a mate that they wanted to chase down.

Video: 2011 Put Foot Rally!

Way back in March I told you about the Put Foot Rally, a driving adventure that sent teams on a 17-day, 7000km (4350 mile) journey through seven countries in Africa. The rally was designed to not only operate as a fundraiser for the Bobs For Good Foundation, an organization that delivers new shoes to underprivileged children, but also demonstrate that Africa is a safe and wondrous place to travel.

The inaugural Put Foot took place between June 21st and July 7 of this year, and was a huge success. So much so, that registration is already open for 2012, which will run from June 20-July 6. To get a taste of what the event is all about, check out the video below. It is 15 minutes in length, but not only captures the spirit of the rally, and the people who took part, but also plenty of beautiful scenes from the countries they visited along the way.

This looks simply amazing. Its no secret that I love Africa, and the Put Foot Rally looks like a fantastic way to see the continent and have a lot of fun doing it.


Put Foot Rally 2011 from D4 Productions on Vimeo.

Motorcycling Solo Around Africa: Jolandie Gets A New Mode Of Transportation and Sponsor

A few weeks back I posted a story about Jolandie Rust, the adventurous South African woman who had set out to cycle around the Africa. At the time, she had been held-up in Angola and someone stole her bike and most of the rest of her gear. Since then, she's briefly returned home, but is now eager to get back on the road, albeit with a different mode of transportation.

A few days ago, Jolandie announced on her blog that she would be foregoing her plans to circumnavigate Africa on a bicycle in favor of doing it on a motorcycle instead. She'll still be traveling solo and still hopes to become the first woman to complete this journey, but her mode of transportation has changed. Obviously this means she'll be able to travel much faster than on a bike, but she'll also have to be cognizant of where she can get fuel as well. At the moment, she's working out all the details and doesn't have a date in mind as to when she'll restart the journey, but she seems as determined as ever to reach her goal.

In addition to having a different method of transportation, Jolandie has also picked up a new sponsor as well. The Government of Angola, along with their Tourism Ministry, has agreed to become her primary sponsor for the expedition. It seems that the country, and its people, have really stepped up to help Rust in her time of need, and their support will allow her to continue her adventure soon.

So, look for more information on her blog soon. Despite the change in vehicles, there are still plenty of African adventures ahead.

Third Edition of FEAT Takes Place October 6

The next edition of FEAT, the fantastic mash-up of an adventure film festival and TED Talks, featuring some of the top adventurers from South Africa is set to take place on October 6th in the the Alexander Theatre in Johannesburg. The format for the latest FEAT, which stands for Fascinating Expedition & Adventure Talks, remains the same. All speakers are given exactly seven minutes to convey some message about their experiences and the lessons they've learned on their adventures.

You'll find a complete list of the speakers for the Braamfontein event by clicking here. Amongst those scheduled to appear are big wave surfer Grant ‘Twig’ Baker, climber Andy de Klerk, and adventure meteorologist Simon Gear. The entire program is expected to last about 2.5 hours and promises to be "The Ultimate Armchair Adventure Experience."

Tickets for the event are still available through Computicket and are selling for R140.00.

One of these days I'm going to get the opportunity to attend FEAT. I was in South Africa this past spring when the Cape Town edition of FEAT took place, but my schedule didn't allow me to attend the event. I love the format and it sounds like it would be a fun evening with a lot of like minded people. Congratulations to my friend Lisa de Speville for not only coming up with the concept, but also finding a way to make it such a big success. Well done!

And just how inspiring are the FEAT talks? After watching one of the videos from FEAT Cape Town, Lisa's 59-year old mother decided to go on an adventure of her own. Not only did she start training right away, she flew off to Spain to hike the El Camino de Santiago trail. That should be an inspiration to us all that it is never too late to add some adventure into our own lives.

Watch The Expedition Africa Adventure Race Online

Back in early May, the Expedition Africa adventure race took place in South Africa. The 500km long event sent teams of four out into the bush on one of the most challenging course in AR this season. In the end, Team Merrell Adventure Addicts claimed victory after 63-hours of racing. They were shadowed throughout the race by a camera crew, and the video of their race is now available for fans of adventure racing everywhere.

The video, which you'll find below, was produced by D4 Productions, a company that specializes in filming outdoor endurance events such as EA. Of course, the only way to film an adventure race is to get out there and do it yourself, carrying a camera with you the whole time no less. As you can see from the video, this was no easy task for the athletes or the crew that followed them.

Make sure you have plenty of time to watch, as the video is 52+ minutes in length. Kick off your shoes and get comfortable for this one, it's worth the time.


2011 Merrell Adventure Addicts @ Expedition Africa from D4 Productions on Vimeo.

Adventurer Prepares To Circumnavigate The Globe Via The Poles

South African adventurer Ray Chaplin hopes to circumnavigate the globe, under his own power no less, in just 80 weeks. But even more impressive is that he will do so via both Poles, and not traveling around the planet in a east-west direction as is typical for these kinds of expeditions. If successful, he'll be the first person to circle the globe in this direction and manner.

Ray has named his expedition SHOVA360, and plans to get underway in August from Table Mountain, in Cape Town. He has broken down the journey into stages, with the first stage covering Africa as he travels north. From there, it is on to the Middle East, then Europe, before moving into the Arctic. If all goes according to plan, he'll pass through the North Pole and begin heading south once again at long last. The next stage of his journey will take him across North and South America, then a crossing into the Antarctic, followed by a traverse of that continent. When he's done there, he'll cross the Southern Ocean back to South Africa, and return home. Remember, he wants to do all of this in 80 weeks, which is fairly ambitious all things considered.

Since he's also doing all of those miles under his own power, that means he'll either be trekking, skiing, or pedaling while on land and paddling, either in a kayak or boat, while at sea. Along the way, Ray hopes to stop at more than 200 World Heritage Sites, while covering more than 66,000km (41,010 miles).

Update: For those wondering the source of this story, I came across it in a link from the Explorers Club tweets yesterday. The original article can be found here. Obviously there are a few discrepancies on Ray's website, and as I've noted, his scheduled of going around the world in 80 weeks seems rather ambitious, but I wanted everyone to be aware of where I found this story.

FEAT Announces First Ever FEAT Awards

Regular readers have heard me mention FEAT multiple times on this blog.  It is the fantastic new program that launched last fall in Johannesburg, South Africa with a second event held in Cape Town this past February. FEAT stands for Fascinating Expedition and Adventure Talks, and true to its name, both shows featured South African adventurers given exactly seven minutes to share their experiences with the audience. FEAT was such a success in its inaugural season that there are already plans afoot to expand it in the future, but organizers for the event have made an exciting new announcement that will sure to please other aspiring South African adventurers.

A few days ago FEAT announced the first ever FEAT Awards which are designed to help allow recipients to chase after their adventurous dream, no matter what it is. The application is open to adventurers of all ages and their expedition can be of any length or go to any location. The one stipulation is that they must be South African (Sorry everyone else!) and the adventure must be undertaken by non-motorized means. The award winners will receive R10,000 (About $1500) to help fund their adventure.

FEAT founder Lisa de Speville says, “There are some really good adventurous concepts out there but cash is often a major limitation and so these adventures go un-attempted.” She wants to help change that through the FEAT awards, and some lucky South African is going to get a nice boost to help fund their plans.

It seems that FEAT is just continuing to expand and grow. When I first heard about the concept last year, I thought it was brilliant, and was excited to hear that the first event went so well. That was followed up with another successful show in Cape Town a few months ago, and it seems that FEAT has a lot of momentum going for it right now. The awards are just another great way to tap into an already thriving adventure community that exists in South Africa, and perhaps someone will get an opportunity they wouldn't normally have thanks to some funding from FEAT.

Major congratulations to my friend Lisa for launching this fantastic program and turning it into a resounding success so quickly. Hopefully I'll get the opportunity to see you at a future FEAT event! :)

Training To Be A Safari Guide In South Africa

As many of you know, back in early February I was off to South Africa for a quick adventure. While I was there, I visited the Makuleke Concession, located inside Kruger National Park, where I stayed at a training camp for new safari guides. The camp was run by a company called EcoTraining, which has built itself a reputation for turning out the best prepared and most qualified guides in all of Africa, and as a result, their students are in demand in a number of countries there. Over the course of a week, I was lucky enough to observe that training, while getting to explore parts of Kruger. I shared some of those experiences this morning on a piece that I posted on Gadling that you can read by clicking here.

Essentially, EcoTraining gives anyone with the interest an opportunity to become an African safari guide. They teach them everything they need to know, and then some, and offer a number of extra course to help sharpen their skills and build more specialized experience. Most of the students take a 28-day course that gives them the basics, such as driving a safari vehicle while spotting game, identify the various creatures they see, learning to track those creatures on foot, and so on. They also learn how to handle a rifle (Very important when traveling on foot in the bush!), basic first aid, orienteering and navigation skills, and much more.

After completing the 28-day course, most of the students will head off to work as a guide somewhere, and while the have the basic skills, they still lack experience in the field. That comes over time of course, but they can also pick up some of that experience through EcoTraining's other course, which range in length from 4-7 days and focus on such topics as birding, advanced tracking, and so on. For those who want to go all out, there is also a yearlong course that will turn out a fully qualified guide, ready to start leading game drives in the African wilderness.

What I found interesting was the diversity of people who were taking the course to become a guide. There were an equal number of men and women in the camp, and ages ranged from as young as 19 all the way up to late 50's. They were each there for their own personal reasons, but they shared a love of the outdoors, a fascination with wildlife, and desire to see the natural wonders of Africa. The students were all very dedicated, studying hard when ever they had down time, but also had big personalities that would serve them well when dealing with their future clients.

One of the best aspects about the trip for me was getting to go on game drives with the students and their instructors. The wilderness treks on foot were especially fun, as you had the potential to encounter any number of creatures face to face. That put an element of danger in the situation which you don't get while on safari in a vehicle. On our walks we spotted buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, warthogs, elephants, and more. And while we heard lions around us, we didn't encounter one directly. They are common just outside of camp though, and one of the instructors came across a pride while on his daily run one afternoon.

As you can probably gather, the wildlife in Kruger is spectacular, and one of the highlights of any visit to the region. Elephants were especially in abundance, traveling in large breeding herds, and often acting aggressively to us infringing on their space. At one point, when were driving back to the camp from visiting a nearby village, we actually came across a big bull on the road. He was none too happy to see us, and actually charged the small van we were driving in. Thankfully, our driver was skilled enough to avoid him, but it was a rather close call.

Speaking of the camp, it made for quite a setting as well. It was extremely eco-friendly, with no electricity in our tents, although we did have running water, a shower, and a proper toilet. Those are luxuries on a trip like this one as far as I'm concerned, and while I'm use to going a few days without a shower, it was nice to be able to take one on a nightly basis none the less.

The tents were large and spacious, and propped up off the ground on a stilted platform. That allowed for animals to come and go without disruption, and it was not uncommon to hear things moving around us in the night. Our first morning there we were also awoken by the roars of lions not far off, which is the way every African morning should begin!

I intend to write more about the trip, both here and on Gadling, over the next week or two. There were a number of great experience to be had and would love to share them with everyone. Kruger is a fantastic destination and a top spot for someone wanting to go on safari. It was very different from my trip to the Serengeti a few years back, and if you've already been there, you may consider a second safari in South Africa as well.

Cape Town Edition Of FEAT A Big Success

Back in October I posted about an event called FEAT (which stands for Fascinating Expedition & Adventure Talks) that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. FEAT was billed as TED Talks for the outdoor crowd, featuring 12 South African adventurers who were given exactly seven minutes each to share an aspect of their expeditions with the audience.

The Jo'burg event was such a hit, that it spawned a second edition that took place in Cape Town on February 12, and by all accounts that show was a fantastic success as well. Amongst the speakers at this second edition of FEAT were freediver Hanli Prinsloo, Pete van Kets, who has rowed the Atlantic Ocean, and long distance runner Braam Malherbe, who ran the entire length of the Great Wall of China.

FEAT is now building into a yearly event in SA, and plans are already in motion to expand it with a film festival in 2011. It seems that all involved had a fantastic time, and I'm just disappointed that my schedule didn't allow for me to stay in the country and attend while I was in South Africa earlier this month. It seems that it was another really great evening of discussions based around my favorite subject – adventure!

Check out a bit of what happened at FEAT Cape Town in the video below and  visit the FEAT website over the coming days to catch even more highlights and videos form the illustrious group of adventurers who spoke that night. It's the next best thing to being there.

Adventures in South Africa

So I've been home from South Africa for nearly a week, and I haven't had much of a chance to share my experiences from while I was there. You'll definitely be hearing a lot more about my time in SA in the days ahead, as I will be writing a number of stories about what I did there. Of course, I visited Kruger National Park, one of the greatest places in the world to spot wild animals, and while we did go on game drives, I wasn't there to go on safari per se. In fact, I was actually there to learn how safari guides are trained and to observe the process of how they are evaluated so that they can take us out into the field in a safe, fun, and educational manner. I spent five days at the Makuleke Camp, operated by Eco-Training, watching potential guides of all ages be put through their paces as they worked towards certification and eventual opportunity to go to work in field in a number of countries across Africa.

Like I said, you'll hear much more about that in the days to come as I start to write stories about the training process. But I'll also share some thoughts on Kruger itself, the amazing creatures that live there, and some of the unbelievable experiences I had there. I'll even share the storyof the Makuleke Tribe, who were forced off their land back in 1969, but had it restored to them in the 90's. Part of that land falls within Kruger, which has made for a unique opportunity for the tribe and an unusual relationship between them, the South African government, and safari companies that operate within that area.

For now, I've put together a photo gallery with a few images from the trip. You can access them by clicking here. They give a bit of insight into what it was like for me there. I hope you enjoy, and stay tuned for much more.

International Multi-Day Adventure Race Calendar Goes Live!

Are you wondering what expedition length races are on the adventure racing schedule for 2011? Looking for a race for you and your team to compete in? Than look no further than this AR Calendar created by South African endurance athlete, writer, and all-aroud amazing gal Lisa de Speville.

It is no secret that adventure racing seems to be on the rise once again, with great races of various lengths taking place all across the globe. It is difficult to keep track of all of the big events that are going on each month, and Lisa's new calendar is the best resource I've seen for keeping track of just where and when the multi-day races are taking place. Lisa not only lists the dates and locations of the race however, as she also offers up the length of the course, disciplines that will be included, costs of entry, and more. This is definitely a great resource for teams deciding when they'll be racing in the months ahead.

If you're a race director, and you don't see your race on the list, you'll definitely want to let Lisa know. She can be contacted at: lisa@ar.co.za and she'll want the following information to get your race on the calendar:

• Town, Country
• Date
• Name of event
• Distance and/or duration
• Disciplines
• Non-stop or staged (if staged, how many days)
• Team format (solo, pairs, 4's etc)
• Assisted or unassisted
• Entry fee per team or per person
• Prize (only prize for 1st place)
• Note (any special information you would like mentioned)
• Contact (name, email, website)

And when your'e done browsing the calendar, give Lisa's whole AR website a look. It is also an excellent resource for racers both new to the sport and experienced. 

Great job Lisa!