ADVENTURE CONCEPT
- What is Adventure Racing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=occW94DgWT4&t=17s
- Adventure racing is a multi-discipline endurance sport where competitors compete in teams, navigating from control point to control point in a number of disciplines.
- Disciplines include: mountain biking, trekking, kayaking and orienteering.
- Teams are expected to navigate using a map and landmarks.
- Teams must be able to operate in harsh remote environments in all weather conditions.
- Teams travel throughout the night. They can decide if, when and where to rest.
- The first team to complete the whole course, with all the control points visited will be declared the winner.
- Teams are required to complete the entire distance together (always within hearing and visual distance of each other), helping and assisting each other.
- Teamwork and team dynamics are essential. A detailed understanding of your teammates and of your own capabilities is essential.
Expedition Africa will take place on the unique island of Rodrigues in September 2019.
The event will take place from 29 August to 8 September 2019.
All teams are to arrive in Rodrigues no later than Thursday 29 August.
Teams must check their bicycles in at the Rodrigues terminal and then take the transfer flight to Rodrigues Island.
The Cycles boxes will not be transported with teams, it will be transported separately
Bicycles can be transported in cycle bags or cycle boxes to Mauritius. Theses boxes/bags will not be used during the event. All bicycles will be transported on a cargo plane to Rodrigues, where teams will receive their bicycles on Saturday 1 September.
Expedition Africa 2019 will be a unique race course concept, a first of its kind. The entire race will be made up of one continuous leg, NO “transitions” and NO outside support.
Only teams of 4 will be able to enter this race.
4 nights’ free accommodation will be provided for team members. Thursday night 29 August accommodation will be for the teams own cost.
A local boat will be supplied to each team. This boat will be the team’s “mobile transition”.
Single blade paddles must be supplied by team members.
This boat will be used by the teams to move around the course. All bicycles, clothing, equipment, food, water and other re-supply items will be stored on this boat.
Planning and preparation for the 3 - 5 day journey/race around the island will be the sole responsibility of each team. This will include items such as tents/shelters, gas stoves, cooking utensils etc. to ensure this is an exclusively self-reliant race.
Teams will have to report to 30 Transitions scattered around the main island and numerous surrounding islands. At each Transition teams will receive a map with control points on it.
The control points will be placed in various locations on the island.
Caving Points
Underwater Points
Mountain bike Points
Rope Work Points
Paddling Points
Sailing Points
Trek Points
A distance of 320 km will be covered with the fastest team expected to take around 3 days and the last team 5 to 6 days.
Approximately 61 km paddle, 145 km mountain biking, 114 km trekking.
The opening ceremony and flag parade will be held in the capital of Isle de Rodrigues, Port Mathurin, whilst the closing ceremony promises to be an entertaining beach party.
Islands are awesome spots for a holiday, but who else can offer you an Island holiday and a unique adventure race in one trip- Expedition Africa 2019!
EA2019 will be the ideal race for the whole family, let them experience the world of adventure racing on an idyllic tropical Island. The Island of Rodrigues offers supporters an easily accessible route from which to spectate and will almost always be within just a short distance from one of the many varied and available accommodation options.
For a most unforgettable Expedition Africa experience join us on this island adventure.
Expedition Africa 2018 officially supports the Comite d'Action Rodriguais d'Etudes et Protection des Tortues Marines .
Follow the link below to donate.
Donate Now
All Expedition Africa Island of Rodrigues 2019 participants are encouraged to add a Environmental Project fundraising angle to your expedition experience!
Get started in 5 minutes:
- Click on "Fundraise" below to view our official Teams fundraising leaderboard, then click on "Start fundraising".
- Register & select your preferred charity as registered on the GivenGain platform. (Your charity not yet on GivenGain? Have them apply for a free charity account at https://www.givengain.com/list/)
- Set up your fundraising project and when done, share your project via email and social media with your friends, family and colleagues to get some donations going!
Meet the Team
Heidi and Stephan Muller
Anton Muller
Anton Muller has been assisting Kinetic Events with their GPS tracking and live race websites for the past 8 years. Anton lives in Perth, Australia with his wife and 3 children. He usually joins us for the major races and manages the smaller races remotely from Australia. For those have not previously met Anton, he is actually Stephan's (slightly) older brother. In the real world, Anton works as an IT Analyst, specializing in Data Analytics. He is also a very keen cyclist, regularly competing in mountain & road races.
Simon Faragher
Thrill seeking, gadgets galore techno junkie. Mastermind of Elevated Adventure Films. The ‘quietly gets on with it behind the scenes’ guy of the team. Elevated Adventure Films has been filming all the promo and event videos of Expedition Africa and Expedition India for the last few years and understand and love the complexity of adventure filming!
Sharla Faragher
That friend that everyone has, unapologetically loud, loving and only slightly in your face… the ‘voice and maybe a bit bossy’ gal of the team. Also known as the Presenter of the Expedition Africa and India videos! The interviewer who ask you all the questions while you can’t breathe or really answer! Get the job done person!
Dewald v Tonder
A bearded, funny, excitable, wine loving meat eater…the ‘other quiet guy behind the scenes’ of the team. The one who either run after teams or sits the whole night behind the screens to edit. The tech savvy guy you want to have as a friend.
Ian Sime
The Expedition Africa film crew noob…red haired laugh out loud kinda guy..the ‘will stalk you all throughout the race’ guy of the team. Ian loves to braai, spending time with friends and filming you when you are not watching…
Bruce Viaene
Bruce Viaene is an Adventure and Sports photographer based in East London, South Africa. He aims to capture the atmosphere and essence of each event and lifestyle client on both national and international platforms. Bruce has been the official photographer for Expedition Africa for 7 years.
Trystan Viaene
Trystan Viaene is a media and communications specialist, based in East London, South Africa. Since founding Hype PR in 2014, Adventure Racing has been a significant feature in the companies work in terms of generating credible and dynamic exposure for adventure based clients in terms of media releases, social media and media team management.
Terence Vrugtman
Terence Vrugtman is a dynamic Photographer and Media & Communications Personality within the outdoor and adventure sports world!
Hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, Terence has forged a name for himself in the industry. He is both a National and an International photographer and is highly sort after. Through the lens of his camera, he captures the essence of his clients, event or sport, focussing not only on what the person has to offer but the atmosphere and surroundings around the event and/or person.
AdventureLife Media Services is well known for its coverage of Adventure Sports, generating incredible exposure and educating the general public on the dynamics and excitement within the sport. Terence’s love and passion for the outdoors and participation in this lifestyle spills over into his photography and documentation of these events, and the atmosphere of Adventure Sports and its contestants never leave the public lacking in imagination as to what is happening out in the “field” when those mountains are turned into beasts and feet are blistered and sore!
Jacques Marais
Jacques Marais rates as one of South Africa’s most respected adventure photojournalists, and has been writing about and photographing action sports around the world for more than three decades. He is an elected ambassador for a range of premium imaging and sporting brands, including SONY XPERIA, GIANT BIKES, SPOT AFRICA, FRONT RUNNER AND PEAK DESIGN. He has also authored more than a dozen outdoor guidebooks, is an award-winning GETTY photographer and regularly contributes feature articles to premium international publications.
Craig Giese
Craig Giese is an Outdoor Adventure Photographer and Media Content Developer based in East London, South Africa.
He has a passion for the outdoors, caring for the environment and is inspired by nature.
“Adventure is all around us. We just need to go and
He loves any adventure based activities, exploring big mountains and capturing special moments from his adventures.
He has worked with Kinetic Events on Expedition India (2017, 2019) and this will be his 2nd Expedition Africa Event and is looking forward to exploring the magnificent Island of Rodrigues.
Favourite Adventure quote
“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Adam Rose
Reporting for Sleepmonsters.com, Adam Rose is an adventure racing addict, whether grinding it out in the mud or hiking over a mountain, reporting on teams doing the same, or simply dot watching from his cave. He is super stoked to be returning to cover Expedition Africa 2019, and hopes to do the teams justice in covering their epic adventure. If seen babbling incoherently out in the wilds of Rodrigues, feed him coffee and a sound bite, and point him in the direction of a power source - sleep deprivation doesn't only effect the racers.
Kirsten Oliver
Kirsten is a freelance photographer addicted to photographing adventure races and other events that showcase the relationship of people and the beautiful world around them. She delights in chasing after Adventure teams in wild terrains across the globe to capture the essence of their journey for the world to enjoy. Kirsten has photographed a number of adventure racing expeditions from Raid in France to Expedition Africa and India. In 2019 she will be traveling to Scandinavia once again to shoot for the Nordic Islands Adventure Race before returning South for Expedition Africa Rodrigues a few months later. Watch out for images encapsulating adventure racers exploring some of the most unique and spectacular places in the world."
Simon
Simon is a part owner and director of Synige MedX (Pronounced, Synergy MedX). He is a qualified Advanced Life Support Paramedic whose passion is providing medical support to events and projects in remote and challenging environments.
Simon's experience has taken him to many remote and interesting places on the planet in support of a diverse range of activities on land, at sea and in the air. He has been supporting the Kinetic Brand since 2015. He views support from a wholistic perspective. The means that while while patient care is important, prevention plays a key part, this can be as simple as making coffee, and unloading trailers or as complex as assisting in search and rescue. Simon is also a Husband to an amazing Wife and Father to two boys who he loves to include in his adventures.
FIND A TEAM
If you want to join an existing team, create a new team or are looking for members to fill up your team, contact us at bio@netactive.co.za and we will list your contact details below:
-
Monica Taylor (32). wants to join a team Contact: monicat@hotmail.co.za
- Keen to join a competitive team. please call to discuss experience and goals. Contact Rob Crichton at 082 778 9512 or robcrichton@gmail.com
-
UK based team, looking to sell their team entry. Yolande Mirza. mcloudyekke@yahoo.co.uk. +44 78 9055 7885
-
Shirley Redman are available to join a team. Contact: corral@mweb.co.za. Have walked the Camino, climbed Kilimanjaro, off road from Jhb to Durban, lots of local hikes. Love to compete for the adventure and experience. Very determined and love the outdoors. Not scared of any challenges.
ONLINE ENTRY
ENTRY PROCEDURE
-
Please contact bio@netactive.co.za for more information.
-
Team member substitutions can still be made until 31 July 2019. No charge for the substitutions.
ENTRY FEE INCLUDES
-
A full service Expedition Adventure which forms part of the Adventure Racing World Series.
-
4 nights accommodation in the resort of the team choice (see accommodation tab for details). Friday 30 August, Saturday 31 August, Friday 6 September, Saturday 7 September.
-
Team Logistical support.
-
An Expedition Africa 2019 Rodriques garment and hat.
-
Race Bib
-
Awards ceremony dinner.
-
Local boat for the team.
-
Spot Live tracking of teams progress.
-
Medical backup.
-
Local hand made trophy.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
Teams may cancel their entry at any stage by e-mailing the event organizers. No refunds are applicable at any stage.
- Teams are not permitted to transfer their fees paid to future editions of Expedition Africa if they are not able to make this edition of the event.
-
Teams are permitted to transfer or sell their entry to another team if available. This will be a transaction between the teams. Teams must notify Expedition Africa as soon as possible in the case of a team entry being transferred or sold.
-
If two teams do not have sufficient members and decide to join together, this will be strictly considered as one team cancelling their entry. Refund policy will be as stated above, no exceptions.
-
If the race is cancelled due to acts of god, natural disasters, terrorism or other reasons etc., the organizers will make every effort to refund as much of the entry fee as possible to all teams. However, all teams should be aware that any refunds will be made after event costs have been taken into consideration. Given the high number of fixed costs associated with organizing the race teams should also be aware that any refund is likely to be minimal. The race will not be re-scheduled.
LOCATION INFORMATION
-
The location will be the island of Rodriques
-
Race HQ is Cocotiers hotel: www.cocotiers-hotel-mauritius.com / on webpage click on Cocotiers Rodrigues
-
Teams can book their flights on Air Mauritius to Mauritius and the connecting flight to Island of Rodriques. Email for flight tickets are email: Remy Caroline: remycaro89@gmail.com
Rodrigues Island
General information
Rodrigues is a remote little island 650 km east of Mauritius in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Measuring only 18 km in length and 8 km at its widest point Rodrigues is entirely surrounded by coral reefs offering world-class diving and snorkeling.
Rodrigues Island, named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius.
Rodrigues is a place that is strikingly beautiful. The island is hilly with lot of flora and has a lot of beaches and tiny islands around it, such as Ile aux Cocos.
Its highest peak is Mont Limon, which reaches 395 meters. The rest of the island is made of basaltic rock and along the coastlines (total length of 78km) there are numerous coves and creeks and high cliffs.
The landscapes vary from hilly lands to steep volcanic hills standing up as basaltic organ pipes. Its coasts are made of wild creeks, marvelous sandy beaches and coral reefs, surrounded by small islets. The lagoon and coral reefs of Rodrigues are twice the area of the islands and are very rich and full of marine life.
Rodrigues is a well preserved island where people live simply and where those who want to go 'off the beaten track' should stay for a few days.
Time seems to stand still on Rodrigues.
Its charm and simple unhurried pace of life attract celebrities from around the world who come to enjoy the island's tranquility and natural beauty.
Those who enjoy nature’s beauty will be mesmerized on seeing the scenic beauty of this peaceful island. The tropical vegetation of the region is extremely enchanting.
Natural history
Rodrigues is a volcanic island rising from a ridge along the edge of the Mascarene Plateau. The island estimated to be 1-4 million years old.
Over time Rodrigues has developed a unique environment, including many endemic species: 42 species of trees; the Rodrigues Fruit Bat; two species of bird-the Rodrigues fody and the Rodrigues warbler; and on the reef a species of coral, two species of damselfish and many new species of crustaceans.
Other endemic animals such as Rodrigues giant tortoises and Rodrigues Solitaires are now extinct.
The coral reef of Rodrigues is of a particular interest as it is self-seeding - it receives no coral zooplankton from elsewhere. This has led to the development of the endemic coral and a small number of species being present.
Population
With its 38 000 inhabitants Rodrigues is very authentic. The particular charm of the island comes mainly from the calm and harmonious lifestyle of its inhabitants. Kindness and simplicity are the principal traits of the Rodriguans.