EXPEDITION CONCEPT
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Expedition Africa is part of the Adventure Racing World Series http://arworldseries.com/
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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.
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Disciplines include: mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, rope work 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.
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Teams travel through day and night, they can decide if, when and where to rest.
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The first team to complete all the Expedition legs and visiting all the control points will be declared the winner.
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Teams are required to complete the entire Expedition distance together (always within hearing and visual distance of each other), helping and assisting each other.
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Teamwork and team dynamics are essential. A detailed understanding of your team mates and your own capabilities is essential.
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See the video and photo section for live footage and images of past Expedition Africa's
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.
ONLINE ENTRY
- Click here >>
ENTRY PROCEDURE
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A completed online entry form with at least one team member details to secure a provisional entry.
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There is 50 team spots available for Expedition Africa 2018.
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Closing date for entries 19 March 2018. An on-line entry and full payment required before this date.
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Accommodation will be allocated as entry is completed and fully paid. See Host resorts tab.
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Teams may pay via EFT or with a PayPal transfer. If you want to make use of PayPal, let us know and we will mail you a payment request. A 5% handling fee will be added to a PayPal payment.
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E-Mail proof of payment to bio@netactive.co.za
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Team member substitutions can still be made until 30 April 2018. No charge for the substitutions.
ENTRY FEE
Entry fee 15 August 2017 to 15 October 2017: R 40 000 - per team of four
Entry fee 15 October 2017 to 19 March 2018: R 44 000 - per team of four
R 30 000 - per team of two
R = South African Rand
ENTRY FEE INCLUDES
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A full service Expedition Adventure which forms part of the Adventure Racing World Series.
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4 nights accommodation in our various host resorts. Friday 18 May, Saturday 19 May, Friday 25 May, Saturday 26 May. See Host resorts tab for details.
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Team Logistical support.
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An Expedition Africa garment and a race Bib
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Awards ceremony dinner.
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Kayaks and paddles for the team.
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Kayak bag.
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Re-supply boxes.
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Cardboard cycle boxes. (if needed)
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Spot Live tracking of teams progress.
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Medical backup.
BANKING DETAILS
South African Bank Details: (South African Rand Account)
- S. Muller
- Standard Bank
- Bank branch code 001255
- Rivonia Road, Johannesburg, 2128
- Account number 420 104 496
- Swift code SBZAZAJJ
- Bank phone number: 0860 101 341
- Receiver details: S Muller. 10 Lindsay Lane, Rivonia, Gauteng 2128
International Bank details: (UK Pounds account)
- H Muller
- Barclays International
- Current Account
- IBAN: GB82BARC20267573719979
- Swift code: BARCGB22
- Account no: 73719979
- Sort code: 202675
- 25 Circular Road, Eagle Court, Douglas, IoM, IM99 1RH
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
HOST RESORT
- Race HQ and main Host Resort will be the Letsatsi Lodge in Vanrhynsdorp, Namaqua West-coast
- Teams will be allocated accommodation in 7 different resorts. See accommodation allocation tab below.
- Teams will check out Sunday morning before event start.
- Rooms need to be left empty when Expedition starts.
- A secure room will be provided to leave extra equipment for the duration of the Expedition.
- We recommend teams to arrive on Thursday or before. Your Expedition experience and outcome will be enhanced if you arrive earlier.
- A special accommodation rate has been negotiated to make an early arrival financially viable.
- Teams or team members who withdraw during the event will remain at the closest transition to point of withdrawal. These competitors will be collected a.s.a.p. and be returned to the Resort.
- All extra nights' accommodation is for the teams own account.
- Free Wi-Fi will be available at most resorts.
- Shuttles will be provide to the town of Vredendal supermarket to purchase supplies.
ACCOMMODATION ALLOCATING INFORMATION
Fully paid up teams will be booked in to accommodation as below:
- Teams 1 to 13: Letsatsi Lodge. Self catering units.
- Teams 14 to 21: Vanrhynsdorp Self Catering Resort.
- Teams 22 to 40: Namaqualand Country Lodge.
- Teams 41 to 43: Van Rhyn Guesthouse.
- Teams 44 to 48: Lombards.
- Teams 49: Aan't Dorpseind.
- Teams 50: Clear View Oasis Quest Farm.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
- Free transfers from and to Cape Town International on Thursday 17 May 2018 at 13h00 and return on Sunday 27 May 2018.
- All other airport transfers for team own cost. Contact .......
DATES & TIMES
18 May to 27 May 2018
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Friday 18 May 9h00: Team Registration and Team equipment inspection
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Friday 18 May 13h00: Opening ceremony, Team introduction, Expedition book hand out and route briefing.
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Friday 18 May 15h00: Shuttle to Vredendal supermarkets for supplies
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Friday 18 May 15h00: Media briefing.
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Friday 18 May 17h00: Volunteer briefing
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Saturday 19 May 8h00 to 12h00: Community project.
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Saturday 19 May 13h00: Shuttle to Vredendal supermarkets for supplies
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Saturday 19 May 16h00: Questions and answers
- Saturday 19 May 18h00: Packed cycle box and kayak bag hand in.
DISTANCE AND ROUTE
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The expedition will cover approx 550 km. Winning team 72 hours (sleep excluded), last team six days.
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Route will consist of 9 legs with 8 transitions. A cut-off at the last Transition on Saturday morning 06h00 will be enforced for slower teams to be re-routed
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Mountain biking 60 %
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Trekking 25%
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Kayaking 15%
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More accurate distances of individual legs will be released at registration and at Expedition briefing.
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All teams will be able to finish before Saturday night awards ceremony
DISCIPLINES
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Mountain biking – teams should be prepared for a range of riding including single track, steep hills, gravel roads and sealed roads.
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Trekking – will involve travelling by foot through rugged and diverse terrain.
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Kayaking – kayaks will be provided by race organisers. Kayaking will be on tidal rivers and lakes. No kayaking dark zones.
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Orienteering – orienteering is an extremely important part of the race. The course is not marked and teams are required to navigate using maps.
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Rope work
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Swimming - teams might be required to cross rivers
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Canyoneering - teams need to be able to travel in canyons using a variety of techniques that may include activities such as walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping and swimming
TRANSITIONS
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There will be 8 transitions.
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Most transitions will have boiling water.
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All transitions will have drinking water.
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Most transitions will have power.
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New maps and race instructions will be issued at transitions.
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Tents/rooms/halls with mattresses will be available at some transitions for sleeping. (Details to be supplied at briefing).
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Some transitions will have a restaurant on site. (Details to be supplied at briefing)
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Some transitions are based in resorts, teams who wish, can check into rooms at their own cost if they want to upgrade their sleeping experience.
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A detailed summary of transitions will be outlined in the Expedition book handed out at Briefing.
MAPS
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Maps supplied will be 1:50 000 topographical maps.
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Teams will copy route on to maps from a master map as Expedition progresses. Information on this will be given at briefing.
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Google maps may also be supplied for navigation on certain legs.
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Waterproofing of maps is essential.
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Stationary to prepare route on map is needed. Different colours pens, sellotape, scissors etc. Two sets to be placed in both re-supply boxes.
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Maps will not be replaced if team misplaces maps.
CYCLE BOXES
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The use of cycle boxes makes it easier for teams to compete on an even playing field.
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Cycles boxes will be transported by the organizers.
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Teams can use their own cycle boxes, not to be bigger than measurements below.
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Teams must indicate on their entry form if they need the organizers to provide them with cycle boxes.
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Organizers cardboard cycle boxes - 154 cm long * 100 cm high * 40 cm wide.
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Teams who uses organizers boxes must provide sufficient packing tape to strengthen, seal and reseal cycle boxes, teams must supply their own tape. Two rolls of tape per competitor, one to strengthen box before expedition start and one to be kept in box during event for repairs. Padding for the inside of the boxes to prevent damage to cycles can also be provided by teams.
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Teams who use organizers boxes must provide own waterproofing material.
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No food or water to be stored in cycle boxes at any time.
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Organizers will move these boxes to various points on the course.
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Boxes will be available at designated transition areas somewhere on route. Cycles need to be packed in and out of these boxes at designated transitions. More info on these areas will be in the Expedition book.
RE-SUPPLY BOXES
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The use of re-supply boxes make it easier for teams to compete on an even playing field.
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The organizers will provide TWO re-supply boxes per team.
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Re-supply boxes - 160 liter. (88 cm long, 43 cm wide, 40 cm high)
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Only boxes supplied by the organizers may be used, teams can't use their own re-supply boxes.
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Re-supply boxes will be a plastic box with a lid. Each re-supply box must be secured with two cable ties at all times.
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No water to be stored in re-supply boxes at any time.
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Organizers will move these boxes to various points on the course.
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Boxes will be available at designated transition areas somewhere on route. More info on these areas will be in the expedition book
COMPETENCY REQUIRED
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At least two members of the team must be capable of navigating by compass and map during the day and night. The team must be able to orientate a map, identify grid references on a map, take a bearing between two points on a map, and understand the impact of magnetic declination.
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The teams must be able to describe what your team will do if it became lost.
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At least one member of the team must hold a minimum qualification of Level One First Aid.
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All team members must be suitably competent in all the disciplines included in the event as specified by the race organizer and be able to complete the event without any assistance from any person other than their own team members.
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The following Kayaking skills must be mastered. Manage a capsized craft in deep water, right and empty craft in deep water, get back in, continue paddling
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Swim 100 m of any stroke.
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Be able to attach their own harness and descending device to a fixed rope and complete the descent under control and safely.
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By entering this event, teams acknowledge that they are competent in all skills as stated above to complete such an event.
EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT INSPECTION
- Equipment rules are not enforced to inconvenience competitors.
- Compulsory equipment required by each team and team member will be inspected. All equipment featured in the required equipment tab must be present at equipment inspection. Excluding paddles, mountain bikes, water and food.
- Teams need to be ready for equipment inspection at the equipment inspection area on Friday, 18 May 09h00
EVENT RULES & REGULATIONS
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
- I understand and acknowledge that participating in this event is a dangerous activity. I am aware and understand the activities I will be involved in. I am aware of the hazards involved and acknowledge that there is always risk of injury (including permanent injury, mental injury, paralysis and death). In my judgment I have sufficient competence, knowledge, common sense, experience, survival skills and equipment to participate in all the event activities in a manner safe to myself and others.
- I understand and agree that, in the first instance, I am responsible for the provision of first aid to myself and those around me, I know and accept that rescue by the organisers, or emergency services, may not be possible immediately (e.g.: Night, rain, equipment failure, other rescue etc.)
- If I get to a point in the course that I believe the level of inherent risk is unacceptable for me, and I am not confident in completing it safely, it is my responsibility to take action. I must choose an alternate route, avoid the hazard, or even withdraw from that leg or the race. I accept this self-responsibility.
- Use common sense to “assess” areas for personal safety
- I and my whole team have read this paragraph, understand it and indemnify the event organiser against all claims.
ECO AWARENESS
Teams are to adhere to the following stipulations at all times:
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All waste is to be carried to the closest transition for disposal.
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Human waste is to be buried between 20 and 25cm below the soil surface.
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Picking of flowers, cutting of walking sticks and/or any damage to the natural vegetation (even though they might appear to be dead) is prohibited. The making of fires, whatever the circumstances and no matter how small, are prohibited along the entire route.
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No tree, rock etc. may be defaced in any manner.
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Be polite and courteous to local inhabitants. Pass quietly through settlements, especially at night.
The transgression of any of the above will render the entire team liable to disqualification.
PRIZES / AWARDS
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Team who places second will receive a guaranteed entry (NOT FREE) for the Adventure Racing world Championships
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First South African team will receive a guaranteed entry (NOT FREE) for the Adventure Racing world Championships
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All participants will receive Expedition Africa trophies.