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 Expedition Africa
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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Closing date for entries 13 March 2017. 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 resort tab.
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Teams may pay with a credit card. Contact us with your card details. A 5 % handling charge will be added to the entrance fee.
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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 17 April 2017. No charge for the substitutions.
ENTRY FEE
R 40 000 - per team of four + one media person (see media tab for more information)
R 30 000 - per team of two + one media person (see media tab for more information).
R = South African Rand
ENTRY FEE INCLUDES
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A full service 500 km Expedition Adventure which forms part of the Adventure Racing World Series.
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4 nights accommodation in our host resort. Friday 12 may, Saturday 13 May, Friday 19 May, Saturday 20 May. See Host resort 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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Live tracking of teams progress.
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Medical backup.
BANKING DETAILS
Bank details
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S. Muller
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Standard Bank
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Bank branch code 001255.
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Rivonia Road, Johannesburg, 2128
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Account number 420 104 496
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Swift code SBZAZAJJ
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Bank phone number: 0860 101 341
Receiver details:
CANCELATIONS 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.
BAVIAANS AND THE SURROUNDING AREA OF KOUGA
Teams will trek, kayak and cycle through extremely remote areas and venture where few humans have ever set foot before. From the mountains to the sea, the journey the destination.
The Eastern Cape is fondly known as the Adventure Province, and includes the Baviaans, Kouga, Tsitsikamma, Addo, Sunshine Coast, Karoo, Great Frontier and Wild Coast, and the highlight of the 2017 route of Expedition Africa will be the Baviaans.
The Baviaans, home to the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and biggest wilderness area in Southern Africa is the highlight of this year's 500km route. The 225 000 ha mega-reserve boasts unspoiled, rugged mountainous terrain with spectacular landscapes.
The road through the Baviaanskloof road stretches from Patensie in the east to Willowmore in the west (197km) and nature lovers taking the untarred road find an almost pristine wilderness. The road itself is spectacular but very rough in parts. The seasonal rain can sometimes cause wash-aways and it is ultimate 4x4 territory.
The Baviaanskloof is a 75km long valley of varying width and depth that lies between the parallel east-west running Baviaanskloof and Kouga mountains. it is the third largest conservation area in the country, characterized by remarkable scenery, owning to the high geological, topographic and climatic diversity. Plant life is prolific and diverse with proteas, pre-historic cycads, giant Outeniqua yellowwoods and at least 70 succulent species growing in the Kloof. It is part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom.
An estimated 2500 plant species, including 20 endemic species, represents about 10% of all the plants in South Africa. It further boasts 33 endemic reptile species and 9 amphibians endemic to south Africa. More than a third op all south African bird species are found here. It boasts 7 of South Africa's 9 vegetation biomes, it is an ecological treasure.
Cape Mountain zebra, black rhinoceros, red hartebeest, buffalo and eland have since been re-introduced in addition to existing bush pig, klipspringer, grysbok, grey rhebok, bushbuck, mountain reedbuck and duiker. The low-lying valley slopes and bottoms are a haven for bush loving species like kudu, bush buck, common duiker and Cape grysbok. Buffalo tend to lie up in thick ravine bush during the day and move up into the densely vegetated slopes at night to feed.
The high-lying grassy plateaus and fynbos covered mountains are home to the red hartbeest, Cape mountain zebra, mountain reed buck, grey rhebuck and klipspringer. The eland are the great wanderers, moving over vast distances and utilizing a variety of habitats.
Caracal and leopard are the main predators in the area. Although caracal may occasionally be seen, the sighting of a leopard is still a very rare and noteworthy event (recent evidence suggests that their numbers are increasing).
Cape clawless otter, bushpig, aardwolf, aardvark and a host of other smaller mammals are still reasonably common despite being seldom seen.
The most ubiquitous species must certainly be Chacma baboons. They seem to have been just as plentiful, if not more so, in earlier times. The Dutch word for baboon, "baviaan", gave the area its name.
Baboons are reported to live for about 45 years. They are quite vocal animals as they roam around in search of food and “bark” alarms when they see a potential threat.
South of the Baviaanskloof Mountains lies the Kouga, the eastern gateway to the Garden Route. It includes a 600 km shoreline, known as the Coastal Cradle of Mankind between the Tsitsikamma in the west and the Van Stadens River in the east. It includes the towns of Jeffreys Bay (famous for its perfect surfing waves), St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay. It is a major international, national and regional tourism attraction.
The Gamtoos River Valley is the eastern gateway to the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Reserve, and is characterised by wide, fertile flood plains associated with low-lying land and steep less-fertile slopes. The towns of Hankey and Patensie, Loerie and Thornhill are focal points of this high-potential agricultural region.
The climate of the area is subtropical, which makes it conducive to a range of outdoor activities. Rainfall varies between 650 mm per year (St Francis Bay area) to 400 mm (Gamtoos River Valley).
HOST RESORT
- Each team of four + 1 media person will be hosted in their own self catering unit.
- NOTE: Early team entries will be allocated bigger and more luxurious the accommodation. See Chalet information tab below for chalet allocation.
- 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 before Friday. 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 available at the registration center. Expedition Africa will set up a Working station with Computers for teams to be in contact with family and friends.
- A Spar supermarket is situated 10 minutes from resort. all the teams race food can be purchased here. The resort will provide a shuttle service to the supermarket.
CHALET ALLOCATING INFORMATION
Fully paid up teams will be booked in to accommodation as below:
- Teams 1 to 4: Luxury four star Beach Villas. 3/4 bedrooms.
- Teams 5 to 15: Four star Cottages. 4 bedrooms.
- Teams 16 to 21: Four star Cottages. 3 bedrooms.
- Teams 22 to 25: Cottages. 3 bedrooms.
- Teams 26 and on-wards: Three star apartments. 1/2 bedrooms.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
- All transfers will be at teams own cost.
DATES & TIMES
12 May to 21 May 2017
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Friday 12 May 13h00 to 14h00: Team Registration
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Friday 12 May 14h00: Opening ceremony, Team introduction, Expedition book hand out and route briefing.
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Friday 12 May 16h00: Press Conference
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Friday 12 May 17h00: Media Briefing
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Friday 12 May 18h00: Volunteer briefing
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Saturday 13 May 7h00 to 9h30: Team equipment inspection.
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Saturday 13 May 11h00 to 13h00: Enviromental project.
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Saturday 13 May 17h00: Questions and answers
- Saturday 13 May 18h00: Paddles and kayak bag hand in.
DISTANCE AND ROUTE
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The expedition will cover approx 500 km. Winning team 72 hours (sleep excluded), last team six days.
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Route will consist of ... legs with .... transitions. Cut-offs on route will be enforced for slower teams to be re-routed
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Mountain biking 50 %
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Trekking 30%
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Kayaking 20%
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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, lakes and the sea. Inland kayaking will be permitted during both day and night.
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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 other activities such as walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping and swimming
TRANSITIONS
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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/room/ 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 100m of any stroke.
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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, kayak equipment, mountain bikes, water and food.
- Teams need to be ready for equipment inspection at the equipment inspection area on Saturday 13 May between 7h00 and 9h30.
- Any team that are not on time at the equipment inspection area will have to wait till after the last team has done their inspection for their equipment inspection and a two hour time penalty will be added to finishing time
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 or checkpoint 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 2017 in the U.S.A.
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First South African team will receive a guaranteed entry (NOT FREE) for the Adventure Racing world Championships 2017 in the U.S.A.
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All participants will receive Expedition Africa trophies.