The Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy (BHRC) outside Stellenbosch has partnered with TrailFun to host a series of trail runs during autumn and winter.
The series will give runners the opportunity to explore a variety of member farms in the Bottelary Hills with a choice between an entry-level 5km or a 10km run, and runners looking for longer routes can run both for 15km or loop for 21km.
Runs during autumn will be hosted at Simonsig (2 April), Hartenberg (7 May) and Karabib (21 May) with a night run on Wednesday, 18 May. The winter series will take place at Mooiplaas (4 June), Kaapzicht (25 June), Zevenwacht (9 July) and Middelvlei (23 July).
Participants can opt for race starts with prizes for the first three runners across the finish line, or enjoy an individual start anytime before 09:30 for a relaxed run with no groups, no crowds – just solitude in nature. The 15km and 21km routes are individual starts only and have been designed as long and slow distance training runs. All runners are timed and will receive a medal with fun lucky draw prizes up for grabs.
Visitors and runners might sight small game such as caracal, grysbok, grey duiker, porcupine, bat-eared foxes, Cape foxes and otters or the many bird species that are still prevalent in the Bottelary Hills.
According to conservancy manager Christel Liebenberg, the Bottelary Hills is a critical part of the Cape Floral Kingdom as it contains some of the very few remaining Renosterveld tracts of land close to the Cape Metropole. Less than 4% of the original Renosterveld in the Western Cape remains.
‘The ever-evolving network of MTB trails remains a key attraction with a growing interest in hiking, vineyard walks and trail running. Our intensified focus on biodiversity, sustainable farming practices and eco-tourism is creating an incredible platform to grow and expand our tourism destination offerings, said Liebenberg.
Entry fees are between R70 and R210 and include your medal, bottle of spring water and the option to include a bottle of wine from the estate.
A percentage of all entry fees will be donated to the BHRC community development fund in an effort to raise R15 000 for a local youth upliftment programme.
Enter here: https://entries.trailfun.co.za.
Pictures: Supplied
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