The Venetia Limpopo Bike4beasts Mountain Bike Challenge will be the first of its kind within the Limpopo Valley and greater Mapungubwe region, promising to be an exciting experience.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 28, within the 33 000 hectare De Beers Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve, which is one of the largest privately owned nature reserves in South Africa.

The main aim of the Venetia Limpopo Bike4beasts Mountain Bike Challenge is to raise funds for the conservation activities of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, as well as raising the profile of the area for conservation and tourism-related activities.

The challenge is a 60km race through the hart of the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve. Participants should expect to see some fantastic game, including wild dogs, lion, giraffe, elephants and many bird varieties. The course contains some elevated rocky sections as well as some sandy river crossings; however, it is designed for a minimum amount of walking and experienced riders are able to cycle the whole route.

A Google Earth Track of the route will be posted on the website www.lycaonlogistics.co.za shortly. Participants will also have access to a GPS track of the route.

Entries can be submitted via the Lycaon Logistics website, email or faxes and places in the race will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis. Entries will close on March 31 or when the maximum number of entries is reached.

The individual and corporate challengers are the two category challenges available.

The Venetia Limpopo Bike4beasts Mountain Bike Individual Challenge is restricted to 90 entries and costs an entry fee of R275 per entry. The corporate challenge is restricted to 60 entries (20 teams) and costs an entry fee of R275 per person or R825 per team. Each participant completing the route will receive a Limpopo Mountain Bike Challenge award.

A cash prize and a floating trophy will be awarded to the team as well as individual participants, both male and female, who completes the challenge in the first place.

The fund-raising will be conducted largely by race participants who will be required to raise a minimum amount of R1000 over and above the race fee in order to secure their entry. In return for raising this amount, participants will receive a year’s worth of free membership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust. In addition, the participant raising the most money will receive a mountain bike worth R5 000.

Companies or groups are welcome to sponsor this event and should contact the race organisers directly.

For more information on prizes, accommodation etc, phone Wendy Collinson at Tel 083 657 1551.