Welcome
This is the home of the Ilanga Trail Series on the web. A trail running series hosted four times a year in the Lowveld and Escarpment of Mpumalanga. Ilanga in siSwati means 'the sun'
Breaking News
Ilanga Trails Series - Horse Whispers
Moved to the new venue, the morning started out cool and cloudy. Tea, coffee and rusks welcomed the competitors to "The Beach" and Induna Adventures. With the presence of a 2m crocodile we decided to route the finish over a suspention bridge accross the Sabie rather than chancing an unwanted meeting with the reptile.
Turnout was not what was hoped for but ther enthusiasm and positive response of the trail runners made the day a great success. The main trail was an uncontested run with two Gauteng veterans, Shaune Smith & Armand Bosman sharing the honors at the finish line. Kgotsofalo Khosa followed in thirds place. Jackie Schlebusch tore up the 14km route leaving the men in her dust. See full results here.
Ilanga Trails thanks all the competitors, especially those that came a long way, we hope that you enjoyed the trail.
The dream is taking shape
Ilanga Trails vision of running the Fanie Botha Hiking Trail is soon to take a step into reality. With the fantastic support and enthusiasm of Stella Moosa, the lady in charge of maintaining the Komatiland Trails in the region, we are soon to take a group of 20 runners on the trail. This will take the format of slack packing (hiking when someone else drives your food and gear to the next overnight hut). Staged over three days we will run sections 1 & 2 on day one, sections 3 & 4 on day two and the long section 5 on day three.
Should you wish to be part of this adventure please read the web copy of the e-mail sent out by clicking here and following the instructions contained therein.
Feel that you are missing out on trail info such as the event above and all the new happenings in the Lowveld? Please click here, register for our bi-weekly news letter and STAY INFORMED!
Misty Mountain Trail Run
A cool and cloudy morning greeted the trailies that came from all over the country as well as a number from overseas. Coffee was ready and Racetime completed the check in with their usual efficiency.
Waiting for the start of the trail run
York Timbers had been harvesting pine forests along the route and the briefings warned runners of the extreme mud and churned up forest roads that waited. A few minutes later the 20 & 12km trailies set off.
The sun threatened to come out as the 6k runners waited for their start, but the clouds won the day. After their briefing the run started with two juniors leaving everyone in their dust.
True to form, some trailies arrived at the finish in 33 minutes wandering how they could have run 20k that fast! We have briefings for a reason.
Looking across the Escarpment
The course was well decorated for the day with all the Drakensberg fynbos in bloom. Heathers, small ferns, miniature orchids and lilies were everywhere.
The times were fast given the high altitude and the length of the climbs. The Middleburg contingent, led by Frank Wessels, did a fantastic job of sweeping the 20k trail, thanks to all of you, I hope you had a good time.
A very BIG thank you to James & Liza Sheard, the owners of Misty Mountain. It was a venue of note. Your staff excelled in their efforts to make our day memorable. We look forward to developing future events with you.
Race Results
6km Ladies: 1st Marthie Minaar (44:58), 2nd Baye pigor, 3rd Heleen van der Mescht
6km Men: 1st Mauritz van der Mescht (37:26 11 years), 2nd Wayne Fourie (11 years), 3rd SF Steyn
12km Ladies: 1st Geraldine Rabé, 2nd Francis Soloman, 3rd Elsebé Lourens
12km Men: 1st Peter Viljoen, 2nd Frikkie Pienaar, 3rd Jason van Breda
20km Ladies: 1st Jaanri Koch, 2nd Justyna Porter, 3rd Estelle Wessels
20km Men: 1st Robert Buitenwerf, 2nd Steve Brisley, 3rd Steven Higgins
For full results click here.
The Sabie Forest Trail has a new home!
Misty Mountain – a nature lover's haven – is a 280 hectare South African Natural Heritage Site situated on the spectacular Long Tom Pass (31 kilometres from Lydenburg and 24 kilometres from Sabie), Mpumalanga, South Africa. Perched at an altitude of 1700 metres above sea level in a malaria free area, Misty Mountain is uniquely set in mountainous countryside with majestic views across the escarpment and into the lowveld.
We get to run in pristine indigenous mountain areas, up and down ravines and along some stunning jeep & single track.
A very BIG thank you to James & Liza Sheard, the owners of this magnificent establishment, for their great response to our need for new trail routes. James has said that he would like to see more than one run a year on their mountain estate.
Entries are open, Click Here.
For those who have booked accommodation in Sabie, do not panic, it is only 15 minutes out of town towards Lydenburg.
2013 Dates & Venues
| Date | Venue | Start Time | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15 | Misty Mountain Winter Warmer | 08h00 | 6, 12 & 20km |
| Jul | Gustav Klingbiel | 08h30 | 6, 12 & 20km |
| Aug 17 | Matumi Trail | 08h00 | 8, 14 & 20+km |
| Nov 16 | Berlin Trail | 08h00 | 6, 12 & 20km |
Our nutrition / supplement sponsor for the Ilanga Trails 2012.
Berlin Trail Run a great success!
Results of the run HERE
Again a BIG thank you to 32Gi for their generous sponsorship of nutrition products for the day.
Komatiland Forests maintain the trails in immaculate condition and the venue was a hit with all runners.