A Great Opportunity For Individuals, Businesses and Conservation!

We are delighted to announce that the Run Safari Challenge will be taking place at Amakhala Game Reserve in May 2022!

It is a challenge for individuals, organisations and businesses to take a journey to both save and shape the future of the Eastern Cape conservation story - an amazing relationship-building experience that culminates in an unforgettable luxury weekend with exciting, challenging runs that are also authentic African safaris - all in support of an important cause.

The Cause

Many innovative conservation success stories have unfolded over the last few decades. Amakhala Game Reserve is proud to be among these, having transformed a number of agricultural properties into an internationally renowned 8,500ha conservation initiative that is now a premier game reserve welcoming thousands of visitors each year.

Due to Covid-19 and its devastating lockdowns, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, including thousands of runners, have been denied access to nature and the outdoors, while conservation efforts were also severely restricted.

Passionate as ever about realising the Amakhala Foundation’s mission: “conserving our environment, empowering our communities”, the Amakhala team - working with Lance Wynne, founder of The Be Moved Collective - have initiated a novel way for those who share this passion for nature, the outdoors and conservation to get involved in keeping Eastern Cape conservation alive, ensuring the survival of the Amakhala conservation success story.

The Run Safari Challenge 2022

Image Credit: Xavier Briel

The Run Safari Challenge includes 12km, 21km and 42km runs, but these are not typical runs! They are just centrepieces to an experience which is also an authentic African safari that allows participants to make an impact at the same time.

This experience extends from assembling a team, building up to the event and fundraising, to training and preparation - it’s all about coming together and building relationships. The challenge weekend itself is a safari experience: running among wildlife that include the Big 5, with no barriers to road runners who want to get close to nature. Nature and the wildlife also dictate the start time, mid run stops and route adjustments: expect elephant roadblocks and other wildlife encounters! Game drives, lazy afternoons, sundowners and Bush Boma evenings are also part of the experience.

Participants will also learn more about conservation and enjoy opportunities to contribute to Amakhala’s initiatives, such as planting indigenous spekboom or volunteering to work with the kids as part of the Amakhala Foundation Nature Club progamme.

Of course, the celebrations at the finish line is a big and exciting part of the experience, but there also other opportunities to enjoy Amakhala Game Reserve’s unique blend of isiXhosa culture and Eastern Cape farmer hospitality.

Image Credit: Xavier Briel

Up For The Challenge?

You can participate as part of a team from a local company or a school, as a group of friends or even as an individual. Corporates and organisations are invited to support teams through direct donations, rand-for-rand commitments, monthly prizes and exposure for the campaign on their platforms. Teams can raise money from receiving direct donations from their company, reaching out to their social or business networks, and/or running their own GivenGain fundraising and awareness campaign.

Up for the challenge? Excited? Watch this space for more information, or stay up to date with the challenge details by sending an email to Lance Wynne at lance@runcation.co.za.