Those aiming to tick off experiences of extreme sport adventures on their bucket list, have until the end of the month to enter for the 22nd edition of the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon (KAEM).
The Northern Cape is increasingly becoming known as the ideal destination for extreme sports, with the notorious KAEM as an excellent example of this description.
This extreme ultra-trail marathon covers 250 km of terrain in the Augrabies National Park and surrounding areas.
The marathon was founded as a seven-day, six-stage, self-sufficient desert foot race, and has become known as the “Big Daddy” of international trail running events.
This year, for the first time, the KAEM Ultra will also be an option as a supported five-day race of 160 km.
The Big Daddy takes place from 28 September until 8 October, while participants of the Ultra will have their experience from 1 to 8 October.
Distances per day for the Big Daddy ranges from 23 km to 76 km, while distances for the Ultra are set from 26 km to 61 km per day.
Organisers and returning athletes described the KAEM as a life-changing experience.
So far for this year, athletes from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Germany, New-Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, and France have entered, said Simoné Basson of KAEM.
Last year’s winner, the South African born Ettienne Coetzer who is originally from Upington and now a British citizen, said the biggest thing that will stick with him when it comes to the race, is the people.
“What an amazing bunch”, he said.
South African Riana Henning was the first woman last year to finish the Big Daddy.
She said the “brutal beauty” of the environment contributed to her exceptional spiritual experience.
Basson said from start to finish, the KAEM route runs through the most diverse terrain. What makes it unique and exciting is that the route is changed every year, and participants get to run in places where few people ever set foot.
The route winds through the Augrabies Falls National Park, private farmlands, arid landscapes that are also home to quiver trees, and cultivated vineyards and sandy riverbeds along the Orange River.
On your way, you may see giraffes, zebras, a springbok, eland, and more.
The Augrabies National Park will once again play host to the event.
- Visit kaem.co.za, send an email to simone@kaem.co.za, a WhatsApp message to 083-709-8170, or visit Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon on Facebook.
