The 26th to the 28th of October 2012 saw the second hosting of the Bonitas Radox Golden Gate Challenge by the Wildlands Conservation Trust’s Wild Series team. This trail run event is run in partnership with South African National Parks (SANParks) at the Golden Gate Highland National Park in the Free State, in an area known as South Africa’s “best kept secret” in terms of our national parks. This event was once again a huge success, with 187 runners participating in the event and experiencing 3 days of challenging and well planned out trail running. The Golden Gate Highlands National Park offers an incredible network of trails that challenged even the most hardy trail runners, but also allowed them the privilege of enjoying the most amazing views, with an abundance of highland grassland game to keep them company.
The event was won by Wayne Scott and Erica Walker respectively in the men’s and ladies categories in overall times of 8hours 6minutes for Wayne and 9hours 25minutes for Erica. Throughout the event, runners were praising the professional manner in which the event was run, and the amazing routes selected for them to traverse, despite gasps from participants when the next day’s race profile was revealed!
The Bonitas Radox Golden Gate Challenge is fast growing into a recognised trail running event on the annual calendar, and will cement itself as a key event for SANParks. The funds raised from this event go towards supporting the development of key infrastructure and management at Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The focus of this support is primarily on Bearded Vulture conservation, as the rapidly declining Bearded Vulture population can be attributed to the reduction in the area suitable for breeding purposes, the decrease in availability of regular and safe food, the deliberate and accidental poisoning of birds at carcasses, and the collision of Bearded Vultures with power lines and associated infrastructure. This will support the vulture feeding site and associated vulture hide, allowing many more people to experience close-up views of these amazing icons of the Maluti Mountains.
The Southern African Bearded Vulture population is estimated at approximately 100 breeding pairs (200 adult birds) together with 120 non-adult birds, giving a total population estimate of ONLY 320 individuals left. Previous estimates in the early 1980s found 204 active breeding pairs, indicating a large decline in numbers in the past few decades, with less than half the known nest sites currently being occupied.
It is therefore essential that events such as the Bonitas Radox Golden Gate Challenge continue to be staged, in order to raise funds for a dedicated Bearded Vulture conservation programme in this area to ensure the long-term survival of this icon of the Drakensberg Mountains.
Wildlands would like to thank everyone that contributed towards the success of this event – Bonitas, Radox and Wedgewood, all the Golden Gate Highland National Park staff, and the SANParks Honorary Rangers. Your support and funds ARE making a contribution to securing our natural heritage!
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)