The Bonitas Radox Golden Gate Challenge celebrated its 3rd birthday this year, with 250 excited runner’s lining up to the start on Friday 25 October.
Day 1 of the race saw runners tackle the legendary Ribbok Trail – 27km’s of serious trail running! The Little Serengeti, one of the magical hidden corners of Golden Gate National Park, treated runners to herds of animals and spectacular views of the park. Day 3 of the challenge offered participants a breath-taking sunrise bathing the National Parks rock formations in shades of red, orange and yellow.
This spectacular scenery is home to one of Southern Africa’s few remaining populations of Bearded Vulture, a critically endangered bird of high altitude landscapes. The conservation of Golden Gate National Park is critical in forming a continuous protected area corridor along the length the Drakensberg/Maluti Mountain range. This in turn provides safe and suitable habitat and food for this endangered bird.
Overall Tracy Zunckel took 1st place in the Long Distance Ladies race, with Trish Bahlmann in 2nd and Helen Squirrel-Armstrong in 3rd place.
Matt Kretzmann won the 3rd Stage, but overall Eric Ngubane still took the race title – leading with just over a minute. Matt Kretzmann took 2nd place with Gerhard Fouche taking honours in 3rd place.
The funds raised from this event are vital for the conservation of the Bearded Vulture, amongst others such as the threatened Cape Vulture. SANParks and their dedicated Honorary Officers need all the assistance that they can get in ensuring the ongoing protection of this beautiful reserve and the conservation of several different species.
On the 23 October 2013 an unforgettable “Big Day Out” event took place for several local schools surrounding Golden Gate National Park. This is an annual event hosted by Wildlands Conservation Trust together with SANParks and the event sponsors – Old Mutual, N3TC, Coca-Cola and Bonitas Medical Fund.
200 learners from 10 local schools arrived at the National Park and enjoyed a mini fun run challenge. After the race, SANParks and Wildlands gathered the learners together with their educators to watch an environmentally themed performance by a local theatre production team. The production taught learners about the history of the Golden Gate National Park.
The learners were then separated into 2 groups with Wildlands facilitating Leadership Activities and SANParks facilitating environmental education activities. The educators of each school also attended an “On the Money” workshop presented by Old Mutual representative.
The event finished off with a prize giving where the top 3 winners (both boys and girls) were given Coca–Cola Bicycles. 10 bicycles will also be given to top academic achievers per school at the end of the year. Each learner also received a backpack full of goodies made possible by the event sponsors.
A special thank you must go to the Honorary Rangers, the SANPARKS crew, Radox and Bonitas Medical Fund for making the Golden Gate Challenge possible. We look forward to having everyone back next year! For more information please visit http://www.wildseries.co.za/golden-gate-challenge/.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)