Route Description

Overall description

The entire 103km follows a North to South route predominantly along cattle and goat paths that are also used by humans. In many instances, there will be a high tide and low tide route and this is where you will need to use your initiative and navigational skill to negotiate the best and safest route. Our intention is to keep the route as natural and raw as possible so there are few marked sections along the way. The few marked sections will either be a safety measure or a pointer to a surprise, a challenge or a beautiful view point, the rest of the way is a journey and for you to figure out as you go. The key is to keep the sea on your left and identify a well-used path heading in a southerly direction as these will generally follow the path of least resistance and keep you on track.

Pondo Coaster

Day 1 Port Edward to Msikaba – 36km
Aid Station – 25km – Mtentu

A perfectly timed low tide just after the start time will enable you to stretch your legs along the first 18kms of hard sand and endless beaches till you reach Sikombe Point. From there a short inland section through the rural Pondo villages will bring you to the Aid Station at Mtentu Lodge. A river crossing will then take you into the Mkambathi Nature Reserve for the remainder of the day till you reach Msikaba on the southern boundary. The day offers incredible diversity in a mostly forgotten wilderness: grass plains with a large range of antelope, thick indigenous forests, crystal clear waterfalls and numerous shipwrecks on the coast.

 

Day 2 Msikaba to Mbotyi – 34km
Aid Station – 18km – Luphatana

A fantastic stretch with the perfect mix of grasslands, undulating hills and desolate beaches will take you past the famous Grosvenor shipwreck and onto the famous Wild Coast salt-water-shower and aid station at Luphatana. We then continue along the majestic Waterfall Bluff section past the spectacular Mlambomkulu Falls and Cathedral Rock view point before dropping down onto a long beach section before our finish at Mbotyi River Lodge.

 

Day 3 Mbotyi to Port St. Johns – 33km
Aid Station – 17km – Ntafufu

Continue south from Mbotyi past the notorious Shark Point and the desolate Robinson Crusoe beaches before a river crossing at the idyllic Manteku. The aid station at the Ntafufu river crossing will allow you to refresh fully before your last push past Poenskop and on to the finish line at Port St Johns’ Umzimbuvu River.

Pondo Ultra 103km – all of the above in 1 go!!!