The Otter-African Trail Run presented by Hi-Tec

Did you ever dream that you may, one day, be able to run this extraordinary hiking trail as a one day trail run? Your dream has now become reality!! Magnetic South, in association with SANParks, are extremely proud to now be offering this incredibly unique opportunity once again in 2010. The inaugural Otter took place on Sunday 20th September 2009 and the date for 2010 has been set, signed and sealed;

Fri 24^th and Sat 25^th September. Entries are limited.

What is the Otter-African Trail Run?

The Otter is a two day trail running event featuring one of the best Trail Runs on planet earth and a shorter but no less spectacular prologue the day before to determine the starting order!! The Otter is a trail run set in the breathtaking Tsitsikamma National Park traversing the full 5-day hiking route of the Otter Trail.

Athletes will be hosted in Tsitsikamma National Park on Friday and Saturday night. Taxis will transfer all athletes to the official start at Storms River on Saturday morning.


click map to enlarge.

The dates of the Otter 2010

Dates for The Otter 2010 have been confirmed: Friday 24th and Saturday 25th September. Registration and prologue will take place on Friday and The Otter Run takes place on Saturday.

The Format of the Event

The prologue Trail Run will be held on the Friday afternoon immediately after registration at Natures Valley. Athletes will be seeded for The Otter based on the results of the prologue with race start times on The OTTER (Saturday) being staggered accordingly and the higher seeded participants starting first. Due to the technical terrain and remoteness of this iconic trail, we will be required to enforce very strict cut-off times.

Timing of the Race

• Athletes enter as individuals and will be timed individually (Male & Female Athletes will be ranked separately).

• Split times and accumulative time will be posted after the race that evening in the race village.

Various safety cut-offs are effected at strategic points along the route and participants have to make sure they pass these points ahead of the cut-off times to remain on the course. The major cut-off on the Otter is the infamous Bloukrans River crossing which closes at 8 hours after race start after which participants will no longer be allowed to continue on the race course and will be asked to exit the trail and be transferred by ehicle to the finish. Anyone who passes the Bloukrans before this time will be allowed to complete the course.

The Otter Race medals will only be awarded to those trail runners who complete The Otter in under the official race cut off time. The official race cut-off time has been set at 9 hours.

Race Categories

• OPEN Men 40-

• OPEN Female 40-

• VET Men 40+

• VET Female 40+

Participant Accommodation

Participants will have the choice of either tented accommodation in the race camp, luxury and B&B/chalet accommodation. The Race Village camp site will have sleeping tents, showers and toilets, medical & massage facilities, HQ and meal tents. A unique, warm, safe atmosphere will be fostered here. Alternative luxury and B&B/chalet accommodation information will be made available in due course.

Entry Requirements

We recommend a high level of fitness and endurance. Athletes enter as
individuals and have to be 18 years or older.

Entry fees and what is included

The entry fee for 2010 per athlete is R 2 250.00.

Athletes Entry includes the following services:

• Otter Trail Fees (R 510.00 per person included)
• Shared tented accommodation in the Otter race village at De Vasselot Campsite (2 nights starting on Friday night after the Prologue.)
  Spacious tents & matrasses provided.
  If you have someone you can share with, you may indicate this on the on the entry form. Alternatively the organizers will pair athletes appropriately.
• Hot Showers & ablution Facilities
• Dinner in the race village on Friday and Saturday and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday
• Lunch Buffet after the Otter
• Nutrition at designated “munchie points”
• Race medical services (free on-site basic treatment)
• Race Finisher’s Prize Giving Dinner in the Race Village
• Technical Athlete Shirt
• Finisher’s medal
• Transfer between the nominated parking point to the Race village, . before and after the event.
• Transport to the start of the Otter at Storms River on Saturday morning.
• Transfer back to race village from the race route should you withdraw due to injury or equipment failure.

Optional Services:

• Luxury Package (details to follow)
• Massages
  Professional team of masseurs accompany the race. (Pre booking and payment essential)

Not included in the Race Package:

• Transport to and from the starting venue of the Southern Storm.
• Accommodation the night before the Prologue. We can provide you with a detailed list of hotels, lodges and B&B’s close to the start and finish venues.
• Personal nutrition and supplements during the Race.
• Drinks at the Race Villages.
• Room tabs at any and all of the luxury accommodation venues.
• Camping facility for supporter teams
• Meals for supporter team

Entry Process

Entries are limited to 150 athletes. (Note that an allocation of 20 of these entries have been reserved for overseas participants, SANParks staff, event organiser and invited event sponsors athletes).

For more details on the entry process and to enter online please see www.southernstorm.co.za

The Environmental impact of Trail Running

Trail runners do not have a significant difference in impact on the environment to that that hikers do. Because trail runners move considerably faster through an area, the impact per person per unit of time on a particular area is possibly less than that of hikers. The actual erosive impact of running on a trail does not differ
significantly from hiking on the trail. Littering is strictly forbidden and against Trail running ethos and rules.

Useful Travel Information:

• The 2 closest airports to the start venue (equi-distant) are Port
Elizabeth and George.

• Travel time from both airports to start venue is approximately 2
hours.

• Travel time from finish venue to George Airport is approximately 40
minutes. Travel time back to Port Elizabeth Airport is 3.5-4 hours.

• Air carriers to George are: SAA, 1Time and Kulula from Joburg, SAA
from Cape Town, SAA from Durban

• Air carriers to Port Elizabeth are: SAA, 1Time and Kulula from Joburg,
SAA and Kulula from Durban, Kulula, 1Time from Cape Town, SAA from East
London

• The weather during the month of September is mild to warm.