EA expedition race
13 - 22 March 2026
ARWS World Champs Qualifier
Drakensberg - Kwazulu-Natal
MTB
Trekking
Kayaking
Ropework
Navigation
EVENT DATES: 13 - 22 March 2026
Event Information:
Team List
Team List
Event Schedule
-
12 March 2026Bus pick up from OR Tambo and transfer to resort.
This includes a stop for food shopping
This option is available for teams that chose to arrive early.
Please contact race organisers -
13 March 2026Bus Pick up from OR Tambo and transfer to resort (includes a stop for food shopping)
Race registration opens –17:00 to 19:00
Community Project –14:00 to 16:00
Event Braai at Alpine Heath Resort – Braai packs can be ordered from the resort. These will be cooked for you on the braai by the venue.
Opening Ceremony and race briefing 20:00 to 21:30 (ALL TEAMS) -
14 March 2026Registration –06:00 – 09:00M
Captains Q&A – 11:00 to 12:00
Gear Drop off (Bike Box/Kayak Bag/Box A & B) – 14:00 to 16:00 -
Race Schedule15 March 2026 – Race Starts
18 March 2026 – First Finishers
21 March 2026 – 12:00 pm Course Closes
21 March – Closing Ceremony
22 March 2026 – Teams depart including buses to OR Tambo (bus departures will be planned based on flight details)
23 March 2026 – Sign up for next Expedition Africa Adventure Race
Official Partners
Media partner, Team Media & Supporters
Media Partners
TEAM MEDIA and team supporters
- Teams may be joined at the event by team media and supporters.
- Team media and supporters may have contact with teams only at pre-determined areas.
- Areas of contact between team media, supporters and teams will be outlined at briefing.
- No contact with teams is allowed at night time (22h00 – 04h00) on route. Night-time contact only in transitions.
- Team media and supporters must be self-sufficient, have their own transport. Food and accommodation are for own account.
- A detailed media plan will be presented to all registered team media and supporters with all details on the routes they can take, accommodation options, fuel supply, eating establishments etc.
- Please contact Damon (damon@expafrica.net) if you want to register yourself as a Team media or a Supporter for your team.
- Registering will allow you to join the Team media and Supporter briefing.
- Maps and route notes will only be provided to team media and supporters that register pre-event and attend the briefing.
ARWS - Adventure Racing World Series
What is the ARWS?
- The Adventure Racing World Series was formed in 2001— 24 years in existence.
- ARWS is the biggest and longest running Adventure Racing Series.
- Each ARWS race is organised by enthusiasts who commit their life and time to the success of their event.
- Each race has a different character thanks to the varied locations and each organiser’s ideas and personality.
- 25 World Championship Qualifiers from all over the world, many presented for 10 years or more.
- 60+ races in 6 Regional Series: Europe, Oceania, Africa, South America, Asia and North America.
A World Championship is selected from Qualifier events each year. - This year’s ARWC will be the 21st and the Championship has been held on 5 continents.
- A comprehensive, international World Ranking system is in place for regional and qualifier races.
- Over 3400 teams from more than 40 countries have been included in the ARWS rankings.
- Internationally accepted Rules and Regulations system officiated and updated by ARWS
- International referees.
- ARWS Hall of Fame membership awarded to the heroes of our sport at each Adventure Racing World Championship.
- The first International Adventure Racing Conference (IARC) was hosted in 2023 and will continue at the ARWC2025 in Canada.
- The first ARWS Youth World Championship will be hosted in 2026 to support the next generation of adventure racers.
Follow the World of Adventure Racing with ARWS!
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Find out about world and regional ARWS rankings and your team status:
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History of Expedition Africa
The history and previous winners
Expedition Africa (EA as it is known in the racing community) has been running since 2011 when the first event was hosted in in Hermanus – Western Cape. Since then the event has travelled around the country to show case what South Africa has to offer. We even went off shore to the Island of Rodrigues (2019). South Africa has some many diverse regions (deserts, tropical, savanna, coastal, high mountains) that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to where to host events. Even regions we have visited before offer new and exciting routes and places to explore.
There have been 12 editions of Expedition Africa and in 2023 we hosted the Adventure Racing World Championship in Kouga, Eastern Cape. This was the largest World Champs with over a hundred teams on the start line. Read all about: Celebrating the 2023 Adventure Racing World Championship
The 13th edition – BACK THE THE BERG – promises to uphold the tradition of Exp Africa and we cannot wait to bring the World to the Berg in 2026
- 2011 Hermanus – Merrell Adventure Addicts
- 2012 Port Alfred – Merrell Adventure Addicts
- 2013 Drakensberg – Haglofs Silva
- 2014 Port Edward/Transkei – Seagate
- 2015 Kingdom of Swaziland – Merrell Adventure Addicts
- 2016 Garden Route – Featherbed
- 2017 Kouga/Baviaans – Skylotec Adventure
- 2018 Namaqua West Coast – Blizzard
- 2019 Island of Rodrigues – Greener Adventure
- 2022 Lesotho Kingdom in the Sky – Estonia Ace Adventure / La Sportiva
- 2023 Kouga ARWC – SAFAT – AR World Champions
- 2024 Namibia – Merrell Songlines
Prizes and Awards
Prizes & Awards
- First mixed team will receive a paid entry for the Adventure Racing World Championships – Raid in France 2026
- All participants will receive Expedition Africa Drakensberg medals.
- Top 3 teams will receive hand made Expedition Africa trophies.
- Top Mixed All African Team will be awarded a Special hand made Trophy
Expedition Concept
ADVENTURE CONCEPT
- What is Adventure Racing: ARWS Explainer
- Adventure racing is a multi-discipline endurance sport where competitors compete in teams, navigating from control point to control point in a number of disciplines.
- Disciplines include mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, rope work and orienteering.
- Teams are expected to navigate using a map and landmarks.
- Teams must be able to operate in harsh remote environments in all weather conditions.
- Teams travel throughout the day and night. They can decide if, when and where to rest.
- The first team to complete the whole course, with all the control points visited will be declared the winner.
- Teams are required to complete the entire distance together (always within hearing and visual distance of each other), helping and assisting each other.
- Teamwork and team dynamics are essential. A detailed understanding of your teammates and of your own capabilities is essential.
Event Rules, Regulations & Personal Responsibility
Event Rules and Regulations
- Click HERE for the ARWS rules & regulations (download & save a copy)
- Event specific rules will be detailed in the Route Book
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
- I understand and acknowledge that participating in this event is a dangerous activity. I am aware and understand the activities I will be involved in. I am aware of the hazards involved and acknowledge that there is always risk of injury (including permanent injury, mental injury, paralysis and death). In my judgment I have sufficient competence, knowledge, common sense, experience, survival skills and equipment to participate in all the event activities in a manner safe to myself and others.
- I understand and agree that, in the first instance, I am responsible for the provision of first aid to myself and those around me, I know and accept that rescue by the organisers, or emergency services, may not be possible immediately (e.g.: Night, rain, equipment failure, other rescue etc.)
- If I get to a point in the course that I believe the level of inherent risk is unacceptable for me, and I am not confident in completing it safely, it is my responsibility to take action. I must choose an alternate route, avoid the hazard, or even withdraw from that leg or the race. I accept this self-responsibility.
- Use common sense to “assess” areas for personal safety
- I and my whole team have read this paragraph, understand it and indemnify the event organiser against all claims.
