ROUTE

WHERE THE SHEEP TRAILS TAKES YOU...
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DAY 1 | NIGHT RUN

START TIME: 18:30
DISTANCE: 8km
CLIMBING: 110m

CHALLENGE OF THE DAY: A beautiful 1,5km sunset run to the summit of the koppie.
PREPARE: Running lights, warm clothing.
ROUTE: With the ring of the bell, you head towards a slow gratifying accent up the koppie as the last remnants of the day start fading, which reveals the final glimpses of Renosterberg in the backdrop. A rolling gravel road darkens slowly, lit only by the soft trot of runners with headlamps as the route leads you to a big beautiful dam, which at night becomes a glistening mirror to the stars above. The road gently leads home through a majestic section of the poplar tree forest and ends alongside the 200-year-old stonewalls to complete a one-of-a-kind night run in the Karoo.

DAY 2 | #SHEEPRUN

START TIME: 08:00
DISTANCE: 14km
CLIMBING: 220m

CHALLENGE OF THE DAY: Brisk 600m trot up the Ostrich kamp koppie.
PREPARE: 1.0 – 2.0 hour Run
ROUTE: Your 14km journey begins with a slow winding section through the magical poplar forest. It then flows onto a rolling jeep track which runs through many of the Dwarsvlei farm paddocks. Loads of fat fluffy sheep and scattered herds of very vocal cows populate these camps. The route carries on through an old road culvert towards the Java lover’s favourite kind of pitstop. Atlantic Coffee will be ready to serve you a revitalising cappuccino at the first water point. Don’t forget to snap a quick pic on the famous couch at the Dwarsvlei train station sign. Freshly caffeinated, you’ll see Renosterberg in the background and various curios wildlife like springbuck and slow-moving tortoises. A little more focused, you’ll tackle a lovely long smooth section of single tracks and a second waterpoint for a quick refresher before you head towards the Ostrich camp koppie, which runs along a beautiful 200-year-old stonewall and shares its habitat with a few oversized feathery birds. Heading downhill from the not-so-feathery koppie, you’ll have your last dose of the majestic poplar forest across a beautiful old bridge, which leads onto the final stretch homebound to finish your day greeted by friendly staff and your handmade souvenir finishers medal to conclude your day out in the Karoo.

DAY 2 | #HORSERUN

START TIME: 08:00
DISTANCE: 22km
CLIMBING: 350m

CHALLENGE OF THE DAY: 3km of trekking up Renosterberg.
PREPARE: 2.0 – 3.5 hour Run
ROUTE: Arguably the route with the best views, the 22km kicks off alongside the 100-year-old Nourse shed through the flowing poplar forest. The Jeep track leads runners underneath a road culvert to safely avoid traffic and directly leads toward the Java-friendly and selfie zone waterpoint. After a happy dance-inducing cappuccino and a quick pose on the famous Dwarsvlei sign couch, runners journey up a beautifully graded jeep track alongside the Renosterberg with breathtaking views of Karoo vistas as you head along the plateau. With some luck, you’ll spot a spritely springbuck and maybe even a very relaxed tortoise. At the summit, you can refill your water bottles or camelback at a self-help waterpoint and look forward to a gratifying downhill that makes the uphill before all the more worthwhile. You’ll enjoy another pit stop at the old Dwarsvlei train station and strut alongside unused train tracks towards your final culvert crossing. A long section of flowing single track leads you through the veld and towards your last water point and the last climb of the day up the Ostrich camp koppie. This part of the route runs alongside 200-year-old stonewalls and has a free-roaming ostrich lazily occupying the same camp. Flowing down homebound, you reach the poplar forest near the venue, crossing a vintage bridge to run your last stretch, passing the Dwarsvlei guest farm to reach the finish line and your much-deserved finisher medal!