African Oxpecker 2025
16 May - 18 May SAST (+02:00)
Em'seni Camp
Details
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WAITLIST NOW
Flying towards the 10th Anniversary of The Oxpecker Trail Run
We are THRILLED to be hosting our 10th anniversary in 2025, join us for an unforgettable experience as well pull out some bonkers ideas for our FUN-FILLED weekend away.
"The Oxpecker Trail Run hits the sweet spot between challenging and charming. Two days of trail running is no joke, but the beautiful route, the Race Village setting, the family putting on the show, the superb food and drinks and the general “welcome to our home, please enjoy everything” atmosphere of the event makes the Oxpecker one of the most unique races on the local calendar.
You can take the run seriously or plod along for fun. You can sit around and eat all day after your run or you can snooze in your luxuriously-appointed tent on the banks of the Tugela River with the trees slowly and calmly rustling all about you. Most importantly, though, the Oxpecker is hosted by people who love and appreciate the outdoors and countryside, and that passion seeps into every aspect of the event. No wonder the event was dabbed "Africa's Favourite Trail Run."
The Oxpecker comprises of 3 events which are exactly the same, the ONLY difference is that the African weekend has prize money.
Trail info:
Day 1: 21km
Starting along the banks of the Tugela river the route follows cattle tracks slowly meandering to the base of Spioenkop Mountain. The climbing begins on a well-worn purpose made single track making running easier as the runners and walkers make their way towards the summit of Twin Peaks passing under beautiful acacia trees and aloes. After soaking up the incredible views from the summit the runners then traverse along the top before arriving at Water point 1 manned by a group of festive ladies who have climbed up the previous day taking up all the food and drinks. Runners then make their way down on single track passing herds of antelope and Giraffe before arriving at Garden of Eden.
Day 2: 15km
A much easier day starts with a fun ride in a traditional taxi to the top of a hill to reach our secret start destination for Day 2. This is a traditional cattle and irrigation farm so the runners get to run through maize fields and passed herds of cattle grazing in the pastures. After a small climb they then run down through thick African bush veld on purpose made single tracks and passing large fields of aloes all the way back to the river crossing at a bridge before finishing at the race village.
Accommodation:
We offer a number of different types of tents to suit your budget and needs, they are all canvas tents and have permanent ablutions, for more information on the below please click here. When you book the tent you get the tent to yourself and you can choose a friend to share it with you. The cost is for Friday and Sat night.
Oxpecker tent - R400
Kudu tent - R1200
Weaver tent - R2400
Kingfisher tent - R3500
Fish Eagle tent - R6000
Oxpecker rooms - R3500
Self camping - will not be available for 2025.
Information
The Oxpecker ticket costs R3200 per runner and includes the following:
- The True Oxpecker experience and this includes a fully setup race village including merchandise shop, tuck shop, bar, massage tent and coffee shop!
- Delicious meals from Friday night through to Sunday lunch.
- SA's best private trails built by passionate trail runners
- Race pack including high quality garments, made in South Africa!
- Infamous History talk ticket
- Stiff-legged joll ticket
- Increbidly well-stocked water points.
- Permanent showers and ablutions.
- Weekend medical support.
Please note we will not be offering supporter packages this year as our venue is limited to 1000 and we want everyone to RUN!
No kids or dogs allowed, so please book those grandparents now to babysit!
If you booked accommodation it includes both Friday and Saturday night.
Should you wish to camp next to your friend, an email will be sent out with one month to go for these requests.
We would highly recommend choosing Refund Protect when purchasing your tickets, the cost is 10% of your cart amount and you can receive 100% of your money back. See more information here.
If you did not take out Refund Protect and cannot make it to the event you have the following options, should you wish to see more information please click here.
- Transfer your ticket to a friend (Opens in Feb)
- Resell your ticket on our Oxpecker Resell Platform (Opens in Feb)
- Request a refund :
- 90% until 31 December 2024, 50% until the end of February 2025, no refunds after this date.
Please note for 2025:
Self camping is not available this year.
No supporter packages on sale.
Adult only event, please book the dates with the grandparents now!
No dogs allowed.
Organiser
Information
The Oxpecker ticket costs R3200 per runner and includes the following:
- The True Oxpecker experience and this includes a fully setup race village including merchandise shop, tuck shop, bar, massage tent and coffee shop!
- Delicious meals from Friday night through to Sunday lunch.
- SA's best private trails built by passionate trail runners
- Race pack including high quality garments, made in South Africa!
- Infamous History talk ticket
- Stiff-legged joll ticket
- Increbidly well-stocked water points.
- Permanent showers and ablutions.
- Weekend medical support.
Please note we will not be offering supporter packages this year as our venue is limited to 1000 and we want everyone to RUN!
No kids or dogs allowed, so please book those grandparents now to babysit!
If you booked accommodation it includes both Friday and Saturday night.
Should you wish to camp next to your friend, an email will be sent out with one month to go for these requests.
We would highly recommend choosing Refund Protect when purchasing your tickets, the cost is 10% of your cart amount and you can receive 100% of your money back. See more information here.
If you did not take out Refund Protect and cannot make it to the event you have the following options, should you wish to see more information please click here.
- Transfer your ticket to a friend (Opens in Feb)
- Resell your ticket on our Oxpecker Resell Platform (Opens in Feb)
- Request a refund :
- 90% until 31 December 2024, 50% until the end of February 2025, no refunds after this date.
Please note for 2025:
Self camping is not available this year.
No supporter packages on sale.
Adult only event, please book the dates with the grandparents now!
No dogs allowed.
Organiser
Info
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WAITLIST NOW
Flying towards the 10th Anniversary of The Oxpecker Trail Run
We are THRILLED to be hosting our 10th anniversary in 2025, join us for an unforgettable experience as well pull out some bonkers ideas for our FUN-FILLED weekend away.
"The Oxpecker Trail Run hits the sweet spot between challenging and charming. Two days of trail running is no joke, but the beautiful route, the Race Village setting, the family putting on the show, the superb food and drinks and the general “welcome to our home, please enjoy everything” atmosphere of the event makes the Oxpecker one of the most unique races on the local calendar.
You can take the run seriously or plod along for fun. You can sit around and eat all day after your run or you can snooze in your luxuriously-appointed tent on the banks of the Tugela River with the trees slowly and calmly rustling all about you. Most importantly, though, the Oxpecker is hosted by people who love and appreciate the outdoors and countryside, and that passion seeps into every aspect of the event. No wonder the event was dabbed "Africa's Favourite Trail Run."
The Oxpecker comprises of 3 events which are exactly the same, the ONLY difference is that the African weekend has prize money.
Trail info:
Day 1: 21km
Starting along the banks of the Tugela river the route follows cattle tracks slowly meandering to the base of Spioenkop Mountain. The climbing begins on a well-worn purpose made single track making running easier as the runners and walkers make their way towards the summit of Twin Peaks passing under beautiful acacia trees and aloes. After soaking up the incredible views from the summit the runners then traverse along the top before arriving at Water point 1 manned by a group of festive ladies who have climbed up the previous day taking up all the food and drinks. Runners then make their way down on single track passing herds of antelope and Giraffe before arriving at Garden of Eden.
Day 2: 15km
A much easier day starts with a fun ride in a traditional taxi to the top of a hill to reach our secret start destination for Day 2. This is a traditional cattle and irrigation farm so the runners get to run through maize fields and passed herds of cattle grazing in the pastures. After a small climb they then run down through thick African bush veld on purpose made single tracks and passing large fields of aloes all the way back to the river crossing at a bridge before finishing at the race village.
Accommodation:
We offer a number of different types of tents to suit your budget and needs, they are all canvas tents and have permanent ablutions, for more information on the below please click here. When you book the tent you get the tent to yourself and you can choose a friend to share it with you. The cost is for Friday and Sat night.
Oxpecker tent - R400
Kudu tent - R1200
Weaver tent - R2400
Kingfisher tent - R3500
Fish Eagle tent - R6000
Oxpecker rooms - R3500
Self camping - will not be available for 2025.