The Munga was launched way back in 2014, and at first, it seemed to its organisers like a crazy idea. To race non-stop for 1000 km across the arid Karoo in summer? Very soon, however, it became the go-to ultra-endurance mountain bike race in South Africa, and the benchmark by which all other long races are measured. In its short history, the race has become somewhat of an iconic event, and a bucket list race for anyone who has ever been on a mountain bike! When people ask you if you have done the Munga, they are not interested in your time.
THE BASICS:
The Munga runs over a little more than 1000 kilometres. There are 5 race villages where riders can rest, eat and get mechanical assistance. There are also ten water points placed between 60 and 90 kilometres apart. The race is semi-supported meaning that riders will be provided with support from race officials and at race villages, but will not be permitted to have support along the route. Everything a rider needs he will find at the water points or race villages, or it must be taken along on his bike.
THE ROUTE:
The Munga mountain bike race begins in the city of Bloemfontein in South Africa and ends at the Doolhof wine estate in Wellington, a small town in the Cape Winelands. The route will be predominantly off road. The route will be a GPS route so riders will not have to think about navigation. The route is a little more that 1000kms and covers some of the most beautiful, and barren terrain in South Africa.
Although the above describes the SOLO category of Munga, they also offer an EQUIPE category:
Munga Equipe is in essence a relay race. Equipe, French for team, is all about a group of riders splitting up the vast distances of the Munga, and each rider taking on a section. So, rider one would race from the start to RV1, and hand over to rider 2. Rider 2 would race to RV2 and hand over to 3, and so on and so on. Equipe follows the exact race route of the Munga with the same notorious sections. Except in Equipe, you only have to race one of those sections! Pick your poison.
Some people climb Everest. Others choose 1000km of African desert on a mountain bike. Click here now to become one of the latter.