In this ultramarathon, we will race 120km in 24 hours across the oldest desert in the world, under the clearest of blue skies during the day and full moon during the night.
In order to use the Send to a Friend facility you must be logged in.
Please either log in above, or register if you are not already a friend of Nature & Kind.
Tour Overview
ROUTE DESCRIPTION
First section 21km:
The race starts on the gravel plains of Brandberg and head in a westerly direction towards the first medical and water stop at 21km at the origin of Messum River. The terrain during most of this section is undulating and firm underfoot, but with road corrugations from time to time.
Second section 21km:
The route continues along in a westerly direction to the second checkpoint and 42km finish line at the entrance to Messum gorge. The terrain will remain flat and firm underfoot initially. As we enter the gorge, we will be following 4x4 tracks which will be firm under foot, though uneven under foot in places.
Third Section: 20km:
The third check-point finds us at the exit of the Messum crater. We will continue running in a westerly direction towards the coast on gravel plains following 4x4 tracks.
Fourth Section: 20.1km:
Leaving Messum crater behind, we run along the gravel plains towards the coast. The gravel plains make way for the odd low rocky ridges that break the monotony of flat running, with small sandy spots where dry water courses are crossed. We reach our fourth checkpoint at the start of the lichen fields.
Fifth Section: 20km:
The route is now heading downwards in a south-westerly direction to the fifth medical and water stop which is again after 20kms. This part crosses lichen fields and mostly flat terrain with soft but gravelly parts here and there.
Sixth Section: 19km:
The final section follows cuts across the gravel plains, then follows along the C34 for a couple of km’s. From the road, we head again west across the plains to the finish line on the beach at Mile 72 campsite.
The Skeleton Coast is generally regarded as the most hostile stretch of coastline in the world where many a ship and its crew have foundered over the centuries, due to the unpredictable high seas and ever shifting sand banks hugging the Namib Desert shore line. Shipwrecked crew members who did make it to land alive never really stood a chance against the utter destructive barrenness of the desert that always managed to finally even the score.
We will race 120km in 24 hours across the vast expanse of the oldest desert in the world, through the endless space of gravel plains framed by distant ridges and mountains, past dramatic upheavals of granite inselbergs and all under the clearest of blue skies during the day and then full moon during the night.
We will also hold a marathon of 42km, this will be run at the same time as the 120km ultra. All competitors will start together, but the marathon runners will finish at the 42km rest station. For more information click here.
This race is of such extreme nature that it will be a serious undertaking to train hard enough to cope with the onslaught of the Namib on your body, covering 120km (75 miles) in the brief time span of 24 hours.
Contestants will be completely self reliant from the start of the race till the end, and will need to carry their food and equipment on their backs. Water stations and medical tents will be provided at 20km intervals along the route. Temperatures are expected to be in the region of min 5ºc / max 35 ºc but could also be more extreme.
Guiding and support
Our staff are taken from all walks of life, because that's where our clients come from. We choose our staff for their ability to operate under pressure, work as a team and for their boundless enthusiasm - they are what makes Across the Divide so different and why our clients keep coming back to us.
ALL our events will have a medic/and or Doctor and an Expedition Leader (EL). It is a requirement that all Across the Divide's Expedition Doctors and medics complete the Expedition Medicine Course before joining our staff team.
Most of our EL's have Mountain Leadership qualifications and all guides as well as EL's are selected for their sense of humour, outdoors experience and group leadership skills.
Guest reviews
William May, 2008 Namibia Ultra Competitor
It has to be the hardest thing I have done to date. It was an amazing experience, where I have made some great friends, enjoyed a new country and learn't alot about myself mentally and physically. ATD had it all organised to the highest of standards. Hopefully the race will continue to grow.
Andy McMenemy, Namibia Ultra 2008 Competitor
ATD have captured the spirit of Adventure Racing in this one event for me! I will sum it up in three words - DREAM, STRUGGLE, VICTORY. I was inspired by the ATD team, honoured to compete with such focussed and determined athletes as these guys and proud of my efforts against the odds. Thanks ATD
Pete Holdgate, 2008 Namibia Ultra Competitor
It was hot! It was hard! It was awesome! - A true Adventure.
This race is a must for individuals who wish to test their limits on physical and mental endurance.
Tour Highlights
Skeleton Coast - Oldest Desert in the World - Running - Extreme - Ultra Marathon - Challenging - 120km in 24 hours
Itinerary
Day 1
London Gatwick - Windhoek
Day 2 | Windhoek - Brandberg
On arrival at Hosea Kutako International airport, we transfer by bus to the starting point in the Namib Desert, where our camp will be set-up in the shadow of the stunning Brandberg Mountain – Namibia’s highest peak standing at 2,573 metres. Transfer time will be about 4 hours and expected time of arrival should be around 14:00 in the afternoon. Packed lunches and enough drinking water will be provided on the bus. On arrival at camp, we can settle in to camp and rest after our long journey, looking out onto the Namib Desert landscape at some breathtaking views.
Day 3 | Rest Day
Today is a complete rest day, so we can take our time to wake up, get to meet some of the race competitors and make our final preparations before the race. If we feel the need for some exercise, there is the option to take part in a short trek from camp to the foot of the Brandberg Mountain later in the afternoon.
Day 4 & 5 | April Race
It will be an early rise for us this morning for breakfast and last minute preparations before starting the race at 09:00am. The route for the race will be in a westerly direction towards the Skeleton Coast, following a line that is not quite straight but that swings from identifiable landscape feature to the next. The route will be marked clearly with brightly coloured flags spaced at visible intervals, and with water stops and a medical tent spaced at 20km intervals.
The race starts this morning at 09.00am, so we’ll need to be up early for breakfast and last minute kit preparations. The route heads almost directly west towards the Skeleton Coast, with the landscape constantly changing before us. The route will be clearly marked with brightly coloured flags spaced at visible intervals, and with water stops and a medical tent spaced at 20km intervals.
Day 6 | Free Day in SwakapMund & celebratory meal
Today is free to explore Swakopmund and the surrounding area at our leisure. There are a number of adventure activities available to take part in if we are not feeling too exhausted from the run. A gala meal will be held this evening to celebrate our achievements and soak up the weird and wonderful atmosphere of this unique post-colonial town.
Day 7 | Transfer to Windhoek
After breakfast at the lodge we board our bus and transfer back to the airport for our flight back home.
Across the Divide recognise its responsibility and is continually striving to reduce the environmental impact of the work we do and to minimise the impact of our challenges on the environment within which we operate. We are therefore committed to continual improvement in our environmental performance, preventing pollution and minimising our effects through a complete programme of achievable targets and then in turn to make our activities environmentally and socially positive.
There are many ways in which our activities can have a negative effect on the societies in which we travel. In turn there are also many positive opportunities for us to leave positive impact in these societies. We minimise negative impact and achieve positive impact in the following ways;
- We educate and inform challenge participants about environmental and social pressures in the areas they are traveling to via comprehensive pre-event briefing packs, and nightly briefings whilst on an event and encourage local conservation partners to give evening presentations of their work - We have a comprehensive Porter Protection Policy to protect the rights of the individuals and their families - Ensure a fare income for all locally employed staff. - Use local equipment and vehicles when we can - We purchase food from locally sourced providers - Avoid using foreign owned accommodation –instead where possible we use locally owned and run accommodation - Discourage local begging and giving of short term cash gifts - Provide local support for a minimum of five years providing not only funds but also specialist help and advice. - Employ agents and use camp locations which are not foreign owned therefore ensuring income is kept in country whenever possible. - Encourage maximum communications between locals and participants to encourage mutual understanding and respect between cultures - We organise as part of the challenges cultural exchanges both sporting and social. - Employ local guest speakers to talk about their societies and culture
As well as the effect we can have on local cultures we can also provide a positive effect on the environments in which we travel and the broader worldwide environment. We pursue positive impact in the following ways;
- In the planning stages of establishing a new challenge we take into consideration any environmental, cultural, economic and political issues before committing ourselves to operating in an area. - Avoid the burning of wood whenever possible to avoid local deforestation - Achieve zero litter, and when appropriate remove local litter - Avoid pollution from our camp and accommodation activities - Achieve zero damage and impact to local flora and fauna - Encourage understanding of the local environment and its fragilities - Encourage the eating of local foods therefore preserving traditional farming practice - Encourage the use of biodegradable products especially washing products. - Ensure good practice on all toilet activities, i.e. avoiding pollution to water courses - Avoid the purchase of tourist products which impact in wildlife and the environment - Ensure waste is minimized and recycled whenever possible. - Minimise the consumption of water
In Namibia our charity expeditions have contributed a great deal to both the local community and impacted positively to the conservation of the fragile eco-system.
It is a fact that the benefits of your charity walk or challenge are far more widely reaching than you can ever imagine.
Our Trusted Partner's Responsible and Sustainable Travel Policy
Below is our Environmental and Social Impact Policy. It is a written statement on our mission in relation to managing the environmental effects and aspects of our operation. The policy states the aims and principals of our organisation with respect to our impact on the environment. This is a working document and we are committed to making a continual improvement.
MISSION STATEMENT We recognise our responsibility and are continually striving to reduce the environmental impact of the work we do and minimise the impact of our challenges on the environment within which we operate. We are therefore committed to continual improvement in our environmental performance, preventing pollution and minimising our effects through a complete programme of achievable targets and then in turn to make our activities environmentally and socially positive.
STANDARDS Based on the broad range and far-reaching activities of our business there are a number of areas of potential effect and in turn areas of action. We aim to achieve our objectives in these following areas:
1. Overseas events - Local cultures and economies 2. Overseas events - Local environment 3. Office administration 4. Staffing 5. CSR events specific 6. UK events specific 7. Suppliers policy 8. Information to customers and participants 9. Transport and travel
OBJECTIVES Our 2009 active objectives are:
1. By 2009 we aim to add two new projects to the current 10 projects which provide long term local environmental and/or social support 2. By 2009 we aim to ensure that in country agents’ companies are locally owned and based on 95% of our overseas trips 3. By 2009 we aim to include an environmental impact plan into all new event planning reports 4. BY 2009 we aim for all local staff on overseas events to have a good income from working on the events supported through a minimum tip system. 5. By 2009 we aim for all of our overseas participants to be aware of the options listed in our Transport and Travel Policy including the carbon offset facility 6. By 2009 we aim to include biodegradable washing products on all participant kit lists. 7. By 2009 we aim to include a waste management process into all new and existing trip plans. 8. By 2009 we aim for all purchased paper to be recycled and to purchase four more office products which are recycled. 9. By 2009 we aim to reduce our office paper consumption by 30%. 10. By 2009 we aim to recycle 70% of all office waste. 11. By 2009 we aim to work from premises which reach all current environmental standards and utilize sustainable sources of heating and power. 12. By 2009 we aim for all staff to be fully aware of our environmental and social policy targets 13. By 2009 we aim to provide comprehensive recycling facilities on all UK events 14. By 2009 we aim for all UK events staff will be paid a salary which includes travel therefore encouraging more local staff on events 15. By 2009 we aim for all event staff instructions to include environmental impact notes 16. By 2009 we aim for specific environmental impact management plans to be included in all event manuals
About our Trusted Partner
Across the Divide have been running charity and corporate events for over 12 years. They have taken 1000's of fundraisers on international and UK events and have helped raise over £30 million for worthy causes.
Across the Divide pride themselves on being the safest around offering the best for their clients. The events are often life changing experiences; you visit amazing parts of the world, learn about different cultures and share the spirit of adventure with like-minded people, this makes Across the Divide one of the leading UK adventure travel companies.
We offer charity projects, charity hikes, multi activity challengs, expeditions and corporate social responsibility projects.
In order to use the Send to a Friend facility you must be logged in.
Please either log in above, or register if you are not already a friend of Nature & Kind.
