The sought-after Oxpecker Trail Run is a 2-day trail run that takes place in a small country town called Winterton, halfway between JHB and Durban. This event is run by the Green family, who are passionate about trail running.

Please note: The Yellow-Billed, Red-billed, and African events are all the same format the only difference is that there is prize money on the African event. 

Race Details 

Distances:

Saturday 21km

Sunday 15km

Venue:

Em'seni Camp, R600, Winterton, Central Drakensberg, KZN.

Winterton is 2 hours from Durban and 3 hours from JHB.

Entries:

Thursday 1 July 2021 06:00 - We really appreciate all our Oxpecker runners and have allocated 2 days for 2021 finishers to enter the Oxpecker.

Saturday 3 July 2021 08:00 - The entries open to all eager runners.

Entry fee: 

Oxpecker running entry fee - R2640

This includes:

- 6 delicious meals (Friday night, Saturday breakfast, lunch and supper, Sunday breakfast and lunch)

- Thoughtful trails specially designed for trail runners. Our passionate route crew works annually on designing the BEST possible course. All the trails are on private land.

- Goodie bag.

- Permanent and clean toilets and showers.

- Well stocked, exotic water points. Day 1 - two water points. Day 2 - one water point.

- Surprise location sundowner trip on Saturday afternoon with experienced history talk. (Highly recommended)

- Fully setup race village which includes the main marquee, the official Oxpecker shop, the bar, the hotbox.

- The Hotbox: 24-hour coffee/tea station with heaters and special goodies. This is something we really put a lot of effort into!

- An evening bush joll called the Stiff-Legged Joll, with bonfires and so much Oxpecker gees!

- 24-hour medical on site.

Accommodation:

We have a number of different accommodation options available for you. Should you want to share with a friend you can share the tent cost with your friend.

Oxpecker tent: a canvas tent with a mattress. R400

Solo - R2640 race entry + R400 standard tent

Sharing - R2640 race entry + R200 each

Kudu tent: a big canvas tent with a proper bed inside. R1600

Solo - R2640 race entry + R1600 kudu tent

Sharing - R2640 race entry + R800 kudu tent

New: Weaver tent: a big canvas tent with proper beds and linen. R2800

Solo - R2640 race entry + R2800 weaver tent

Sharing - R2640 race entry + R1400 weaver tent

Kingfisher tent: a bigger canvas tent with proper beds inside, linen included, veranda, side table and lamp and chairs outside. R3200

Solo - R2640 race entry + R3200 kingfisher tent

Sharing - R2640 race entry + R1600 kingfisher tent

Rooms in race village: A room in the race village which consists of 2 bunk beds and a plug point. Sleeps 4. R2800 - you get the whole room to yourself. 

Solo - R2640 race entry + R2800 per room

Sharing - R2640 race entry + R700 (if 4 friends share)

Supporter packages:

We love our special supporters and have decided to open up support packages at a later stage when we are sure we can host supporters.

Route descriptions:

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. This last 5 km section takes runners home along a handmade track under beautiful trees along the river bank before arriving at the finish at Emseni.

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 bushveld 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.

Never run the Oxpecker? Here is some feedback regarding the trails.

"Best experience ever. Both days completely different from each other but spectacular nonetheless." Jamie Lodge

"Being a novice I loved that there was enough of a challenge for the fit yet we could all compete & enjoy the challenge. Felt safe but never out of my depth - beautiful scenery. I am a walker & my husband a runner great we could compete together." Kerry Harper