Klipspringer Challenge 2025

Getting to Khamkirri / Day One Start

Getting to Khamkirri

For runners staying in the Park itself, as well as in the vicinity of the Park:

Getting There:

  1. Leave the Park on Saturday morning in your own vehicle, heading back towards Kakamas.
  2. Measured from the Park, at about 14km take the turn-off to the left into the town of Augrabies. There is no official “Town” sign, but there is a very prominent “SAPS Augrabies” brown sign right before the turn off. (FYI for runners coming from the OTHER direction for any reason, the turn-off is 22km from the central traffic light / KFC / Caltex Garage in Kakamas, and it is a turn to the right. There is also a prominent “SAPS Augrabies” brown sign coming from this direction.)
  3. Continue straight on the tar road until the T-Junction. Please drive slowly as this takes you through the small community of Augrabies.
  4. At the T-Junction turn LEFT and then IMMEDIATELY RIGHT, staying on the tar.
  5. Continue past the small red shop. The road becomes gravel at a point.
  6. You will see the first Khamkirri sign as you approach the low water bridge.
  7. From here just follow the Khamkirri signs. There is one point to look out for where a gravel road continues straight BUT you will be turning right. This is clearly signposted with a Khamkirri sign.
  8. Follow the gravel road all the way to another T-Junction (on the river flood levee, if anybody is interested), where you will turn LEFT (also Khamkirri signposted).
  9. A few hundred metres on is the gated entrance to the Khamkirri ferry launching point (also signposted). This should be obvious from the cars and activity.
  10. Parking is here along the farm road. There is plenty of space for everyone so please park considerately, and leave the road open for at least single lane traffic. (At the end of the road here is a convenient turnaround point which we will keep clear). Please note that we will have car guards looking after your cars so don’t stress, but it is still always a good idea not to leave visible valuables anywhere in your cars. Including running shoes.
  11. After parking you will make your way through the gate for about 200m on foot towards the River. It is unfortunately impossible to predict, but the canals may be open, which will entail walking through some water. This water will AT WORST be ankle-deep, but there’s no way around it. We assume most runners will not want wet shoes before even starting to run, so we recommend that you brink sandals / plakkies with you to walk through this water and save your shoes and socks. There will be a facility at the Khamkirri Rest Camp over the River for you to leave the sandals / plakkies there and pick them up on your way back. (It is very possible to walk here barefeet, and we know some of you Noordkaapers are tough, but it will be easier on the feet, in the dark, to have sandals). Also, although the sun will be up for the Start, your approach to the Start, including the Ferry, is likely to be in the dark, so it is recommended that you bring your headlamps
  12. Please drive slowly on the gravel roads through the vineyards. These are private farm roads that the farmers have very kindly allowed us to use, and we do not want to cover their vines in dust. Test drive today showed that at 30km/h – 35km/h there is very little dust thrown up, but it kicks in properly at 45km/h. Cooperation is appreciated here.
  13. At the River you will get to the Khamkirri Ferry Launch point, where you will board the Ferry on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please can challenge runners ensure they get to the ferry early so you guys can get to the start before the lite runners who start 30min later.
  14. The Ferry will take 15-18 runners at a time, and will take just a couple of minutes to cross. The River is very calm and flat here.
  15. Once you get to the other side you will be in the Khamkirri Rest Camp and you will be shown where you can leave your plakkies / sandals and directed to a waiting shuttle, which will shuttle you to the official Start/Finish location which is about 10-12min away. The shuttles are easily sufficient, but you might have to wait a couple of minutes here. Please note that there will be nice warm coffee / tea / hot chocolate available as well as toilet facilities at the Rest Camp but none at the start.
  16. At the Start things will be obvious. Remember Challenge starts at 07h00 and Lite at 07h30, but in the event of any delays here don’t panic, we’ll wait for you (unless your reason for being late is just because you overslept!)

Getting Back:

  1. After some fantastic desert running, you will Finish at the same point as the Start, and then the process works in reverse.
  2. The Day One Race Village will be situated at Khamkirri.
  3. The shuttle will be making regular trips from the finish back to Khamkirri (we estimate every 45min or so) where you will catch the return Ferry back to your car.
  4. Budget for spending some time at Khamkirri – Race Physios will be operating on the spectacular riverbanks; there will be more great food and of course magnificently thirst-quenching Bushman Brewing Co. fresh beer and specialty gin! They also have probably the most magnificent deck and leisure area on the entire length of the Orange River where you can kick back with a drink and feel good about what you’ve just accomplished. There is even very cool and safe swimming to be had in the mighty Orange River!
  5. You will then head back to your car and go get ready for Day Two!!
  6. Please remember our self-imposed speed limit on the way back out, and remember that the Khamkirri signs are aiming the other way, but at least now it will be light. If you enter your destination into your navigation system, it actually does pick up these private farm roads.

For runners coming from Upington or similar on the Northern side of the River:

From Upington the way to Khamkirri is signposted clearly the whole way. Follow the Riemvasmaak / Namibia (N10) turn off just North of the Orange River Bridge on the Upington side of Kakamas. The turn off here is pretty much impossible to miss. Follow the Riemvasmaak signs at every junction. There is 3km of tar road, then 4km of good dirt road to the Riemvasmaak / Lutzputs split (follow Riemvasmaak to the left). After 20.5km of direct good dirt road you will come to the small community of Vaaldrift, and about 1km further on is the Khamkirri Resort on your left. Please note that there will be warming coffee / tea / hot chocolate available at Khamkirri as well as toilet facilities, but NOT at the Start / Finish. Runners are welcome to park at Khamkirri and make use of the Race Shuttles that will be shuttling runners between Khamkirri and the Start / Finish. If you drive all the way, the Start / Finish area will be situated about 1km further down the road from Khamkirri, and you will be able to park. Rough estimates are that you should budget 60-90 minutes to get there from either Augrabies or Upington. These are all working farm roads, so please park considerately.

Day Two: Khamkirri to Park

For runners staying at Khamkirri or surrounds, the Ferry and Shuttle process will operate identically in reverse. Runners wishing to use this service can purchase a ticket as part of their entry on the entry system as an additional product for R100.