There are no sunrises anywhere in the world quite like those of southern Africa’s bush veldt. A gigantic blood-orangte orb rose up above Mapungubwe’s ancient hills on the final day of theNedbank #TourDeTuli, signalling a 70km-plus ride into the Maramani Community area of Zimbabwe.
Issues around entry into Zimbabwe had dogged the organisers, but somehow Nicola Harris pulled it all together on the final day, and the full complement of riders set off across the Sashi River into the wonderland of rock, sand and elephant tracks awaiting us beyond the border.
Gargantuan baobabs, badass dropoffs, euphorbia glades, slavering community mongrels, buffalo thorn gulleys, pulled-pork burgers at the brunch stop, some serious gat-oor-kop endo action and some beaut single-tracks combined for a final few hours of gritty #MTB bliss.
And then, on the final grinding climb into #MapungubweTransfrontier Park Main Camp, you suddenly realise it is all done, with another #TourDeTuli coming to an end. And all you want to do is head back to Limpop Valley Airfield, and start again, and not say goodbye to the amazing group of people who make all of this possible every year.
Well done to every one from Wilderness Safaris, Tour de Wilderness, Nedbank, Land Rover Owners Club of Southern Africa, Super Group Ltd, Children in the Wilderness,Foodloversmarket, Buff South Africa, SANParks Honorary Rangers and all the other companies and individuals who make this happen. You guys rock!
For more information and to enter for next year, go and check out www.tourdetuli.com or www.childreninthewildernes
Click here to view the pics