VRYHEID: Trail runners encounter ‘real life’ lion on route

This past weekend, eight runners from Vryheid Athletics Club took part in the exciting iMfolozi Outrun two-day challenge, which was held in the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park. The runners completed 19km on Saturday, and on Sunday it was on animal single tracks. The runners braved the heat and humidity (which is synonymous with this time of year) in a beautiful, lush, green park. Hluhluwe iMfolozi, being a ‘Big 5’ park, is a sought-after destination for local and international visitors, and has also been hit hard financially by the Covid-19 pandemic. Being the oldest park in the world and the centre of a highly successful rhino breeding programme, runners jumped at the opportunity to enter this prestigious event. Tickets sold out within 24 hours of opening! Although game viewing was successful on the vehicular game drives (rhino, elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, kudu, impala, warthog and smaller animals like tortoise, chameleon and dung beetles), very few animals were seen on the run route, except for elephant from afar, impala and zebra. Runners are kept safe by park officials and honorary officers, who man the routes every 1.5km, and a helicopter warns elephant bulls and buffalo to not come too close. Despite these precautions, the runners had a terrifying ‘lion encounter’ with a ‘real-life’ stuffed lion that was strategically placed; accompanied with a roar triggered by a sensor! On Saturday afternoon, the athletes were spoilt with a gin sundowner session on the airfield, and on Saturday evening a live Jeremy Loops concert. You’ve just got to love ‘trail running’, as there’s never a dull moment out there. ALSO READ: VRYHEID: Athletes conquer Zingela Trail Run

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