WESSA Ultra Trail Festival
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WESSA Ultra Trail Festival
The WESSA Ultra Trail Festival is scheduled for 24 October 2026 at the WESSA uMngeni Nature Reserve in Howick. The event takes place across roughly 900 hectares of escarpments, rolling grasslands, indigenous forest and the uMngeni Valley. Routes include river crossings, cliffside trails, open plateaus, woodland singletrack and technical descents with valley views.
This special edition marks WESSA's 100 year legacy of conservation and is hosted within the reserve. Multiple timed loop courses are offered with varying distances and aid station support. Mandatory kit checks may be carried out before, during or after longer races.
Distances and basic course info:
- 100 km, 8 aid stations, elevation TBC
- 75 km, 6 aid stations, 2170 m elevation
- 48 km, 4 aid stations, 1616 m elevation
- 36 km, 4 aid stations, 1273 m elevation
- 18 km, 3 aid stations, 794 m elevation
- 12 km, 2 aid stations, 395 m elevation
- 5.85 km, 1 aid station, 169 m elevation
Compulsory kit listed for several courses includes a mobile phone with emergency contact, minimum 1 L hydration capacity, one energy bar or emergency nutrition, an emergency blanket, a torch or night light, a whistle and basic first aid supplies. Some shorter courses are noted as having no compulsory kit requirements. The venue is identified as WESSA uMngeni Nature Reserve, Howick. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
