It’s already November, and everyone at Lindani is hard at work making sure the farm is ready to receive guests. Even the animals are putting their best foot forward!

Thanks to our guest Izabella Gates for this stunning picture of a warthog family visiting Maroela Cottage.

ACTION-FILLED OCTOBER!

October at Lindani proved to be really quite action-filled!
Firstly, Nico Sterk brought a team (the Sterk Span) of Desert Dash cyclists for a training camp on the Lindani tracks. Lindani was delighted to have hosted about 25 people in several of its lodges and we hope and trust that their time and training in the Waterberg will stand them in good stead for this gruelling event!

But the highlight of the month, was the first Top of the Waterberg 120km/30km gravel ride and 100km/30km gravel run which took place 16 October. Traversing the Waterberg escarpment, trail runners and cyclists were assured of a unique experience through pristine Waterberg bushveld!
Braving a brutal October heat-wave, participants proved themselves to be well up to the challenge!
Wilhelmus Potgieter came in first on the 120km cycle (male) race with an awesome time of 05hrs13 minutes and Sue Wadley-Seddon was the first female in with an amazing time of 06hrs05!
On the 30km cycle, winners were Carl Marais (Male) and Sasha Basson (female), each of them completing the Mini Challenge in just under one and a half hours!
And hats really need to be taken off to the 100km runners! It took the first man in, Henk Mulder, 10hrs38 to cross over the finish line – an incredible time, especially given the blistering temperatures of the day!
Truly inspiring admiration, were Suzette Von Broembson, (winning the female 100km race), Donovon Shirley and Arno Van Der Merwe, coming in in a staggering 13, 14 and 15 hours respectively!
We can only salute their courage, determination and sheer will power!
Well done to all the winners– an incredible achievement!

Of course, there was also the invaluable contribution of surrounding farms and local businesses. Solly Potgieter from Burkea Wild took full responsibility for one of the 8 water tables, and Jembisa, Mokabi and EdiTala Game Farm, helped to man another three.
With local companies, Adventures with Elephants, HOCL Solutions and Core Studios sponsoring products and prizes for a lucky draw, the event truly saw buy-in from the Waterberg community!
Thanks, of course, also needs to be given to the other sponsors, Thule and PVM, all making for a wonderful and successful event.
But the emphasis of the Top of the Waterberg event is not merely on winning!
It is the express purpose of the race organisers to be as inclusive as possible and for people to have fun! Being family friendly is a high priority, as is involving the local community. E-bikes are encouraged and it was a delight to see husbands, wives, moms, dads and kids riding together. The youngest entry was 8 year old Ben Wadley, who did incredibly well coming in at just under two hours. It was also a pleasure to have had Messege Langa from The Bushveld Mission Children’s Home, Vaalwater, ride his first 30km Mini challenge. So, too, was it exciting to see Messege’s 17 year old friend , Kamogelo Willem, take second place in the 30km race!

Some comments from the contestants include: “A beautiful venue”, “super well organised event”, “awesome water tables”, “great route” and “really good back-up”
“Overall a lekker day out just doing what we love” – Henk Mulder.

A big thank you to the Lindani and Trail Adventure staff and management, for their dedication and commitment in making our first Top of the Waterberg Gravel event a great success!
We look forward to many more!

And so we move headlong towards the end of the year, with Christmas around the corner.

Wishing you all a wonderful month, with particularly good wishes for all students writing exams! And lots of luck for the support teams too!

Warmest regards,
Cathy, and the Lindani Team