Just a reminder that the first of our Top of the Waterberg Event – the new-look Trail Run, is set for 27 May. This year’s run will be a one-day event, with beautiful trails catering to everybody’s needs: 47kms, 24kms, 12kms and 6kms (free entry). We hope to see some of our old Top of the Waterberg friends back again!

Entries open 1 March 2023: https://www.entryninja.com/

February, of course, is the month of romance, and love is in the air! So take advantage of our Valentine’s month discounted rates – 10% off all bookings for the whole month! For those looking for something extra special for that extra special person, do look at our Valentine’s Day package

We are pleased to say that we have seen guests increasingly making use of the Lindani Farm Kitchen, necessitating the need for more hands to help with the processing of our delicious home-made meals. Stefina from the office, who used to help out in the kitchen from time to time, has now moved over permanently. We are sure that her love for cooking and her enthusiasm in this area will be a welcome addition to our food and beverage manager, Dikeledi and her team!

We welcome Maria Mkansi to the Lindani staff, where she will be assisting our office manager Martha in the front-line and reservations functions, as well as aiding in general office admin. We also welcome Tom Nevin to Lindani on a full-time basis. Tom has been involved with Lindani for some time now, being responsible for some of our social media and marketing material over the last few months. Not only is he talented in this field, but brings a wealth of experience from his work in internationally recognised lodges in Kenya and Tanzania. While continuing to provide content for our social media platforms, he will also be responsible for overseeing and implementing more efficient operational systems and procedures. He will further take on the responsibility of growing the M.I.C.E and weddings markets.

We are delighted to have these two join the Lindani Team and look forward to a year of new and exciting projects!

Welcome everybody to 2023! I trust you all had a wonderful break over the festive season and that you have returned to work, feeling refreshed and revitalised!
Certainly at Lindani, we are back in full swing on the maintenance and repair-work routine, having had fabulous bookings over Christmas and New Year. Our new electric vehicle as purchased at the end of last year, is truly being put to the test, zooting around between the lodges – quite fun, if somewhat bumpy, according to driver, Johannes Mosima! We are trying this out as a cheaper option for running between the lodges and if it works, we may look at getting a couple more! As we have been having a period of the most glorious sunny weather, there’s lots of lovely solar power available for this.

For our January guests, the beautiful weather means they will be able to make good use of the lodge swimming pools. Having had good rains in December, the rivers are flowing strong and fast, so much fun can be had, swimming at the various picnic spots!

We are so happy to be having the Ride for Rhino group stay with us again at Motseng, at the end of January. Once again, Belinda Chaffer will be bringing a group of riders (on horse- back –not mountain bikes!) to the Waterberg, to help raise funds for rhino conservation and community support in the region. We look forward to meeting the group and trust they will have a wonderful and successful stay!

As stage 6 of country-wide power outages continues un-abated, we hope you will not find your work and home environment too stressful! Remember, if you need a quick get-away from it all, we are a mere two and a half hour’s drive away from Gauteng! Enjoy lounging around the pool(with new loungers installed in several of the lodges in December), reading a book under a spreading tree, a casual walk through shady forests or a gentle cycle in the cool of the early morning or late afternoon – with no worries about loadshedding!

Hope to see you soon!

As we come to our last newsletter of 2022, we look back on a year that has been exciting, but not without its challenges!

Our new online booking platform has proven to be a huge success, bringing Lindani a host of new guests and adding a number of new features. These have helped to make bookings and reservations more efficient , more easily manageable and more quantifiable. We have, however, endured a few teething problems, particularly around communication with some of our Extranet partners. Hopefully we have ironed most of these out by now, and look forward to a new year of easy-to-manage, user friendly booking processes.

As everyone is aware, South Africa has been dogged by power outages and rolling blackouts in the latter half of the year. If we thought being off the grid would offer immunity from the ravages of load shedding, we failed to take into account that the cell phone towers are dependent on electricity. With battery back-up to the towers being insufficient or non-existent, we are often left with either no means of communication or lines of communication that are frustratingly slow! Who will forget our soaring stress levels, on the night before the Top of the Waterberg Gravel event, when the collapse of the towers coincided with the breakdown of our Wi Fi system! Fortunately, with a good deal of luck (and prayer) our service providers came to the rescue at the last moment and we were able to continue with the event, unhindered.

Our three Top of the Waterberg races were, once again, a great success, gaining a reputation for being well run, family oriented and community based events, traversing some of the most beautiful parts of Lindani and its surrounds. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2023: Trail run 27 May 2023; Mountain Bike Challenge 15 July 2023 and the Gravel Ride OR run 28 October 2023.

One of the highlights of the year, was the denning of one of the Waterberg’s last remaining, free roaming wild dog packs on Lindani. The setting up of camera traps by Marelize Greyling from the Waterberg Research Support Centre, allowed us some unique views of these endangered animals. It was a further privilege to have been peripherally involved in the collaring of one of the pack by Derek Van Der Merwe from the EWT.
This year has seen several groups of guests celebrating special occasions at Lindani – weddings, anniversaries, 50th school reunions and large family get-togethers. We consider it a very great honour to have been able to host these at Lindani and hope that we have contributed to some wonderful memories in the beautiful Waterberg!

Finally, we wish you all a blessed Christmas and everything of the best for 2023. For those of you who will be on the roads over the festive season, we wish you safe travels.

What a great day of gravel riding was had by all. Traversing the beautiful Waterberg escarpment was indeed a treat! Well done to all who took part.

We were blessed with lovely cool weather; a stark contrast to the 40+ degree scorcher we had last year! The rains in the week prior to the race were a bonus, helping to compact the surface nicely for gravel riding.The fresh headwinds on the final third of the 130km route, did however, make it feel as though the already- challenging 130km loop was one continuous uphill! Well done to all who conquered that bite of a climb 15km from the finish of the 130 km route.

We had two riders enter this year on gravel bikes instead of their trusted mountain bikes, the encouraging feedback being that the routes are very well suited to gravel bikes on the whole.

By all accounts people loved the new section through Jembisa Private Game Reserve. The feedback has been very positive, and we will be keeping this section as part of the route for next year’s race.

Well done to our overall winners:
130km
-Rohan Du Plooy was in a league of his own in the men’s 130km, winning in an impressive 4h 44m (27km/h).
-Jessica Edwards took the honours for the 130km ladies overall, also in an impressive time of 5h 53m, averaging just under 22km/h. Interestingly, Jess was one of the two entrants who chose to use a gravel bike.
-Our Master Men’s category was super competitive. The first three ‘ballies’ finished in the top seven: a very impressive ride by Awie Hattingh, finishing second overall in a time of 5h16 (24.5km/h), Dobri Stanisavljevic came fourth overall in 5h 39 (22.7km/h), and Johan Joubert, seventh overall in 5h 44 (22.3km/h).

42km

• The men’s 42 km was won by local rider Livingston Banda who took the honours in a time of 1h 37 (26km/h)
• The ladies’ 42km was won by Jolande Marais (who also grew up in the area) in a time of 1h 53m (22km/h)

16km

• Chris Shields made short work of the 16km route, taking the win in a blistering 49min.

A summary of the results is listed below, and a full set of results can be found on:
www.rorevents.co.za

Photos of the day have been uploaded onto an album on our Top of the Waterberg Facebook page.

Each year we run three Top of the Waterberg events. The dates (still to be confirmed) for next year’s events are:

• Trail Run: 22 & 23 April
• Mountain Bike: 15 July
• Gravel event : 28 October

Diarise these dates! We can’t wait to see you all back next year.

Looking for something fun to do after the Gravel Ride this weekend?

Visit Vaalwater’s very first Oktoberfest! It will be a day to remember with good food, live entertainment, stalls, a benefit shoot and much more. See more info on the event HERE

Lindani will once again be hosting our annual Top of the Waterberg Gravel Ride on the 29th of October. We have three routes planned: 130km, 42km, and 16km, which will take you around the beautiful Waterberg escarpment. In addition to riding with wildlife on Lindani, those doing the 130km and 42km will also be treated to riding a beautiful new section through Jembisa private reserve as well.

Date: 29th October 2022
Venue: Lindani Game & Lodges (Motseng lodge), Vaalwater, Limpopo (2½hr drive from Pretoria)
GPS: 24o03’03.52”S, 28o20’31.17”E

Distances: 130km (Ages 19years & older) | 42km (15years & older) | 16km (All ages)

Terrain: Gravel Road and Jeep tracks. Gravel Bikes will be fine on all the terrain but some sections are better suited to mountain bikes.

E-Bikes welcome

ENTRTY
Enter online on EntryNinja or ROR events: https://www.entryninja.com/events/78219-top-of-the-waterberg-gravel

130km – R470
42km – R350
16km – R250

All Entrants will receive a pair of custom VERSUS socks and all finishers will receive a Top of the Waterberg medal.

Online Entries Close Midnight Wednesday 26th October 2022

CSA sanctioned Event for 130km and 42km Distances
CSA license applies. R50 day license for non-licensed riders

Number Collections & Late Entries
Date Friday 28th October
Time 16h00 to 18h00
Venue Lindani Game & Lodges (Motseng lodge, gate no1

Date Saturday 29th October
Time 05h00 to 05h45
Venue Lindani Game & Lodges (Motseng lodge, gate no1)

PRIZES
All finishers will receive a Top of the Waterberg Medal.

130 km
• 1st Men overall – 2 nights stay at Jembisa private reserve for 4 people in Samia Cabin
• 1st Lady Overall – 2 nights stay at Lindani for 4 people out of peak season in either Bushcamp, Thabeng, Impala or Bushbuck cottage.

43 km
• 1st Men overall – 2 nights stay at Lindani for 4 people out of peak season in either Bushcamp, Thabeng, Impala or Bushbuck cottage.
• 1st Lady Overall – 2 nights stay at Jembisa private reserve for 4 people in Samia Cabin

Podium Presentation for the different categories of the three distances (no cash prizes)

EVENT PROGRAM Saturday 29th October

• 06h00 130 km
• 08h00 42 km
• 08h10 16 km

Depending on the number of E-Bike entries, the organiser’s will use their discretion as to whether E-Bikes will start 10min before the start of each distance or together.

Prize giving and podium presentation will take place once all categories of a distance have finished

ACCOMMODATION

• Lindani Game & Lodges – There are many self-catering lodges, a luxury tented camp as well as camping to choose from. Book online www.lindani.co.za or contact the office on 083 631 5579 or info@lindani.co.za for list of options

• Jembisa – There are catered and self-catering options available. Book online www.jembisa.com or contact the office on 082 570 8474 or reservations@jembisa.com for their special race rates.

• For a comprehensive list of other accommodation options in area contact the Lindani office on 083 631 5579 or info@lindani.co.za and request for the list of places to stay for the race.

** Be sure to book your accommodation early as there is another fund raising school event happening in Vaalwater on the same day **

ROUTES

130 km (19 years and older)

Distance 130 km Climbing:1760 m

Route Description
A beautifully scenic ride traversing the Waterberg escarpment. Starting and finishing at Lindani, the route travels in a clockwise direction around the Phalala River catchment. Early on into the route, riders will have the opportunity to enjoy riding through the beautiful private reserve of Jembisa, where you might chance a view of some game or the spectacular Phalala River valley. After exiting Jembisa private reserve at the 22km mark, the route climbs steadily for about 70km on good district roads all the way to the top of Geelhoutkop (named after the yellow wood trees that grow there). Enjoy some stunning views before descending all the way back down to Lindani. There is a bite of a climb at 103km just to remind you that it’s not all freewheeling back home. The last 12 km through Lindani game farm is a real treat, where you will again have a chance to view wildlife while riding your bike. The final 3km section is on a fun flowing single track that will see you to the finish.

Water Points
There will be six well stocked water points for replenishing.
The water points are at 22km, 43km, 67km, 85km, 102km, and 118km
Although there are sufficient, well stocked water points, PLEASE ensure you carry sufficient Hydration and Nutrition BETWEEN water points.
130km cyclists to carry 2 water bottles

Road condition
Mostly in good riding condition with the odd very short rocky, corrugated, or sandy patch.
Cut Off Times
At 85km – 13h30

42km (15 years and older)

Distance 42 km Climbing: 500 m

Route Description
Be ready for a most enjoyable scenic 42km ride through a beautiful part of the Waterberg. Starting from Lindani, the route begins with a nice 12km flat stretch on district roads though the Melkrivier Valley, to warm up the legs. Riders will then be treated to a beautiful 10km section through Jembisa private reserve where you might chance a view of some game or the spectacular Phalala River valley. After exiting Jembisa private reserve, you will be treated to stunning views of the Lindani cliffs on your right, and the Phalala River Valley on your left as you head back towards the eastern entrance of Lindani, At 30km you will enter back into Lindani for a most enjoyable 12km section with the opportunity to ride amongst the wildlife. The final 3km section is on a fun flowing single track that will see you to the finish.

Water Points
There will be two well stocked water points for replenishing.
The water points are at 22 km and 32 km
Please be sure to always carry a water bottle to be refilled at the water points.

Road condition Mostly in good riding condition with the odd short patch of rocks or sand.

16km (All Ages)

Distance 16 km Climbing: 250 m

Route Description
16km of super-fun riding that takes place entirely on Lindani game farm, where riders will have the opportunity to ride amongst the wildlife. Although most of the ride occurs on very good farm roads, we have also included two non-technical and most enjoyable single-track sections: one takes you along the beautiful Kopperspruit, and the other is a fun flowing 3km stretch that sees you to the finish.

Road condition
The farm roads are in very good condition for riding. A 4kmand 3km non-technical section of single track is included which is mostly smooth surface, but there is the odd rocky patch where rides can walk if necessary.