Merrell Transkei Tuff takes to a NEW LOCATION for 2023.

The 7 th chapter of the Merrell Transkei Tuff takes place in 2023 in a brand-new, never raced before location. The event, birthed at Wavecrest on the banks of the Nxaxo River, has grown tremendously

over the years with athletes and teams making the great journey from all around South Africa. The last two years took place in the Coffee Bay region and it’s now time for a new arena.

The Haven Hotel at the mouth of the great Mbashe River is officially the host venue for the 2023 Merrell Transkei Tuff. Nestled in the Dwesa Nature Reserve, this traditional Wild Coast hotel will be

Race Village for the 20 teams who are “tuff enuff” to take on the grueling challenge of being Transkei Tuff!

Known for its remote and unspoiled beaches, the Haven Hotel is the perfect venue to host the next chapter of this great race. Tourism has been slow to bounce back after the past few years and the team from Aloe Adventure hope to pump some adventure back into the region.

“There are many positives a race like this will bring to The Haven, for example, awareness of our locality and beautiful surroundings which is the perfect foil for an event of this nature, an opportunity to generate some income for the local community and the possibility of

growing a mutually beneficial and sustainable partnership with a great endurance group like Merrell Transkei Tuff”, shares Sue Rayment of the Haven Hotel.

Teams can expect to race through some of the toughest and most remote locations yet to be seen on a Merrell Transkei Tuff. “The landscape lends itself to make things quite difficult for the team. We

are surrounded by multiple canyons that cut off the hotel from the rest of the world” shares Race Director, Bruce Viaene. Teams will have to work together to transverse the undulating terrain of the

Mbashe canyon and be prepared to spend hours looking for the right cattle path to get to the next CP.

“The Wild Coast isn’t flat unless you are running or cycling on the beach and that comes with its own challenges”, continues Viaene. With what feels like endless forests, waterfalls, and rivers, this is

a truly unique section of the Wild Coast and the first time for the Merrell Transkei Tuff Teams. The winning time is expected to take 18 hours with the last team in at 30 hours. There will be two race

distances to suit each team’s experience.

Part of the AR World Series, the Merrell Transkei Tuff is one of five stops on the African Championships Series, with teams racing hard for the coveted points to be crowned African AR Champions. “We are ecstatic to have Merrell Transkei Tuff as part of the premier African Series. This is the most spectacular area in South Africa and there is no better paradise than the Wild Coast to have a true African experience” shares ARWS CEO Heidi Muller.

The winner of the African Championships will win an entry into the 2024 World Championships taking place in Ecuador.

Merrell has been a partner of the event since its birth in 2016. Since then, Merrell has partnered with the ARWS and has been an integral part of growing Adventure Racing in South Africa. Without

the support of Merrell, Adventure Racing would not be the amazing sport it is.

Early Bird Entries Open on 15 December with either camping or chalets options available. Space is limited due to the nature of the event, and location and teams are expected to bring their own kayaks to this remote part of the world. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race deep in the Wildest Coast.