Addo Elephant 82km Trail Run – Route Description

Start – Waterpoint (7km)

Waterpoint - CP1 (15.8km)

CP1 – CP2 (22.5km)

CP2 – CP3 (31.1km)

CP3 – CP4 (36.3km)

CP4 – CP5 (45.8km)

CP5 – CP6 (55.1km)

CP6 – CP7 (62.9km)

CP7 – CP8 (73.9km)

CP8 – Finish (82.2km)

Start: Lookout Lodge Parking area onto the tar road (R336).  Turn left, go over the Sundays River Bridge and continue into Kirkwood. Continue straight through the 4-way stop and continue straight on till you get to a T-Junction. 

Turn right at the T-Junction.

Run out of town onto a gravel road for 4kms, left into the National Park, climb up next 3kms and then drop for the next 3kms.  Climb up for 2kms then drop down und continue to the turn-around point before getting to check point No.1. This section is all on a small gravel road.

From Check Point No.1 to Check Point No.2 there are 2 steep climbs and drops. This section is all on a small gravel road.

After Check Point No.2 continue with a road through two gates and then branch left and start a climb through another gate and past a farm house 2kms after the gate. The trail now becomes a 4x4 track. Depending on what rainfall there has been there are multiple stream crossings before Check Point No.3. They vary from knee deep to rock hopping over them. This section is 4x4 track in shady trees.

After Check Point No. 3 there are about 3 more stream crossings, again depending on the recent weather. 1km after the Check Point there is a very steep climb of about 800meres long followed by a level section before the final climb of about 1.5kms to the top of the escarpment with 500m flat section to Check Point No.4

Check Pint No.4 to No.5 is an undulating 4x4 grassy stretch along the top of the escarpment with beautiful 360⁰ view.

After Check Point No. 5 the route starts the decent off the escarpment.  There is the gate out of the Park and through another small gate between the farms.  The route then joins a gravel road which winds down to a sharp right turn through a gate and then a short flat section to Check Point No.6

From Check Point No. 6 the route goes through grassy paddocks and a gat until you get to a stile over the Park fence. This section is a single path horse trail which follows the stream for the next 2kms. The path crosses the stream several times but unless there has been a lot of rain you will not get your feet wet. The path will then start climbing up out of the valley with a series of switch backs as you start getting near the top. From the stile the path is in a forest with lots of shade. The path eventually leaves the forest section and becomes rocky for the last section to the top. (If you are on this section after dark, it can be difficult to identify the path on the rocks, it will be marked, but if you are unsure, just continue upwards towards the lights of the houses at the top. When you get onto the ridge you will be able to see the light of the Zuurberg Mountain Inn away to your left.) From the top of the ridge continue down towards the Park Office building and through the green gate onto the gravel road which will lead you to Check Point No.7 at Zuurberg Mountain Inn.

From Check Point No.7 go back onto the main gravel road and follow it all the way down to Check Point No.8. This section is downhill and on a normal wide gravel road.

After Check Point No.8 continue straight along the gravel road until you get to the main Addo tar road. Cross straight across the main tar road onto another gravel road, there is a short section here until you cross over a railway line, turn left after the railway line and follow the markers through the Park gate. Follow the road along the fence up a hill for about 800m from here you will see the rest camp. Continue down along the fence and follow the markers to the finish at the Park rest camp.