WHAT WE’ RE BUILDING
Productive change, from top: a new borehole for Blaauwater Farms; lush pasture for
Avontuur.
Water in the desert Blaauwater Farm, home to the Kingwill family, is nestled deep within the arid expanses of the Karoo. This location posed a significant challenge: there was insufficient water supply for the demands of a Burn Camp for even a single night, let alone two. The team, led by the Kingwills, undertook a major infrastructure project to drill a borehole and construct a 175 000-litre reservoir. Nicknamed Bicycle, the borehole reaches 56 metres into fractured Karoo rock and delivers remarkably clean water with a taste as pure as the landscape is harsh. Embracing the project as a family affair, even the Kingwill children actively participated in the construction of the reservoir, highlighting the collaborative spirit that is Nedbank Gravel Burn.
Farming connections At Merino Farm, predominantly centred around livestock( notably merino sheep), you’ ll find yourself immersed in pristine wilderness, greeted by indigenous wildlife and awe-inspiring natural beauty. Here, careful land-clearing initiatives ensure minimal environmental impact, increasing grass grazing land for the sheep while maintaining the integrity of the natural setting. Similarly, at Gwanishi – in a productive dairy belt along the Great Fish River – you’ ll experience a truly remote, yet comfortable camping experience on a lush grassed feed pivot as the Burn Camp fosters a genuine connection to the dairy cow region.
A GRAND FINISH AT SHAMWARI
The finale of Nedbank Gravel Burn at the iconic Shamwari Private Game Reserve is nothing short of extraordinary. You’ ll enter a wilderness area that is home to Africa’ s renowned Big Five – lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant. Through building a semipermanent Burn Camp at the finish line at Shamwari’ s Amanzi Camp, riders will enjoy a reflective celebration filled with camaraderie and profound appreciation of the remarkable journey just completed. It’ s a moment designed not just to mark the end of a race but to cement bonds and create lasting memories.
A LEGACY THAT ENDURES
Nedbank Gravel Burn’ s efforts to provide the ultimate rider experience go hand-in-hand with leaving a lasting legacy, investing in communities and cultivating connections. Richard sums it up best.“ This race is a collective project, supported equally by farmers, communities and riders. We’ re not just racing through, we’ re building foundations, creating opportunities and bringing sport tourism to the Eastern Cape.” Indeed, the essence of the Nedbank Gravel Burn is encapsulated not merely in the race itself, but in the shared future and achievements that will remain long after the final finishline has been crossed.
56 NEDBANK GRAVEL BURN