Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 126, January 2020

Boutique Trail Run in the Eastern Cape ADVERTORIAL The Third Annual Great Zuurberg Trail Run The annual Great Zuurberg Trail Run is set to become one of the SA trail community’s most highly rated boutique wilderness running events. The local Zuurberg and Hayterdale trails are unarguably world class, ensuring an unequalled outdoor experience in the heart of the world-renowned Addo region of the Eastern Cape. Runners traverse four of the province’s seven biomes on a route capturing the natural nuances of both the national park and surrounds, all while indulging in the unashamed luxury of fully-catered accommodation, gourmet country cuisine and soulful mind space in breathtaking nature. wild horses... ...and unexplored mountain trails, where you can run until your heart and lungs feel like they will burst with the joys of being alive. Running with Dinosaur Plants Originally listed by Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg on a 1772 trip to the Eastern Cape, the ancient ‘bread palm’ cycads date back to the late Palaeozoic era. Fossils have been traced to 290-265 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the primal Zuurberg Mountains. The Encephalartos Longifolius species is only found in Africa and their toxic seeds nearly killed General Jan Smuts while his commandos were under siege from the British during the Anglo-Boer War. They survived, as did the cycads over the millennia... Their resistance to fire, hurricanes and droughts is part of the reason they are still standing proud along the Great Zuurberg Trail Run route. Zuurberg Mountain Village Inn The motto ‘Great Outdoors. Great Indoors. Great Impact’ certainly holds true at Great Zuurberg Trail Run, especially when it comes to accommodation. There are only a handful of establishments in the world able to emulate equal parts of country charm and exclusive luxury, and Zuurberg Mountain Village is one of them. A solid 150 years of history means this haven has stood the test of time here high above Zuurberg Pass. Part of the package is an easy drive to Addo Elephant National Park, exclusive access to 160 hectares of indigenous mountains, all with breathtaking views over the Sundays River Valley. Nature, wildlife, tranquillity and exclusivity, all in the most majestic African setting! 34 ISSUE 126 JANUARY 2020 / www.modernathlete.co.za Naturally High Zuurberg offers mountain air, endless single-track, a unique ecosystem and views unto eternity.

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 126, January 2020 | Page 34