Windhoek Light Fish River Canyon Ultra

For the 100km participants, they also commence their challenge from the race village, the difference being that they follow the edge of the canyon all the way to the hikers descent and view point (approx. 10km). At this point they will descend into the canyon, again at the bottom they will follow the Fish river all the way through to Ais Ais. It must be mentioned that the 100km option is an extremely demanding course, especially as the first 16km from the bottom of the descent to where the 100km meets the 60km route is extremely challenging and slow going. Much of the terrain is made up of clambering over large boulders, crossing the river over loose boulders and patches of dune sands.

Once down in the Canyon, they participants will follow the natural course of the river, occasional cutting away to negotiate their way across the vast bends that tend to get wider as they get further down stream. Depending on the amount of rain during the previous season and the water level in the river, competitors may be required to wade through water up to waist height at times. This will more than likely be an exception however and the general anticipated depth at any crossing should not be more than ankle deep.

When in the Canyon, competitors will be exposed to terrain varying from thick, soft river sand, to harder animal tracks in places and then the ever-present boulder fields that seem to go on forever. The memories of these boulder fields will however erode very quickly once Ai-Ais is reached and competitors get the chance to relax in the soothing water of the natural hot springs.