Are you ready for Expedition Africa 2017?

Expedition Africa kicks off this week in none other than the Eastern Cape’s Adventure Province, where athletes will tackle this year’s gruelling adventure of over 500km’s of mountain biking, kayaking, abseiling, trekking and so much more.

39 teams from all over the world have begun descending onto the sandy beach of Cape St Francis Resort. Host venue to this year’s exciting yet, challenging experience are ready to welcome each athlete and team media to their resort.

Official media are expected to arrive today, where they will endure an experience of a life time at the Addo Elephant Park and Cape St Francis prior the events opening ceremony on Friday evening.

Bruce Viaene and Andreas Strandh arrived at Cape St Francis Resort on Wednesday afternoon, ready to take on their media tour at Addo Elephant Park, where official media will endure a game drive safari and zip line before residing at the Cosmos Cuisine for the night. Port St Francis will then host the group for a calamari tasting before returning to the resort in time for registration.

The well anticipated race will kick off on Sunday morning; 14 May 2017 at 7am. Families, friends and supporters alike can cheer on their teams via the live tracking feed which will feature a leader board, all transition areas and checkpoints along the route. Witness your favourite team’s progress on www.expafrica.live as they take on a race of a lifetime.

The organisers, Stephan & Heidi Muller have once again kept the start of Expedition Africa a secret.  Media, supporters and athletes will only receive communication regarding the route, disciplines and transitions incorporated in this year’s race at the opening ceremony which will take place at Cape St Francis Resorts on Friday afternoon; 12th May 2017 at 2pm.

A festive ‘Flag Parade’ will take place on Saturday morning at 11h00, where supporters, family and friends are invited to join in the festivities.  All 39 teams will parade their respective countries flag in a walk along the beach from Cape St Francis Resort to the famous Cape St Francis Lighthouse.

Local supporters will have the opportunity to meet these amazing athletes in designated Transition areas all visible on the live tracking event page. This year, organisers are using the SPOT Gen3 satellite tracking device from Globalstar Africa, the leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies.  Due to the very remote destination of the event these ‘off the grid’ units have been tested, creating the way forward for Expedition Africa.” It is of utmost important for us to know at all times where each team is and for our viewers around the world to follow the event” said Stephan Muller, race organiser and course director to Expedition Africa.

This phenomenal World Series Adventure Race has always kept the local communities at heart, and this year the African adventure racing organisers have chosen to assist SANCCOB. Cape St Francis is home to the Eastern Cape’s Southern African Foundation for the Conservation and Coastal Birds, and specialise in building a better future for the endangered African penguin and other sea birds the organisation cares for.

On Saturday; 13 May 2017, teams will be introduced to the invaluable work done by SANCCOB and get the opportunity to adopt a penguin. There-after teams will each lay a stone into the Expedition Africa landmark, which will be part of the event’s legacy.

Heidi & Stephan Muller are overwhelmed with the generous support from the local communities. “We are very grateful to host our special event in this magnificent part of our country, and cannot express enough gratitude to all those who have supported us this far” shares Heidi Muller.