AR World Series

Superb footage of team Bloed en Omo (16) doing their victory celebrations after finishing the via ferrata on the Expedition Africa Back to the Berg final stage. The altitude and exposure is immense! Great stuff captured by J Taubenshlag #expafrica #arworldseries #adventureracing

Team Stepp (23) came over the line in 4th place of Expedition Africa Back to the Berg, having been consistent and strategic in their approach to the race. Back at Leg 4, in the trek on Highmoor, they took a long route out to include CP18 which took them time, but persevered to this well-deserved place. Pics by @kayakirst @alpineheathresort @pigglywigglymidlands @dargleforestlodge @hebronhaven @merrellsa @radbag.co.za @squirtcyclingproducts @foreverfresh.sa @bikebox.company @freedomchallenge @drakensbergbrewery @pigglywigglycoffeeshop #expafrica2026 #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries @arwsafrica @sleepmonstersdotcom

Adventure Rush Team (8) finished Expedition Africa Back to the Berg in 3rd place! They did really want to secure the final spot on the podium, and were full of smiles. 🙂 Videos by @pitoutj @alpineheathresort @pigglywigglymidlands @dargleforestlodge @hebronhaven @merrellsa @radbag.co.za @squirtcyclingproducts @foreverfresh.sa @bikebox.company @freedomchallenge @drakensbergbrewery @pigglywigglycoffeeshop #expafrica2026 #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries @arworldseries @arwsafrica @sleepmonstersdotcom

Second placed team Wild Trail (19), worthy adversaries and a well deserved spot on the podium! They dug deep to keep moving towards the finish line, pushing past injury and fatigue. #expafrica2026 #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries

What an incredible finish to EXP Africa! Team Jabberwock Adventure Racing took the win and claimed the place at ARWC Corsica with Raid in France after a nail biting finish. #expafrica2026 #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries Sleepmonsters - The Adventure Racing Website Squirt Cycling Products Damon De Boor

Day 3 at Expedition Africa captured in this brilliant recap video by Sven Musica / Phonix Capture cc - Professional Photography and Videography Starting in the dark, venturing out on to Highmoor, the incredible backdrop of the escarpment, learning how to fake it in front of the camera, and then smooth rolling on gravel on the bike leg towards TA5. Watch it, now! Live tracking: ea26.maprogress.com #expafrica2026 #arworldseries #arwsafrica #iamanadventureracer MB01XF0JMVQA1LX

This is an epic story captured by Steven Freitag about Dewald van Wyk, a solid, experienced racer who has done Expedition Africa many times. I know him as a good friend and a solid racer. Last year he fell ill, so it was awesome to see him get back to health, and resume racing. He's racing in team Swiss Powerbar African Explorers (12) this time, and it hasn't been without incident. Steve calls this collection of photos Dewald's Day, in recognition of the "many times Dewald lay down and got up again to get into TA3, sick, injured, but undefeated!" #arworldseries #adventureracing #expafrica #arwsafrica

Expedition Africa video captures the steepish climb just after CP28, where Jabberwock had to retrace their steps. Here we see Wild Trail (19) negotiating the gate at the top, a laborious process. And such obstacles take time - remember that, it will be significant later. Live tracking: ea26.maprogress.com @merrellsa @radbag.co.za @squirtcyclingproducts @foreverfresh.sa @bikebox.company #expafrica2026 #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries

Steven Freitag out on the big MTB stage, catching Jabberwork (17) in the morning light, followed closely by Wild Trail (19) who are using a tow rope. Live tracking: ea26.maprogress.com @alpineheathresort @pigglywigglymidlands @dargleforestlodge @hebronhaven @merrellsa @radbag.co.za @squirtcyclingproducts @foreverfresh.sa @bikebox.company @freedomchallenge @drakensbergbrewery @pigglywigglycoffeeshop #expafrica2026 #expafrica #expeditionafrica #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries

Video recap Day 2 of Expedition Africa Back to the Berg by Sven Musica Teams on the bike after CP11 towards TA3/4, struggling, pushing, even riding. Then into the glorious foothills of the proper Berg, over moors, past cliffs, into valleys, into night. Live tracking: ea26.maprogress.com @alpineheathresort @pigglywigglymidlands @dargleforestlodge @hebronhaven @merrellsa @radbag.co.za @squirtcyclingproducts @foreverfresh.sa @bikebox.company @freedomchallenge @drakensbergbrewery @pigglywigglycoffeeshop #expafrica2026 #expafrica #expeditionafrica #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries ARWS - Adventure Racing World Series Adventure Racing World Series - Africa Series Sleepmonsters - The Adventure Racing Website Music licence: Musicbed Covered by Subscription #144366

Leg 4 - the trek of valleys and tarns, is going to hit hard. That seems to be a popular description for these early stages but let's dig into the details. The teams can get CPs in any order (a rogaine). Inspired by a stage in last year's Raid Bimbache in Morocco, teams must get a minimum 13 points not to be penalised. Some CPs are worth more than others. This terrain has trails, and it's not yet in the high Berg - they aren't ascending the escarpment though they can see it, but there are still over 2000m of gain in 50km. Time estimates are 10 to 24hrs. Those are the basics, here is the reality: last night, Jabberwock and Gymcity AR had a challenge just leaving the parking lot. Admittedly that was during the night, but they each spent about 10 minutes trying to work out how to exit the TA, "walking in frikkin' circles"! Look at the topo map. Everything is up or downhill. Lots of contour lines. Depending on route choice, teams can easily be cliffed out going off piste - see Training System (4) near CP25. Lots of probing looking for a way down, which slows pace significantly. Add to that teams navigating at night and it's not so pretty. You can't just stick to trails either, if you're getting a full 13 points. Take 2-pointer CP15: approaching it from the west is fine, on a great path, but on the eastern/southern side, the pain kicks in. When placing the CPs, Damon and Franco were averaging 5km/h on the stage, but that eastern/southern bit saw them do 2km in 3 hours(!), and that was in daylight, following a GPS. We're talking thorns tearing at you, baby-head grass clumps that are ankle breakers, big ferns, water, which valley am I in - really rough going. And because it's high value, you can bet teams will be gunning for it, making great time, only to be hit by the baseball bat of reality. Or cricket bat, since we're in South Africa. Overall, the section between CP15 and 19 is rough, wildly overgrown since the original scouting trips, and therefore going to be quite a surprise for teams who head that way. Kirsten Oliver Photography has some beautiful pics here, but that's not telling the whole story. Live tracking: ea26.maprogress.com @alpineheathresort @pigglywigglymidlands @dargleforestlodge @hebronhaven @merrellsa @radbag.co.za @squirtcyclingproducts @foreverfresh.sa @bikebox.company @freedomchallenge @drakensbergbrewery @pigglywigglycoffeeshop #expafrica2026 #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries @arworldseries @arwsafrica @sleepmonstersdotcom @Francoolivier @ddeboor

Leg 4 photos from Kirsten Oliver at EXP Africa - fantastic Drakensberg scenery! "This is why so many people love the Drakensberg, scenes like this. Whether it's your first visit or your nth, it's such a stunning, relaxing, awe inspiring mountain range, and we haven't even gotten into the real heights. Team Slowvelders already showing us the WHY and they've barely left the TA." #SquirtCyclingProducts #expafrica #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries

Teams Powerbar Swiss African Explorers and Slowvelders crossing the moors of Highmoor, in the shadow of Giants Castle at EXP Africa Teams have yet to make it up into the high mountains of The Drakensberg yet ... that's still to come. Photos Kirsten Oliver #arworldseries #adventureracing #expafrica #ExpeditionAfrica #expafrica2026

Team Afterwork Athletes interviews on the road, where they are looking a little weary and beaten up by the race so far. Squirt Cycling Products #arworldseries #adventureracing #expafrica

Plotting those CPs for Leg 4, in this case Jabberwock (17) just before they left at about 2:45am. Also Training System Adventure (5) talking maps, and team Melomo (21) looking a little pooped. One of the latter team members elected not to do the trek which is why the team has become unofficial in the rankings. But, the adventure continues! 👍 Videos by @jtaubenschlag Live tracking: ea26.maprogress.com @alpineheathresort @pigglywigglymidlands @dargleforestlodge @hebronhaven @merrellsa @radbag.co.za @squirtcyclingproducts @foreverfresh.sa @bikebox.company @freedomchallenge @drakensbergbrewery @pigglywigglycoffeeshop #expafrica2026 #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries

Team Bloed en Omo (16) on the road between CPs 12 and 13, heading to TA3/4 one hopes. Live tracking: ea26.maprogress.com @alpineheathresort @pigglywigglymidlands @dargleforestlodge @hebronhaven @merrellsa @radbag.co.za @squirtcyclingproducts @foreverfresh.sa @bikebox.company @freedomchallenge @drakensbergbrewery @pigglywigglycoffeeshop #expafrica2026 #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries #arwsafrica @sleepmonstersdotcom @Francoolivier @ddeboor

Proud to say I am part of this event in India! #arunachalpradesh #visitindia #arworldseries #adventureracing #tourism #events #internationalevents travelandtourworld.com/news/article/i…

Expedition Africa’s day 1 recap video, brought to you by Sven Musica From the anticipation boarding the buses, to arrivals at the start, the kick off, the trek (spot the vomiting), the amazing scenery, and then the kayak swim leg 😉. Very nice! 😁👍 Live tracking: ea26.maprogress.com @alpineheathresort @pigglywigglymidlands @dargleforestlodge @hebronhaven @merrellsa @radbag.co.za @squirtcyclingproducts @foreverfresh.sa @bikebox.company @freedomchallenge @drakensbergbrewery @pigglywigglycoffeeshop #expafrica2026 #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #arworldseries

Day 2 of Expedition Africa Back to the Berg, has dawned and clearly the first 24hrs have been rough. Whether it's early onset of fatigue, the harsh ascents, navigating in forest plantations at night (a nightmare), the storm, fog and rain - who knows? Why have teams been crashing out so early at CP11 Dargle Forest Lodge, stopping for food or sleeping big time on the first night when you'd expect them to grab the CP and push on directly? It's thanks to the cunning planning by the RDs. The route into the Lodge has 2 clear options: either follow a rough track (the red line), or go around the back of Hazelmere Rearing on a more definite road (on the map). Most teams have gone for the former. It looks like the most direct route. Slowvelders (3) were first to go via Hazelemere Rearing, followed by Warriors (7). It seemed an easier route choice due to the road, but there is a MASSIVE hill to climb, proper hike-a-bike, a real sufferfest. Some teams gave it a try then turned back - Afterwork Athletes (25) and K4 (10). Team Onsight (18) started, clearly got fed up and chose a direct assault off piste - that must have been hell. Then there was Ordinarily Epic (14) going walkabout, heading north and then circling back to attack CP11 from the west, completely avoiding the death climb. Assume they got CP10 en route. Dynamic Xpressions (15) have followed suit and are doing it HARDCORE! They took the longest route into CP11, staying far north on the main road, approaching from the west, almost descending via the road at Hazelmere Rearing which would have been an epic freewheel, backtracking, passing through CP11 with all the food and hot drinks, before descending to get CP7. Now they have to retrace their steps east to CP11. No, no, no - that will be pure pain! And lanterne rouge Aden Gear (9) have gone sightseeing in the forest plantations (it's like navigating a desert, no reference points), have yet to reach CP10, and they will surely be going short course at some point if they stay at this pace. So CP11 at Dargle Forest Lodge is essentially an oasis on leg 3, a reward for the hard miles, and sometimes it's just better to lie down for some minutes before attacking the long ride remaining to TA3. @alpineheathresort @pigglywigglymidlands @dargleforestlodge @hebronhaven @merrellsa @radbag.co.za @squirtcyclingproducts @foreverfresh.sa @bikebox.company @freedomchallenge @drakensbergbrewery @pigglywigglycoffeeshop #expafrica2026 #adventureracing #iamanadventureracer #ARWorldSeries