90km Hobbit Journey

Yellow footprints indicate the Amathole trail that you will be following. The toes point in the direction that you should be taking. If a print appears upside down you are going the wrong way. If you haven’t seen a yellow print for a while, backtrack until you find one. A blue crane painted on a white background used to indicate the direction on the Amathole and some of these markers can still be seen along the way.

DAY 1

START ➡ CP 1 (MADEN DAM TO GWILI GWILI - 10 km)

Starting at the Maden Dam parking spot the trail takes you round the dam, into the forest and along the banks of the Buffalo River. Cross an old trestle bridge and continue heading up the trail. You will take a right turn off the jeep track and head back on the path as it climbs steeply, eventually reaching Gwili Gwili after crossing two further forestry roads. This section can be very slippery in places after rain. There is no water after Gwili Gwili so make sure you have enough to get you to Dontsa.

CP 1 ➡ CP 2 ➡CP 3 (GWILI GWILI TO DONTSA – 18 km)

This section is predominantly through moist indigenous forests making the occasional view of the surrounding countryside all the more enjoyable. Take a moment to hug one of the huge yellowwoods! Approximately 12km from Gwili, you will cross the district road (CP2) where the CUT OFF will be at 11h00. There is no easily accessible water on this section.

CP 3 ➡ CP 4 ➡ FINISH (DONTSA TO CATA HUT - 17 km)

The trail gradually winds up to the foot of a moss covered waterfall, after which it climbs steeply leaving the forest as it levels out heading in a westerly direction along a mixture of jeep and single track. 5kms from Dontsa, the path will split. The old route over Doornkop is no longer viable. Continue on the lower, left path which will contour you around Doornkop before dropping into the Cata Valley.

At the bottom of the descent, take the right, upper path - marked Upper Amathole route to Cata Hut. The path crosses the river and climbs again for 1.5km before emerging into pine forests and onto the jeep track. The trail follows the track for just under a km to CP 4 and the CUT OFF at 16h00. From here you will follow some forest jeep track that will be marked with orange bunting before heading back onto the trail that heads up to Cata Hut. Just before Cata hut the trail climbs steeply up the left hand side of a waterfall.

DAY 2

START ➡ MNYAMENI HUT - 11 km

The day starts with a 3km climb. Take the marked short cut avoiding the detour to Geju Peak. It is then a 1km descent to the plateau (You can avoid crossing the slippery scree slope twice by keeping down the left side). The trail runs along the edge of the river valley before you descend the Mnyameni Gorge, passing countless waterfalls and crossing the river many times before emerging at Mnyameni Hut CP5.

MNYAMENI HUT ➡ CP 6 ➡ ZINGCUKA HUT ➡ CP 7 (CUT OFF) – 19 km

Leaving the hut, the trail crosses the stream and heads up Mnyameni Peak or what is also called Hog 3. Leaving the second forest patch the path climbs slowly through open veld with lovely views before crossing the Mnyameni ridge to descend into the Wolf River catchment area. The path through the open veld was recently cut but take care to stay on the correct track, looking for the yellow feet.

Just past the first pool the Zingcuka Loop Trail links in with the Amathole. Here the Hobbit Mountain Marathon 42km route joins and you will pick up the Orange route markers that you will now follow all the way to the finish at Arminel Hotel. Coming to a forest road you will proceed right up the road to CP6 and a marshall you need to sign in with. Cut off is 12h15 after which you will be directed on a shortcut. The trail then runs along the edge of the cliffs for around 2km before a steep descent back into the natural forest and past Zingcuka hut, after which the path joins the road that leads to Hogsback. Follow the road for 1,5km and turn back onto the trail at the big Merrell banner for a very steep climb up to CP7 and water table.

Cut Off here is 14h00. (Should you not make this time OR if the weather is awful and only under instruction of the official marshall, you will be directed to follow the forest road along the base of the Hog mountain to avoid the climb over the Hogsback peak).

CP 7 ➡ CP 8 ➡ CP 9 ➡ CP 10 ➡ FINISH (Arminel Hotel) – 15 km

Take water at the watertable or the small dam further along for your final stretch up the Hog as there is none from this point. From the small dam / river the path heads across the “flatter” section before beginning the final climb, which heads across the Hog at a gradual angle for 1.5km before switching back and heading back across. The path crosses the ridgeline of the Hog, offering great views of Hogsback before traversing along the base of the cliffs and descends to a short section along some cliff edges, leading you to the marshalls at CP8. It is vital that you check in with the marshall so we know you are off the mountain. From here you descend into the pine forests, passing CP9 at another watertable and traverse along the forest tracks on the mountain edge to CP10, descending to cross Kettlespout Falls where you will make the final descent through singletrack to the Arminel Hotel, beer and cheer.

Thursday 24 April 2025:

- 16h30 – 18h30 – Registration and compulsory pre-race briefing

Friday 25 April 2025:

- 04h00 – Bus transport from Arminel Hotel to start line at Maden Dam

- 06h00 – Start at Maden Dam

Saturday 26 April 2025:

- 05h00 – Start at Cata Hut

- 19h00 – Prize-giving

This is for your own safety and is not debatable.

• Backpack

• Water container min 2l.

• Waterproof rain jacket (NOT just a wind breaker)

• Base layer / Fleece – Top

• Base layer – legs/pants

• Buff / Beanie

• Headlamp and spare battery

• Whistle

• Space blanket

• Nutrition for the trail

• Basic first aid kit

• Cell phone – with emergency numbers programmed in

• Compass

• GPS is not compulsory but highly recommended.
  

Recommended Equipment
- Gaiters
- Sunglasses
- Sun block

• Tog bag will be issued at registration and is the only bag that will be transported to Cata Hut

• Sleeping bag (Warm. Does not have to fit in tog bag)

• Towel

• Personal toiletries

• Earplugs are recommended

• Warm clothing for the evening – expect very cold temperatures at night

• Race clothing and trail food for Day 2

• Power bank and cables to charge watch/gps unit and phone
  
  NOTE: Warm clothing used for the bus trip on Day 1 early morning to the start will be taken to Cata Hut but may only arrive late afternoon.

90km Hobbit Journey Entry fee: R6,100 (includes VAT)

• PRE ENTRIES ONLY and subject to application being approved

• Entries open on 1st Sept 2025 - 09h00

• Entrants must be 18 years or older on race day

What is Included:

• Permit for the trail and other land access fees

• Bus transport from Hogsback to the start (approx. 1hr45min)

• Accommodation, snacks, dinner and breakfast at Cata Hut for the midway overnight stay on Friday

• Tog bag for overnight gear (issued at registration)

• Transport of tog bag to Cata Hut

• Paramedic team on site in 4 X 4 vehicle

• Finisher’s medal and freshly made burger

• Personalised finisher’s memento

What is NOT included:

• Dinner after Briefing and Prize-giving

• Accommodation before or after the event

• Entry fee: Full entry fee is R6,100. A non-refundable deposit payment of R1,850 will be required within three days of entering in order to secure your booking. The remainder of the entry fee will be due by the 31 January 2025. Please email to discuss if you would like to pay in instalments.

• Refunds: 70% refund of total entry fee possible up until 25th January 2025 (3 months before the event) following a written notification of withdrawal.

Please note: most of our costs for this event are incurred and committed to long before you even start training. As such, it is to both our benefit that a substitute is found and we have a very fair substitution policy:

• Substitutions are possible up to 12h00 Friday 11th April 2025 (2 weeks before the event) with a fee of R800. Substitutions must be offered to the wait list first.

• Should the event scheduled for the 25 – 27 April 2025 be postponed due to National Restrictions, entries will be transferred to the rescheduled event or the 2026 Hobbit Trail Runs.

• Tog bag and gift items included in race entry are only for those who compete in the event and will not be handed to third party recipients should you withdraw before the event.
In other words - you EARN your Hobbit Journey T-shirt, you do not simply buy it!

MEDICAL
• This Journey is a serious challenge even to a mountain goat. Due to the nature of the trail this event should be considered extreme.

• EACH PARTICIPANT MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY.

• There will be emergency services with 4×4 vehicles on the course but be aware that they could take several hours to reach an injured runner – hence the compulsory equipment.

• Helicopter evacuation, or any hospitalization transport or hospitalization, which will be at the athlete’s cost.

• Should the race medic declare any participant unfit to continue, he or she must withdraw from the event.