Runthebergers!
Ever been driving (or running) through some remote spectacular mountains and noticed the cool cattle and their hardy herdsmen / women? Runtheberg is thrilled this year to announce a partnership with a wonderful cause and a fantastic bunch of talented mountain runners. We are privileged to be sharing the trails next weekend with some of these guys. Here is a bit of their awesome story.
Running for Rangelands – Powered by Meat Naturally & TASC.
Trail running is all about tough climbs, sweeping views, and digging deep when the going gets hard — which is not unlike the work of communal farmers restoring South Africa’s natural rangelands. This year at Runtheberg, keep an eye out for the Running for Rangelands team, where Meat Naturally’s crew and their local Ecorangers will be swapping herding sticks for trail shoes. (Word has it, after last year’s podium finishes, they’ll be flying up those hills as fast as their cattle can sprint down the veld!)
So what’s the story behind the team?
Here’s the wild fact: communal farmers own half of the country’s livestock but supply only 5% of the formal meat market. That’s a huge untapped opportunity. To change this, Meat Naturally Africa has partnered with TASC to empower small-scale farmers with practical tools for regenerative grazing, rangeland restoration, and access to new markets.
Using the Herding for Health (H4H) approach, local herders are trained to become professional Ecorangers — landscape and livestock managers who:
Closer to home, right where Runtheberg takes place, WILDTRUST works with Meat Naturally and TASC to roll out Herding for Health with the Amangwane and Amazizi communities, who live and manage their livestock in some of the very landscapes you’ll be running through. These partnerships ensure the trails you love are part of a living, working landscape where communities, cattle, and conservation thrive together.
Here’s where it gets even cooler: the improved rangeland management doesn’t just grow better grass — it generates carbon credits. TASC sells these credits and ensures the revenues flow back into the community, funding Ecoranger jobs and investing in broader farming and development needs.
So, when you see the Running for Rangelands team flying past you on the trail, know they’re running not just for the finish line, but for healthier soils, stronger communities, and a farming future where people and nature both win.
Aid Station placement, Checkpoints and Cut-off Times
On another note, we thought it would be worthwhile to share some info dedicated specifically to Aid Station placement, Checkpoints and Cut-off Times. Please note all of this info can also be found on the website and the interactive Maps & Profiles.
RTB 13
Start: 08h30 The Cavern
Total time to finish: 5hrs
Final Cut-off: 13h30
Aid Station (Du Toits): +-6.5km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station Cut-off Time: 11h30
RTB 25
Start: 08h00 The Cavern
Total time to finish: 9hrs
Final Cut-off: 17h00
Aid Station 1 (Sungubala): +-2km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 1 Cut-off Time: 09h00
Checkpoint (Echo Cave): +-8.5km (Checkpoint Only; No Cut-off Time)
Aid Station 2 (Cannibal): +-13km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 2 Cut-off Time: 13h00
Aid Station 3 (Du Toits): +-20km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 3 Cut-off Time: 15h30
RTB Marathon 42
Start: 07h00 All Out Adventures
Total time to finish: 12hrs
Final Cut-off: 19h00
Aid Station 1 (Sungubala): +-10km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 1 Cut-off Time: 09h00
Aid Station 2 (Juluka): +-15km (Hydration Only)
Aid Station 2 Cut-off Time: 11h00
Aid Station 3 (Cannibal): +-23km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 3 Cut-off Time: 14h00
Aid Station 4 (Du Toits): +-30km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 4 Cut-off Time: 15h30
Aid Station 5 (Montusi Dam): +-37km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 5 Cut-off Time: 17h30
RTB Ultra 65
Start: 04h00 All Out Adventures
Total time to finish: 16hrs
Final Cut-off: 20h00
Aid Station 1 (Ad Astra): +-20km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 1 Cut-off Time: 08h30
Aid Station 2 (Juluka): +-31km (Hydration Only)
Aid Station 2 Cut-off Time: 12h30
Aid Station 3 (Cannibal): +-39km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 3 Cut-off Time: 15h00
Aid Station 4 (Du Toits): +-46km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 4 Cut-off Time: 16h30
Aid Station 5 (Montusi Dam): +-53km (Hydration & Nutrition)
Aid Station 5 Cut-off Time: 18h00
Checkpoint (Montusi Peak): +-57km (Checkpoint Only; No Cut-off Time)
Finish
All races finish at All Out Adventures.
Spectator Access
The following Aid Stations are accessible to spectators:
Sungubala: Spectators can park on the field at the Royal Drakensberg Primary School just before The Cavern. The Aid Station is a 2km easy but steep uphill walk up the jeep track towards the awesome Sungubala Eco Camp, where spectators can enjoy spectacular views and get to appreciate the real scale of the mountains you are running in. Please note that spectators will be walking on part of the Runtheberg race route.
Cannibal: The legendary Cannibal Cave is accessible as a hike via The Cavern. Spectators please note that parking inside The Cavern is for guests only, so they would need to park outside along the side of the road and walk up the hill through the resort entrance and pick up the hiking trail through there. Please note that this is a challenging hike of a good couple of hours over technical terrain and all resources in the area will be focused on the race and the runners for the day. We do not recommend this option other than for spectators who are experienced hikers and reasonably fit. If spectators are interested they can check out The Cavern Online Hiking Map.
Montusi Dam: The ultimate in spectator experience! Not only will spectators be able to easily access this beautifully scenic Aid Station and get a chance to cheer on their runners, but they will also get to enjoy the legendary Runtheberg tradition of Sundowners At Montusi. Runtheberg and Montusi Mountain Resort host a spectacular Sundowner Celebration of Mountain Running from 16h00 where spectators and runners who have finished their races can enjoy a drink and snack watching the sun set over the mighty Drakensberg. AND the final Aid Station for both the RTB Marathon 42 and RTB Ultra 65 routes will be positioned just a short distance away, so runners can even stop and enjoy a cold one with a loved one before they set off on the last few km towards the Finish. This can’t be beat!
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
See you all next weekend!
