50 hours non-stop

A single-stage mountain bike race through the Tankwa Reserve in the Karoo. For those afraid of the Dragon there is a 24 hour option!

11th April 2025 – 13th April 2025

THE ULTIMATE IN ULTRA ENDURANCE RACING

COUNTDOWN TO THE 2025 MUNGA GRIT TANKWA

Day(s)

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Hour(s)

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what is the munga grit?

THE CRAZIEST, LIFE ALTERING EXPERIENCE YOU CAN HAVE ON A BIKE

HALF THE DISTANCE – LESS THAN HALF THE TIME

Over the course of the Munga’s history, it has become apparent that plenty of riders are motivated and intrigued by our unique race format and want to give it a ‘try’, but the distance is mentally challenging compared to most other South African mountain bike races.
Thus the idea of Munga Grit was born.
To offer a cross over or bridge if you will, to the main Munga event.

The basics 50 hours

The Munga Grit’s vary from race to race but you can expect roughly half the distance of the Munga MTB, some a bit more, some a bit less. But riders will only have 50 hours to complete the course

One of the most authentic and life changing aspects of the Munga, are our water points and race villages. So this core component of the Munga experience will be carried over to Munga Grit. Thus riders can expect two race villages and four water points manned by those beloved farmers! The WPs will be roughly 70 to 100km apart, with the two RVs roughly 200 to 250km apart. In addition, JoJo tanks with water will be placed halfway between each water point.

The basics 24 hours

The 24 hour option give Grit entries a chance to experience the format but in a smaller version. This race will start at the same time as the 50 hour Grit, but will follow a smaller course of roughly 230km, with three water-points but no race villages. WPs will be similar distances apart as the 50 hour version, and may share some of them. There will also be Jo-Jo tanks between WPs.

LIGHT, FREE, FAST

WHAT IF YOU COULD ROCK UP ON A FRIDAY MORNING, PARK YOUR CAR, JUMP ON YOUR BIKE AND HEAD OUT ALONG REMOTE TRAILS AND TRACKS AS FAR AS THE SUN SETS. WITH NOTHING ON YOUR BACK EXCEPT YOUR SHIRT.
LIGHT, FREE, FAST MEANS YOU CAN GO SUPER LIGHT, FEEL EXCEPTIONALLY FREE, AND RIDE AS FAST AS YOU WANT… ALL IN THE PREDICTABLE RACE FEEL OF THE TRIED AND TESTED MUNGA FORMAT!

THE MUNGA GRIT TANKWA

THE MUNGA GRIT TANKWA 50-HOUR ROUTE

The Munga Grit Tankwa will begin and end at Kaleo Guest farm just outside of Ceres. The route will head in a north-east direction up into the Tankwa Karoo. It will head past Sutherland before swinging round south and west, back into the Tankwa to finish once again at Kaleo Guest farm. The route will be mostly on quiet dirt roads and farm tracks and will be a GPS only route, so no navigation required. The route will be a little over 500km.

*Note: the image is to give you a general idea of where the route goes. Don’t take it literally! It may change a bit here or there.

THE MUNGA GRIT TANKWA 24-HOUR ROUTE

The 24 hour option gives Munga Grit entrants a chance to experience the format, but in a smaller version. This race will start at the same time as the 50 hour Grit, but will follow a smaller course of roughly 230km, with three Water-Points (WP) but no Race Villages (RV). WPs will be similar distances apart as the 50 hour version, and may share some of them. There will also be Jo-Jo tanks between WPs.

*Note: the image is to give you a general idea of where the route goes. Don’t take it literally! It may change a bit here or there.

WAKE UP LATE. ROLL ON DOWN.
The Munga Grit Tankwa series has been designed with convenience and practicality as two guiding principles. We want it to be easy and cost-effective for you to get to the start and finish and not have to worry about all those ancillary costs like flights, hotels and rental cars etc! Thus, in keeping with Munga tradition, the race will start at 12pm on a Friday afternoon at Kaleo Guest Farm. This means you can wake up on Friday morning, have breakfast, pack your bike and race kit, drive over to Ceres. Start the race at 12pm with your car parked safely waiting for you, smash yourself to pieces over 500km of the gnarly and remote Tankwa, then roll back over the line before 2pm on Sunday! For those coming from out of town, Ceres is just 90mins from the Cape Town International airport. No excuses!

ENTRY FEES

50 HOUR – R6500

24 HOUR – R3500

EARLY BIRD ENTRY FEE

50 HOURS – R 4 900

(Early Bird Entries End Dec 2023)

24 HOUR

NOT APPLICABLE

(Early Bird Entries End Dec 2023)

WHAT DO I GET FOR MY ENTRY?

Great question!
  1. 4x fully stocked Munga Grit Tankwa water-points manned by friendly farmers where you can expect drinks, lots of snacks, nutrition, and just plain love. Ask anyone who has done the Munga what our water points are like! NB:24 hour option will just be three wps
  2. 2x fully stocked race villages where you can sleep in a bed or tent with mattress, have a hot shower, a fresh and wholesome farm cooked meal and indulge in plenty of cold drinks and nutrition (Only applicable on 50-hour format) NB: The 24 hour option has no race villages!
  3. Access to miles and miles of private farm tracks that no one else can get to!
  4. Full medical support like on the Munga
  5. A famous hand made Munga Grit Tankwa finishers medal
  6. Legend status for ever!
  7. A chance to earn your stripes!

EARN YOUR STRIPES

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Everytime you complete a Munga Grit in the time period, you receive a commission. Starting with a Lance Corporal, or one stripe, when you complete your second Munga Grit you get promoted to full Corporal, or two stripes. The next one is a Sergeant, or three stripes, and so on, and so on. Each Munga Grit recruit who crosses the finish line in the allocated time will receive his or her corresponding stripe to wear with pride. The Munga Grit stripes are a right of passage to be worn proudly by those who have earned them and been promoted. But they are also an incentive to stay in the fight against the ordinary.

We want you, to join the army in the fight against mediocrity!

REWARD PROGRAMME

The fact that there are ten levels of rank implies more than one Munga Grit event. Yup. That’s right. The intention is to roll out similar format Munga Grit races around the world where recruits can enter multiple campaigns (races) in a year and be promoted through the ranks. Actual rewards will be revealed over the course of the next few years, so watch this space.

BELOW ARE THE TEN LEVELS OF RANK IN THE MUNGA GRIT ARMY.

NB: 24 riders will also be able to earn a stripe but it will be a different set of stripes to the 50 hour version.

THE RULES

WE RIDE TO FIND A PART OF OURSELVES YET UNDISCOVERED.

Oh yes. There are rules. The Munga Grit Tankwa is a seriously tough race. This is not just a walk (or ride) in the park. We have to make sure that everyone on the route is safe, so every rider will be expected to follow these rules to the letter.

We don’t want to sound like stiffs, but any rider found breaking the rules, will be penalised or disqualified. So make sure you are familiar with the rules before setting out on your Munga Grit Tankwa journey.

READ THE RULES

rider f.a.q.s

Things Riders usually ask.

WHEN IS THE RACE?

The race takes place in the 2nd weekend of April (14th April 2023 – 16th April 2023)

HOW MUCH DOES THE RACE COST TO ENTER?

EARLY BIRD

50 Hour – R5500

24 Hour – R2950

NORMAL ENTRY

50 Hours – R6500

24 Hour – R3500

ARE THERE DIFFERENT RACE CATEGORIES?

There are two separate race categories: Men and Women

IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF RIDERS THAT CAN ENTER?

Currently, the cut-off is 200 riders.

IS THERE A QUALIFICATION RACE?

There is no qualification process and the Munga Grit Tankwa is open to anyone who can ride a bicycle.

CAN I RIDE A TANDEM MOUNTAIN BIKE WITH A TEAMMATE?

No. Tandem bicycles are not permitted on the Munga Grit Route.

CAN I RIDE A CYCLOCROSS BIKE

Yep

HOW TECHNICAL IS THE ROUTE?

It depends entirely on your skill level, but the majority of the route (more than 50%) is non-technical dirt roads.

WILL I BE ABLE TO SCOUT THE ROUTE?

Yes. For the most part the route will remain unchanged, however, it does cross private land so these sections will be impossible to scout.

CAN I RACE THE MUNGA GRIT TANKWA IN A TEAM?

The Munga Grit Tankwa is an individual race and does not have a team entry. All rider entries are solo.

DO I NEED A SPONSOR?

There is no requirement for you to have a sponsor, but you are more than welcome to find your own one.

WHAT IS THE MUNGA GRIT POLICY ON DOPING?

We are strictly against doping in any form.

WHEN DO THE RACE ENTRIES CLOSE?

Usually entries close about a month or so before the start of the race.

WILL THERE BE TV COVERAGE OF THE RACE?

This is something we are still working on, but we are hoping to provide TV coverage in the near future.

WILL THERE BE TV COVERAGE OF THE RACE?

This is something we are still working on, but we are hoping to provide TV coverage in the near future.

WILL THE ROUTE BE MARKED?

The route will be exclusively a GPS navigated route, but will not be difficult to follow. There are no markings along the route.

WHAT IS THE ASCENT OF THE RACE?

50 Hour – The ascent is roughly 5000 metres.

24 Hour – The ascent is roughly 2500 metres.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M ABLE TO FINISH THE MUNGA GRIT TANKWA?

You should be able to ride a mountain bike at 12 to 14 km/hr for 18 hours, but this is just a rough guideline.

CAN I LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE RIDING?

Yep.

CAN I USE TRI-BARS?

Yep.

WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT IS PROVIDED?

There are medical officials that patrol the route on all three days. Race villages are equipped with rest, food and mechanical stations, and water points are available every 60 to 90 kilometres.

DOES THE MUNGA GRIT TANKWA HAPPEN EVERY YEAR?

Yes, Munga Grit Tankwa will happen every year along with other identical format Grit races around the country.

WHEN WILL PRIZE-GIVING TAKE PLACE?

Because of the nature of the Munga Grit, prizes are awarded as riders cross the finish line.

CAN I WORK FOR THE MUNGA?

We’re always on the look out for people who can help. Please forward a copy of your CV to jackblack@themunga.com

CAN I INTERVIEW THE RACE DIRECTOR?

You can ask him yourself. Send him an email to jackblack@themunga.com

CAN I PHOTOGRAPH OR FILM THE RACE?

Please send a mail to jackblack@themunga.com

CONTACT US

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THE MUNGA SERIES?

Send us an email: jackblack@themunga.com
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