![\"ccs-58780-0-16533500-1478779017.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-58780-0-16533500-1478779017.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>A group of mountain bikers are set to make a strong contribution to the protection of rhinos in KZN when they take on the 2016 uBhejane Xtreme MTB Challenge from Cadence Cycling Performance Centre in Hillcrest to Hluhluwe Game Reserve’s Hilltop Camp on Saturday 10 December. Photo credit: Larry Bentley\/Zululand Pix\/Gameplan Media<\/span>The event is a combination of endurance, camaraderie and a unique bushveld cycling experience, all the while keeping the underlying purpose of helping protect the endangered species for generations to come top of mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo years ago a small group of us were looking to test ourselves with a really tough mountain biking endurance challenge and so the uBhejane Xtreme MTB Challenge was born,\u201d explains event organiser, Mark Carroll.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe uBhejane Xtreme is all about the journey and is a gruelling but social ride rather than a race.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no entry fee \u2013 instead we ask for participants to collect and make a minimum R5000 donation to Project Rhino KZN \u2013 and participants are responsible for all their own expenses along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no doubting just how far 340km on a bicycle really is and the speed required to get to the finish before sunset means we travel at a blistering pace throughout, however we also get to explore some of the province\u2019s finest sights and scenery along the way,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n
While taking in the views and digging deep to overcome the event\u2019s challenge, riders also remain focused on the key task at hand \u2013 helping the rhino\u2019s cause.<\/p>\n
\u201cRhino conservation is something we are all passionate about and so from the get-go we aligned ourselves with Project Rhino KZN and the fantastic work they are doing to protect our rhinos throughout KwaZulu-Natal,\u201d says Carroll.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past two years we\u2019ve raised over a quarter of a million Rand that has been put to great use across Project Rhino KZN\u2019s various projects and programmes, and we hope to raise well beyond that figure during this year\u2019s third edition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Starting at Cadence Cycling Performance Centre in Hillcrest in the early hours of the morning, cyclists head for the Dolphin Coastal town of Ballito by sunrise before starting their trek towards Zululand\u2019s great focal point \u2013 Hluhluwe Game Reserve.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter a tough day\u2019s slog, the unique opportunity to immerse one\u2019s self in the African bush and it\u2019s wildlife during those magical final 35km through Hluhluwe Game Reserve is just indescribable.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccompanied by trackers on vehicles, participants cycle their way through Big 5 country and we regularly see rhino, elephant and other wildlife along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really is a special experience for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Further highlighting the event\u2019s growing stature on the South African cycling scene, 2007 Rugby World Cup winning duo, John Smit and Butch James together with their fellow former Sharks stalwarts, Jeremy Thomson and John Slade have confirmed their participation in 2016.<\/p>\n
Global explorer and humanitarian Kingsley Holgate, world renowned mountain adventurer Sibusiso Vilane and \u2018the voice of cycling\u2019 Phil Liggett have also confirmed their involvement in this year\u2019s event.<\/p>\n
Vilane will complete the event\u2019s 240km Short Horn option, Liggett joining participants for the final stretch through Hluhluwe Game Reserve and Holgate is set to welcome participants home at the completion of their gruelling challenge.<\/p>\n
The evening then sees participants spend the night at the spectacular Hilltop Camp where they will be treated to the to the opportunity to listen to some of Holgate, Vilane and Liggett\u2019s wealth of fascinating tales and while enjoying a hearty potjie supper around the camp fire.<\/p>\n
The 2016 uBhejane Xtreme MTB Challenge takes place from Hillcrest to Hluhluwe Game Reserve on Saturday 10 December. Those interested in taking part may apply to enter, donations can be submitted and more information can be found via the event\u2019s website, www.ubhejanex.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A group of courageous mountain bikers are set to make a powerful contribution to the fight against rhino poaching in KwaZulu-Natal when they tackle the daunting task of cycling 340km from Hillcrest to Hilltop Camp in Hluhluwe Game Reserve during the 2016 uBhejane Xtreme MTB Challenge on Saturday 10 December. A group of mountain bikers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":39137,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1996],"featured_location":[],"class_list":["post-17405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-ubhejane-xtreme-mtb-challenge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17405\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17405"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=17405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}