Trans Africa Coast to Coast

The very nature of adventure means that the unexpected can sometimes become part of the journey and that is all part of the experience. While we will always strive to deliver “Plan A”, there may be occasions where operational, safety, weather or environmental factors require us to adapt plans and implement contingency routes or alternative arrangements.

As with all Rat Race adventures, participant safety and overall event delivery remain our highest priorities. We therefore reserve the right to amend routes, itineraries or logistics where necessary, using the experience and judgement of our expedition team to make the best decisions on your behalf in changing conditions. Wherever possible, we will communicate any changes in advance. More often than not, these unexpected moments become part of the adventure itself adding to the stories, memories and unique character of the experience.

Click 'Enter' and sign into your Rat Race account and follow the sign up procedure. If you need any assistance please drop the customer service team an email on events@ratrace.com

Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure.

If you find yourself unable to join us on the start line of this event, you are able to transfer your entry into an event credit voucher once for use on a new entry into an event of your choice. Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed. Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit vouchers are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE 

You are very welcome to fundraise for any charity close to your heart while taking part in the event. Please note, however, that our Charity Refund Offer applies exclusively to participants fundraising for Children with Cancer UK.

You can view our current volunteer positions here. 

We have designed this challenge so that you may travel at your own pace. There will also be some cut-offs, but in the true Rat Race tradition these will be generous and we will always look to help you to achieve your goals in finishing this challenge, vs having to pull out. Of course, we will give you some early starts to allow the very best possible window for route completion, particularly on the longer days (and the hilly ones!). But, if you need us and if you need to abandon the route for whatever reason, we are there for you and can pick you up with our support vehicles. The absolute key is that you enjoy this amazing journey across Africa; at your own pace and within your own limits.

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.

To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry. 

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory for this event and must cover both general travel and participation in the outdoor endurance activities included within the itinerary. You will also require Evacuation Insurance, which covers emergency extraction and onward medical transport by helicopter or similar should urgent assistance be required in this remote environment.

We strongly recommend arranging your insurance as soon as you enter the event and booking flexible flight options where possible to allow for any unexpected changes. Please ensure your chosen policy specifically covers the activities you will be undertaking during the expedition. There are a number of specialist adventure travel insurers available, including Mann Broadbent.

This kit list is preliminery - you will be notified of any changes to this list ahead of the event.

​MANDATORY KIT LIST

General

• Gaffa tape

• Ear plugs

• Watch

• Snacks/treats – enough to augment the pit stops

• Electrolytes 

• Protein powder/bars

• Sunglasses – Cat 3 or better

• Power pack

• Water carrying capacity of 2 litres minimum

• Duffel for all luggage

• Sleeping bag liner

• Sleeping bag

• Head torch and spare batteries

• Personal First aid kit (See more details below)

• Vitamins

• Sun cream

• Lip Balm with SPF

• Small amount of Milton – for disinfecting water bottles

• Toothbrush

• Toothpaste

• Washbag

• Travel towel

• Shower gel

• Alcohol gel x2

• Wet wipes

• Talcum powder

• Nail brush

• Casual clothes for the evenings and travelling

• Fleece

• Down or synthetic Jacket

• Beanie

• Thick gloves

• Thermal top and leggings

• Waterproof Jacket

• Waterproof Trousers

• Underwear

• Socks

• Trainers or boots for the evenings

• Flipflops or sandals – to air your feet

• Sunhat

Cycling phase

• Bike (Gravel) 

• Bike box

• Cycling helmet

• GPS device with handle bar mount

• Cycling gloves x 2 (long and short)

• Cycling winter gloves

• Cycling bibs/shorts  (1 x long or have leg warmers, plus cycling shorts)

• Cycling jerseys

• Cycling Gilet

• Cycling Jacket

• Cycling over trousers

• Thin hat to fit under helmet 

• Neck buff

• Spare batteries for lights

• Chamois cream

• Hydration bladder with backpack (optional)

• Bike shoes

• Socks 

• Bar end Lights​

• Bike spares 

• 4 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre  (carry 2 with you at all times when riding) 

• Tyre levers 

• 1 x puncture repair kit

• Small amount of spare tubeless slime 

• Tubeless plugs 

• Peddle spanner 

• Bike multitool 

• Chain link remover 

• Chain links x 2 – ensure they are for your specific bike chain

• Small pump 

• 1 x gear cable (if applicable)

• 1 x brake cable (if applicable)

• Cable ties 

• Rear Hanger suitable for your own bike 

• Small bottle of oil 

• An old rag and toothbrush for bike cleaning 

• Front light

• Rear light​

Personal Med kit - MANDATORY ​

• 1 x crepe roll bandage 

• Gauze or similar absorbent dressing  

• Small set of scissors 

• Pain Killers (paracetamol) 

• Steri-Strips  

• Antiseptic (spray or cream)  

• Assorted plasters  

• Rubber gloves  

• Prescribed medication  

• Zinc oxide tape  

• Compeed – various sizes  

• Lube stick  (silicone-based)

• Sudacrem  

We are mindful that people will inevitably have varying distances to travel to get to Namibia. The group transfer will depart Walvis Bay Airport at 1400, it will also then stop in downtown Walvis Bay at 1500 for anyone who has arrived in the days previously.

We want you to concentrate on the views and the hard work of putting one wheel in front of the other. So we don’t want you to be staring at maps or navigational aids any more than you have to. There is no formal waymarking (i.e. signs) used on this event but there are not really many junctions either! Instead of waymarking, we will be providing and then be asking you to download a route file that you will be able to download onto your smartphone or GPS device. You will follow this ‘line’ when on the bikes and can use this as a back-up at all times. You may use your own device or rent one from us. 

We will then augment this with some marshalled junctions or key turning points on some of the stages, to ensure there is no doubt on route choice in any locations that we think it could be tricky.

At all times, the GPS device can be used to back yourself up on route-finding as and where required, as it will have the full route loaded onto it. If you choose to rent a GPS device from us, we will provide high-tech Garmin Edge navaids, designed specifically for cycling and mounted to the handlebars with a special cradle, for optimum visibility when you are on the move.

Don’t worry – you won’t get lost. But if you do – support is never far away.

You will be transferred from Walvis Bay airport to our accommodation, which is a stunning seaside town with bags of cultural heritage. All transfers throughout the challenge are fully inclusive within the format and we will transport you, your gear and your bike. At the end of the challenge, we will return you and your gear + bike to Durban and you should plan your onward journey from King Shaka International Airport.

This is of course a big challenge set over multiple big days in the saddle. BUT the Rat Race ethos is to set extraordinary challenges for ordinary people. You do not need super-technical riding skills or to be a seasoned Tour de France rider. You do need a good base fitness and you should be prepared for a series of long back-to-back days on the road. But this route is definitely designed to be ‘doable;’ and in no way would this be what we would call a ‘sufferfest.’ You absolutely have it in you. We will ensure we support you the very best way we possibly can. This one is all tortoise and no hare. Unless you really are off the pace, we will not cut you off. Even if you are off pace and you feel you need a bit of a shunt along the route on some of the days, we can pick you up in a vehicle, ‘boost’ you further up the course a bit and you can re-join the trip further up the gang. It’s up to you how you tackle it and we want you to feel relaxed and comfortable, versus under major pressure just to ‘get the job done.’

This adventure has got it all, from the desert to the mountains, savannah, game parks, gravel and road. The terrain is a mix of gravel and road, we have laid out the split in each stage. Overall it is approximately 57% road and 43% gravel.

You need a gravel bike for this adventure. You also need to have tubeless tyres for the duration of the route. Even though the route is nearly 50/50 gravel/tarmac it is advised to have a tyre that is suitably set up for both. Adaptions in your tyre pressure on the various terrains will enable smooth and efficient cycling. See below for example of a tyre set up (used in the June 2024 Trans Africa Test Pilot). 

Tyres: Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss Ready 700x47 tubeless 

We're happy to chat about all things bikes if you have any technical questions please email the team on events@ratrace.com who will be happy to advise.

Arrival - 1st June.  We ask that you to arrive into Walvis Bay International airport in the AM of 1st June. Most flights will be departing from Jo'berg or Capetown at apprx 10/11am with an arrival for at 1pm. The transfers from the airport to the hotel will be organised to coincide with these flights. We will provide confirmation on transfer timings once we have correlated everyone's flight details. The journey from Walvis Bay International Airport to Lagoon Chalets, Walvis Bay is a short journey of 30minutes. 

Departure - 26th June.  You should not book a flight from Durban's King Shakra International Airport until the late PM of the 26th. We will be putting on one airport transfer departing Sodwana Bay at 9am on departure day. It is a journey of 5 hours. Please book a flight allowing for these timings above with continency in place for any unforeseen circumstances. 

It is encouraged to arrive to Namibia earlier to allow for any delayed luggage and depart from South Africa after some additional relaxation and exploration. If you choose to add days onto your itinerary it is your responsibility to get from the airport to the hotel on day 1 and back to your preferred airport on your return.