Race to the Wreck

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. 

Yes, there are cut-offs on the event, but these are based purely around the available daylight hours each day. Our aim is to help everyone complete the adventure, so if you fall behind the required pace and are unlikely to reach base before nightfall, our crew will transport you forward by event vehicle. You are then welcome to restart again the following day. This is not an event where missing a cut-off means your adventure is over.

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.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MANDATORY KIT LIST

About the area

The Namib desert stretches for hundreds of miles along the coast of Namibia, reaching the swirling South Atlantic abruptly at the forbiddingly-named Skeleton Coast. We will be following the ancient Kuiseb River (which only flows about once every 5 years due to the lack of water in these parts) from its source near the Namibian capital Windhoek, to the edge of the famous Sand Dune Sea of the Namib Naukluft National Park, containing the highest sand dunes on Earth. The Naukluft is the jewel of the Namib Desert and special permission must be obtained to access it, which is only possible with rugged 4×4 vehicles. The highest sand dunes on Earth can be found here and we will be going over those dunes to reach our objective at the coast, the wreck of the Eduard Bohlen. This multi-sport crossing is a true World-first in many respects and the permissions granted for this event are truly unique. All up, a very special journey awaits into the heart of a very special piece of Africa.

Weather

It can be very hot during the say and actually quite cold at night. The desert is a land of extremes of all descriptions, weather included. It is not overbearingly hot however and the heat is very dry, making it far more manageable than humid climates with lower temperatures. One phenomenon which is unique to the coastal Namib is the fog that rolls in off the sea every morning. Aside from supporting all life-forms in this desert area, it has a cooling effect. One thing the weather is here is predictable: The fog burns off every day by mid-morning and the day heats up, before cooling down after dark.

Wildlife

The cold Benguela current brings a fog that shrouds the dunes of the Namib, supporting a surprising array of lifeforms. You will come across Welwitschia plants, nourished by the fog to live for over 2000 years; These truly are some of the oldest living things on Earth. Then there are the animals – oryx, jackal, seal, springbok have all adapted to this environment and especially at the coast, there is an abundance of these critters.

If you choose the bike/trek option your bike hire is included as part of your entry. We only permit fat bikes on this route and these are supplied by a local, tried and tested fat bike specialist who will accompany us as a mechanic on the ground.

We want you to concentrate on the views and the hard work of putting one foot (or 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. Instead, we will provide 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 foot and can use this as a back-up at all times. You may use your own device or rent one from us.

No. This is a supported format, which means that we transport gear for you. You will need to carry a daypack, which will have food, water, emergency gear and spare clothing in it, so you will have to carry something. But not all of your kit. We will do the hard yards on your overnight supplies by carrying a bag for you from camp to camp, plus all of the camping gear. This is a large logistical operation and is part of the value offered in this very special trip.

When we finish we are 200km from the nearest human beings. We will finish at the Wreck before making a spectacular 4×4 convoy return north to Walvis bay up the Skeleton Coast and across the dunes. On the way back we will pass landmarks such as the wreck of the Shawnee and Sandwich Harbour, with its enormous dunes and its flocks of pink Flamingos.

You can stay connected throughout your adventure with Holafly eSIM. It's a quick and hassle-free way to get reliable mobile data as soon as you land, so you can navigate, keep up to date with the event WhatsApp group (link shared in 1 week to go email) and share your photos during the trip!

You can bag 5% off your Holafly eSIM by purchasing your e-sim HERE. Your Rat Race discount is applied automatically when using this link.