The renowned RMB Ultra-trail Drakensberg (UTD) will return to South Africa’s magnificent Drakensberg mountains from 25 to 27 April 2025, continuing its legacy as one of Africa’s most challenging and majestic trail running events.
Set against the backdrop of one of South Africa’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, this trail running event attracts elite athletes and passionate trail runners from across the globe to test their endurance in one of the world’s most spectacular mountain environments.
“We can’t wait to welcome all the runners back to the Southern Drakensberg for the 8th edition of RMB UTD,” says Event Director Spurgeon Flemington. “To share the incomparable landscape of the Southern Drakensberg and Lesotho with runners from all over SA and beyond is a privilege we never tire of.”
The inaugural UTD was in 2017 and attracted around 250 runners across the four distances on offer. Since then, the event has grown to around 900 athletes and added an additional distance to the bouquet to bring the races to five.
This year each of the five distances, although challenging, cater to various experience levels. The flagship UTD Miler, which starts in Lesotho at the top of the Sani Pass, covers 160km with over 4500m of elevation gain and a 45-hour cut-off time. The UTD100 offers a 100km mountain challenge traversing some of the most technical terrain in the range.
For those building their ultra-distance experience, the GCU65 (Giant’s Cup Ultra) provides a demanding 65km route that sees runners do the five-day Giant’s Cup hiking trail in a day. The SDR36 (Sundowner Run) starts at Castleburn and sees runners chase the sun to finish at Glencairn Farm before sunset. It is a challenging yet beautiful route that delivers an authentic Drakensberg experience. The DRJ25 (Drakensberg Rock Jumper) offers entry-level runners a taste of what the trails of the Southern Drakensberg region have to offer.
What distinguishes the RMB UTD from many other trail events is the technical difficulty of the terrain and the high altitude. Participants navigate rocky paths, river crossings, steep ascents and descents, and high-altitude sections where weather conditions can change rapidly. The route includes iconic Drakensberg features such as Sani Pass, Giant’s Cup Hiking Trail and sections along the escarpment with spectacular views into neighbouring Lesotho.
The event continues its strong commitment to community involvement and environmental conservation. “Through the number of runners that support this event we are proud of the significant value that we can put back into the community and the local conservation initiatives that we support,” says Flemington.
The Race Village and host to RMB UTD is Glencairn Farm, located at the foot of Giant’s Cup (closest towns are Himeville and Underberg). The farm has hosted many sporting events and weddings and offers a wide range of accommodation options for runners and supporters. It will also be a hub of activity for both the runners, their families and supporters to enjoy throughout the weekend.
“Glencairn is an ideal venue for an event of the magnitude of UTD. The facilities and spaces available are world-class and the location against the mountains of the Drakensberg provides the perfect backdrop to the RMB UTD show,” concludes Flemington.
Entries for the 2025 RMB Ultra-trail Drakensberg close on Wednesday, 02April 2025. Participants are encouraged to enter online before this date as entries are limited and historically sell out.
For more information, visit www.ultratraildrakensberg.comor contact the race organisers at info@ultratraildrakensberg.com
