Stage set for 2018 Tour de Tuli

THE stage has been set for the 2018 Tour de Tuli tourism expedition, which is held annually in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMFTCA) after organisers successfully launched the route on Tuesday in South Africa.

The event, which will run from August 2 to 7 is being held for the 14th year and 9th since Zimbabwe joined in 2009.

The mega park is located on the western part of Beitbridge and comprises the Northern Tuli Game Reserve (Botswana), Tuli National Park and Maramani Communal lands (Zimbabwe) and the Mapungubwe National Park (South Africa).

The expedition involves mountain bike tours and seeks to market the GMTFCA as one of the best tourist resorts in the Sadc region.

The cyclists pass through three countries during the course of the event.

The participants are drawn from countries like the United States, Britain, Canada, Germany, Australia, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Children in the Wilderness (CITW), a South Africa company is coordinating the expedition on behalf of the three governments.

“Nedbank Tour de Tuli has officially launched the 2018 route of Africa’s most adventurous mountain-biking event, which will see 300 riders cycle across more than 250km of challenging and remote terrain in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa between 2 and 7 August,” said tour director Ms Nicola Harris.

“The riders will not only have the unique opportunity to discover thrilling and untravelled wilderness trails, but also enjoy a range of original activities such as meeting an astronomer, being present at the unveiling of the brand new Nyala Berry Camp in Zimbabwe and visiting a fascinating 140-millionyear-old dinosaur fossil site.

“The 2018 Tour de Tuli promises a life-changing mountain-biking event through prime wilderness areas. Each year the route for the Nedbank Tour de Tuli changes as our volunteer teams are constantly discovering new and exciting trails for our riders.”