The inaugural WESSA Ultra Trail Festival brought trail runners, families and the wider community together at uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve on Saturday, 24 October, as part of WESSA’s centenary celebrations.

With 340 paid entrants taking on distances from 6km to 50km, the festival delivered a strong day of trail running while highlighting the connection between outdoor recreation, conservation and environmental education.

The turnout exceeded the event’s initial target of 250 runners, with the championship connection adding a competitive dimension for athletes racing for provincial standings and potential qualification opportunities.

Championship racing makes history in KwaZulu-Natal

The festival marked an important milestone for trail running in the province with the inaugural KZN Trail and Mountain Running Championship, introduced by KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA).

The championship created a new platform for provincial competition, talent identification and excellence within KwaZulu-Natal’s growing trail-running community.

For athletes with ambitions of representing KwaZulu-Natal and potentially South Africa, the championship also forms part of the pathway towards provincial colours and the national selection process ahead of South Africa hosting the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in October 2027.

Andrew Booth, lead organiser of the WESSA Ultra Trail Run and KZNA partner, described the awarding of KZN Trail Running colours and medals as a highlight of the event.

“As the first KZN Trail Running Champs, it was a big moment for the sport in the province and all the more meaningful because it formed part of WESSA’s 100-year celebration.”

Celebrating the race winners

Runners competed across five distances, with the following athletes taking the top positions in the women’s and men’s categories:

Every entry supports conservation

For WESSA, the festival was about more than competitive trail running. Every paid entry contributed directly to the ongoing care of uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve and its role as a place where people can experience and learn about nature.

Returning runners also noted that the trails and reserve were in noticeably better condition than the previous year, highlighting the importance of continued investment in the reserve and its natural environment.

“The participation of 340 runners in the event directly contributes to the ongoing care of the reserve and its role as a place for people to experience and learn about nature,” says WESSA CEO Cindy-Lee Cloete.

The festival formed part of WESSA’s 100-year celebration, connecting the organisation’s long history of people caring for the Earth with an active celebration of nature, outdoor recreation and community.

A festival beyond the trails

While trail running was at the heart of the event, the WESSA Ultra Trail Festival also brought together music, food, family entertainment and community activities.

One unexpected highlight for festival-goers was a new zebra on site, which could be spotted wandering among guests at the reserve and through the market area. Its presence offered visitors a memorable reminder that the festival was taking place within a living natural environment, where people and wildlife share the space.

The music programme featured Jason Hartman, Scott and Sam Hartman, alongside local artists Blackbird, Undivided Rootz ZA, Rhiannon & Vince Reid and Skippy Kubheka. The Jabula Combined School and Underberg School’s United We Sing choirs also performed, helping create a celebratory atmosphere that extended beyond the race routes.

The event was supported by a network of sponsors, local businesses, partners, volunteers and community members.

Contributions included water from Aquellé, boerewors from Howick Meat Centre for race marshals, bins from Karkloof Country Club, and support from uMngeni Local Municipality with parking marshals and cleaners. Participants in the Cricket South Africa Green Wickets programme also volunteered as race marshals.

A range of local businesses and organisations contributed prizes, while Alison Humphries Engelbrecht and her team of Ezemvelo Honorary Officers provided additional support and donated their time.

For WESSA, the inaugural festival demonstrated how outdoor recreation can create meaningful connections between people and nature while contributing to conservation.

“The intention of this festival was to connect our 100-year history of people caring for the Earth with an active celebration of nature, outdoor recreation and community, and with the support of our partners, we aim to host it annually,” says Cloete.

Pictured: Kristi Garland, WESSA Education Centre Manager, facilitating a session with 30 school principals from the Howick Circuit

Environmental education can take many forms. At WESSA uMngeni Valley, recent activities have brought together learners, educators, school leaders, and programme participants through experiences that connect people with the environment while opening opportunities for learning, growth, and livelihoods.

Connecting with school leaders

The uMngeni Valley Education Centre welcomed 30 school principals from the Howick Circuit for an engagement focused on introducing school leaders to its educational programmes, facilities, and opportunities for collaboration.

WESSA Education Centre Manager, Kristi Garland, led the session and shared more about the value of outdoor and experiential learning while exploring ways to support schools and learners through meaningful educational experiences.

Taking environmental learning into the community

Pictured above: The WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre team engaging with learners during the Happy Earth Festival.

On 19–20 August 2026, WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre participated in the Happy Earth Festival at the KZN National Botanical Gardens in Pietermaritzburg.

The Centre engaged visitors through interactive environmental education activities exploring climate change, pollution, endangered species, and conservation. These included a climate change game, pollution display, and touch-and-feel box, giving learners opportunities to explore environmental topics in a practical and engaging way.

Learners also tested their environmental knowledge through questions and received Sable badges, while educators were provided with a teachers’ resource package to support environmental learning beyond the event.

Inspiring young people through real-world experience

Pictured: WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre Tourism student visiting his former school, Gobindlovu High School, to engage with Grade 12 learners

A WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre Tourism student recently returned to his former school, Gobindlovu High School, to engage with Grade 12 learners about his journey and career opportunities in tourism.

The engagement also introduced learners to WESSA’s work in environmental education and conservation, while a WESSA Ranger shared insights into his role, wildlife, and what it takes to pursue a career in conservation.

By bringing these experiences back to the classroom, the session gave learners an opportunity to hear directly about pathways into tourism, environmental education, and conservation.

From opportunity to ownership

Pictured: Xolani Mahlangu, winner of the Social Employment Fund (SEF) Phase 4 Business Project through Capital Quest Funding

The theme of opportunity also extends beyond education.

WESSA uMngeni Valley proudly celebrates Xolani Mahlangu, winner of the Social Employment Fund (SEF) Phase 4 Business Project through Capital Quest Funding.

Through the SEF Phase 4 Programme, Xolani has taken an important step towards entrepreneurship and building a sustainable livelihood through his business, Mabhoko Brush Cutting.

His achievement was celebrated at Anew Hotel, Hilton, as part of a collaborative initiative between WESSA and DUCT. The milestone represents a step towards greater independence and business growth, demonstrating how opportunities and support can help people develop their own pathways towards sustainable livelihoods.

Across these engagements, uMngeni Valley continues to create spaces for learning, connection, and opportunity – whether through environmental education, career exploration, collaboration with schools, or support for emerging entrepreneurs.

By connecting people with knowledge, experience, and practical opportunities, WESSA’s work at uMngeni Valley contributes to stronger relationships with the natural environment while helping people explore what is possible for their own futures.