Race and run in a magical display of colour and beauty
The annually hosted Namaqua Quest Three-Day MTB and Trail Run allows participants to experience nature’s magical show of colour and beauty during the world’s largest and most spectacular natural flower display, which occurs at the beginning of September in the Northern Cape.
Picturesque settings – “Besides the challenge, the area is known for its flower-covered valleys, rugged mountains, ancient canyons carved by the hands of time, and plains with grazing gemsbok, zebra and springbok,” says Janine Botes, the Event Organiser and Race Director for the Namaqua Quest. This year’s event, featuring a solo MTB or Trail Run format over a total distance of 153 km, takes place in the surroundings of Springbok from 12 to 14 September 2025. It will be the eleventh edition of the Namaqua Quest. The event was started by Debbie Agenbag, who grew up in Nababeep, near Springbok, and has since been sold to Trisport SA, with Botes now at the helm of its organisation. Trisport is a South African company founded over 20 years ago by Hano and Sonja Otto, who combined their sporting passion and expertise to create this exciting venture.
Race itinerary – “Day 1 action (62 km) will take place at Jakkalwater, a private guest farm just outside Springbok, where participants will experience the famous granite koppies (small hills) of Namakwa, with patches of various colours of flowers in between the koppies, as if different colours of paint were dropped from the heavens. On the next day, participants will cycle or run 43 km inside the Goegap Nature Reserve, where they may see gemsbok, springbok, eland, ostriches and other smaller antelope. On the final day, they will cycle or run 47 km in the Copper Mountains of Okiep,” explained Botes. The new race village will be located at the Okiep Country Hotel, where all the post-race gatherings will take place. Lunch will be provided at the finish venue each day for all participants.
Join the challenge – The Namaqua Quest accommodates an average of 200 entries each year. “We cater for E-bikes, MTB and multi-stage riders as well as runners. The unique aspect of the Namaqua Quest is that the Trail Run and MTB events take place over the same weekend. So, if one person in the family doesn’t run but cycles, both can still enjoy the weekend. Entries are looking good, and we usually do have a few Namibian participants. The race village hotel is already fully booked, with breakfast and dinner included in your hotel room. However, there are still other hotels and accommodation available in Springbok,” said Botes.
Reigning champs – Sean Low (55) delivered a consistent performance over three days and won the Quest-MTB-Full (Open) men’s event in a time of 8:12:38. Melissa Kotze (36) clinched the women’s section in a time of 10:48:33. Malcolm Mostert won the Quest-MTB-Full-Ebike (Open) division in a time of 10:44:21, while Donna Donlon crossed the finish line first in the women’s section with a time of 11:20:13. Paul Cummings (61) won the Quest Trail Full event for men in a time of 5:07:00, while Hayley Cummings (34), with a time of 5:05:49, was the fastest female. The youngest participant at last year’s event was 13 years old, and the oldest was Frans Erasmus (74).
Picturesque settings – “Besides the challenge, the area is known for its flower-covered valleys, rugged mountains, ancient canyons carved by the hands of time, and plains with grazing gemsbok, zebra and springbok,” says Janine Botes, the Event Organiser and Race Director for the Namaqua Quest. This year’s event, featuring a solo MTB or Trail Run format over a total distance of 153 km, takes place in the surroundings of Springbok from 12 to 14 September 2025. It will be the eleventh edition of the Namaqua Quest. The event was started by Debbie Agenbag, who grew up in Nababeep, near Springbok, and has since been sold to Trisport SA, with Botes now at the helm of its organisation. Trisport is a South African company founded over 20 years ago by Hano and Sonja Otto, who combined their sporting passion and expertise to create this exciting venture.
Race itinerary – “Day 1 action (62 km) will take place at Jakkalwater, a private guest farm just outside Springbok, where participants will experience the famous granite koppies (small hills) of Namakwa, with patches of various colours of flowers in between the koppies, as if different colours of paint were dropped from the heavens. On the next day, participants will cycle or run 43 km inside the Goegap Nature Reserve, where they may see gemsbok, springbok, eland, ostriches and other smaller antelope. On the final day, they will cycle or run 47 km in the Copper Mountains of Okiep,” explained Botes. The new race village will be located at the Okiep Country Hotel, where all the post-race gatherings will take place. Lunch will be provided at the finish venue each day for all participants.
Join the challenge – The Namaqua Quest accommodates an average of 200 entries each year. “We cater for E-bikes, MTB and multi-stage riders as well as runners. The unique aspect of the Namaqua Quest is that the Trail Run and MTB events take place over the same weekend. So, if one person in the family doesn’t run but cycles, both can still enjoy the weekend. Entries are looking good, and we usually do have a few Namibian participants. The race village hotel is already fully booked, with breakfast and dinner included in your hotel room. However, there are still other hotels and accommodation available in Springbok,” said Botes.
Reigning champs – Sean Low (55) delivered a consistent performance over three days and won the Quest-MTB-Full (Open) men’s event in a time of 8:12:38. Melissa Kotze (36) clinched the women’s section in a time of 10:48:33. Malcolm Mostert won the Quest-MTB-Full-Ebike (Open) division in a time of 10:44:21, while Donna Donlon crossed the finish line first in the women’s section with a time of 11:20:13. Paul Cummings (61) won the Quest Trail Full event for men in a time of 5:07:00, while Hayley Cummings (34), with a time of 5:05:49, was the fastest female. The youngest participant at last year’s event was 13 years old, and the oldest was Frans Erasmus (74).
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