The Quest sends treasure hunters up and down Mbombela for the first prize
After initially being postponed, The Quest Treasure Hunt was able to take place last Saturday (August 14).
The QR clues were activated by The Quest team at 06:00. Players started eagerly solving all their clues, which pointed to 13 various locations around the city. These locations could only be recognised by a true Lowvelder, and solving the riddles was no easy task.
The actual hunt only commenced at 09:00 when most businesses opened.
A total of 42 teams made their way to Lowvelder, Valencia, Land Rover, Violet & Rose Jewellery Co, Mbombela Stadium, Friends Café, the Nelson Mandela statue, the Steiltes soccer ball, Chas Everitt offices, Abeega Roadhouse, Kodak Crossings, the botanical garden and Marlin Pub and Grill.
At each location the team had to scan the QR code, take a selfie and collect a token to add to their map of the end location coordinates, which turned out to be none other than the well-known Old Nelspruit Airfield.
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Once the players arrived, they had to complete a puzzle to grab a key. They had to run up to the top of the tower, unlock the door and grab their R20 000 cash prize.
At about 10:40, an announcement was sent to all hunters on WhatsApp, stating that someone had won; however, teams were still encouraged to finish the hunt.
The winners were Sascha and Dana van der Westhuizen. The couple were full of emotion as they shared their thoughts about the hunt, saying that it was amazing. At some points, they saw other teams whom they thought were going to win; however, they never gave up. They rushed as fast as they could through the clues and headed for the end location. They said that winning came as a shock to them, but they were extremely happy.
The second-place winners, Corlani Breyl and team, finished only 5 minutes afterwards, and received R800’s worth of vouchers from Abeega Roadhouse. Everyone thereafter received a certificate of completion from The Quest.
The title of best-dressed went to a team of Fortnite characters, who won a R2 000 voucher from Valencia.
The Quest was a great way to support local businesses and raise awareness for them, and was a reminder of the Lowveld’s beauty and history.
The Quest team said, “The Quest Expedition 1 went extremely well, with no hiccups on the day. We are excited to host Expedition 2 soon! We will definitely incorporate a few more challenges at the scanning locations, and also do a little more nature trails and outdoor activities in the summer! Watch this space.”
