As a way to promote a healthy lifestyle, about 350 members of the Lowveld Walkers faced a challenging yet fun route during the annual Big Walk on Saturday, October 5.

Supported by the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture under the auspices of the Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation, this walk takes place on the first weekend of October every year.

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The participants walked from Sasol Emkhatsini to the Croc Valley road in four categories; the 5km, 10km, 14km and 21km.

Joseph Mashaba, the Walkers’ founder, said this is the first time that the Big Walk took place outside Mbombela.

“This event is because of all of us who made it possible to be hosted in Karino. The difference between this walk and our other events is that it is an initiative by a national department, and we are happy to see our government encouraging the public to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. We support it because it promotes walking as a form of exercise. We are hoping this will now be a norm, taking this event to the people and various areas and townships. We also hope to have an even better and more successful Big Walk in 2025.”

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Mashaba said he appreciates all the walkers and supporters who make all the events possible.

“The participants must remember to never stop living a healthy lifestyle as it increases one’s durability. I also call upon every walker to prepare and to come out in huge numbers.”