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PICTURES: Swimmers brave winter cold for polar dip at Ebotse

About 50 swimmers jumped into Vanryn Dam on a cold Saturday morning to take part in the WannaDo Events Polar Swim Challenge in Benoni.

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni

Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

The Polar Bear Swim at Vanryn Dam at Ebotse Golf and Country Estate featured distances of 1km, 500m and 250m.

Wetsuits were not allowed.

All swimmers who completed the cold challenge received a medal and hot soup after their icy escapades.

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Swimmers brave the mid-winter waters of Vanryn Dam during the WannaDo Events “Polar Bear Swim”, 19 July 2025, at Ebotse Golf and Country Estate in Benoni. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

Polar bear mid-winter swim in Benoni — Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

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