Salt Rock ultra-trail runner scales South Africa’s highest peak

Salt Rock’s intrepid ultra-trail runner, Andrew Erasmus was part of a 3-man team who took on the tough challenge of running from the lowest to highest points in South Africa – a 250km course that included a formidable 7 000m elevation.

The team that included Jordan Leppan and North Coast doctor, Matt Te Water, started from Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday, June 18 shortly after the 4am curfew.

The chosen route, organised by Summit South Africa, covered the N3 highway all the way up to Pietermaritzburg.

From there, the runners passed the front of the Midmar Dam near Howick before changing direction towards the Giants Castle Reserve – the entry point to the Drakensberg.

The summit route was via Centenary Hut in the Njisuthi Nature Reserve on the way up to the mighty Mafadi.

The dome-like crest of Mafadi lies several hundred metres from the edge of the Drakensberg’s escarpment, with the border between Lesotho and South Africa running right through it.

At 3 451 metres above sea level, this is the highest point in South Africa.

An injury forced Te Water to pull out at the 110km mark.

Erasmus and Leppan took on the summit on Sunday, June 20 and reached the top at 2pm.

The aim of the challenge was to raise funds for the Orcas Running Academy based in Inanda.

Te Water said they were helped by a strong support crew, which included a team doctor.

Four local runners, including Andrew’s twin brother Steven, who is also an ultra-runner, joined the duo on the final day to the summit of Mafadi.