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 natures’ magical show of colour and beauty during the world’s largest and most spectacular natural flower display occurring in 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 / Race Director for the Namaqua Quest Event. This year's event with a Solo MTB or Trail Run format over a total distance of 153km 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, close to Springbok and has since been sold to Trisport SA with Botes at the helm of organising it. Trisport is a South African company founded over 20 years ago by Hano and Sonja Otto, who combined their sporting passion and ability to create this exciting venture.


Race itinerary - “Day 1 action (62km) will take place at Jakkalwater, a private farm Guest Farm just outside Springbok where participants will experience the famous granite koppies (small hills) of Namakwa with patches of various colour of flowers in between the koppies as if different colour of paints were dropped from the heavens. The next day participants will cycle or run (43km) inside Goegap Nature Reserve where they will be able to see some Gemsbok, Springbok, Eland, Ostriches and other smaller antelopes. On the last day they will cycle or run (47km) in the Copper Mountains of Okiep,” explained Botes. The new Race Village will be located at the Okiep Country Hotel where all the gatherings will take place after the day out with lunch to be provided at the finish venue each day for all participants.


Join the challenge - The Namaqua Quest accommodates an average of 200 entries every year. “We cater for E-Bikes, MTB and Multi-Stage riders as well as runners. The unique thing about the Namaqua Quest is that the Trail Run and the MTB events take place over the same weekend, so if one person in the family don’t run, but cycle, both can have fun over the same 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. There are still other hotels and accommodation available in Springbok,” said Botes.


Reigning champs - Sean Low (55) put in a consistent performance over three days and won the Quest- MTB- Full (Open) event for men in a time of 8:12:38. Melissa Kotze (36) clinched the female 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 and Donna Donlon crossed the finishing line first in the female 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 and 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).