TOUR LEADER PRE-TOUR MANUAL 2021 - Tour De Tuli
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TOUR LEADER PRE-TOUR MANUAL 2021
WELCOME
DEAR TOUR AND SUPPORT LEADERS,
The Nedbank Tour de Tuli is an incredible mountain bike adventure and we look forward to
possibly having you as part of the Leader team. Thank you for volunteering your skills, services
and passion for this event. The Leaders on Tour are predominantly the face of the event. In order
for you to prepare for this experience, please read this Manual we have put together, so that
you are fully prepared for your roles and responsibilities on the Tour. Please note that even if
you have been a Leader before, it is important that you also read through this information as it
is updated each year.
Section 1 Tour Overview and General Information
Section 2 Group Management and Tour Leader Etiquette
Section 3 The Route and GPS
Section 4 Leader Equipment
Section 5 Medical Overview
Section 6 Safety and Wildlife
Section 7 History, Nature and Wildlife Overview
Thank you once again for your enthusiasm and commitment to the event, and to contributing
to a great cause.
Kind regards,
The Nedbank Tour De Tuli Team
3
SECTION 1
TOUR OVERVIEW
AND GENERAL
INFORMATION
The Nedbank Tour de Tuli is a social mountain bike event and is not a race. Its primary purpose
is to raise funds for Children in the Wilderness (CITW), a non-profit life-skills and environmental
education programme for rural children. Please ensure that you are familiar with the details of
CITW (www.childreninthewilderness.com).
The Tour is a four-day / five-night mountain bike adventure traversing the Greater Mapungubwe
Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA) in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. The exact
route is not yet finalised, as we change this annually to ensure we offer something new and
exciting. Once finalised the route will be communicated to all registered, accepted Leaders.
THE LEADER ROLE
The Tour and Support Leaders are predominantly the face of the event. Your overall role is to
oversee the enjoyment and most importantly the safety of all participants in your group for
the entire duration of the Tour. The riding field is divided into groups according to participants’
ability, or a group that they have selected to ride with. The riding groups will be made up of
around 12 to 14 participants, but there may be some slightly bigger groups of closed teams, in
these instances, we will allocate 3 Leaders to a group. The general idea is for each group to be
managed independently and efficiently by the Leaders.
Each group is allocated a “Tour Leader” and a “Support Leader”. This does not necessarily
mean that the Tour Leader must physically ride in front of the group. The Leader with wildlife
experience/training must always be in the front.
5
The allocated Tour Leader is ultimately responsible for the well-being and coordination of their group, with the assistance of the Support Leader. We will allocate a Leader who has wildlife training/knowledge to each riding group; this person may or may not be allocated as the Tour Leader per se, but maybe be allocated to Support Leader. There must be a wildlife Leader at the front of the group and a Leader at the back of the group, to ensure no one drops off. The Leaders are expected to encourage the camaraderie between the participants in their groups. This will need to start before the event takes place, so that a relationship between the riders and their Leaders is cultivated. • The email addresses of the participants in your respective groups will be given to you in advance. Please make contact with your group and get to know their strengths and weaknesses. Please do not talk to them about Tour logistics as this can sometimes lead to miscommunication. Your communications need to be based solely on mountain biking / cycling-related topics and training. This will allow you to get to know your group and vice versa. Please keep Nicola Harris (nicolah@wilderness.co.za) copied in the communication where possible; if you receive any questions around logistics just send them through to the team and we will handle them. • If possible, and logistics allow, it would be a good idea to set up a training ride with your group, or part of your group, prior to the event to ascertain their riding ability. Please reinforce to your team that training is necessary and they need to be prepared! NEDBANK TOUR DE TULI EVENT RULES: Please note it is your responsibility to ensure the following EVENT RULES are strictly adhered to at all times: • Safety-approved riding helmets are compulsory – please ensure all helmets are fastened. • No overlapping of wheels. • Participants may not deviate from the official route. • The Leaders’ and Official’s word is final! The safety precautions need to be taken seriously, and strictly adhered to. Anyone found in contravention of the officials or any safety regulations will be evicted from the Tour without compensation. • We will be travelling through National Parks. All participants agree to respect the wildlife and environment through which we are travelling and to obey all National Park rules and regulations. • No littering. All wrappers must be kept on the rider until the next refreshment stop, or put into the supporting Land Rover’s rubbish bins.
• Please burn all toilet paper if anyone has to go between official loo stops!
• Tired riders need to do all possible to ride to the next strategic point or Tea and Brunch stops
if wanting to opt out.
• Groups should stay within close proximity of each other, especially in wildlife areas.
• All bikes must have a tubeless conversion (mandatory and a condition of entry). If someone
in your group does not have this, please ensure that they are sent to the bike mechanics on
the arrival day to get the conversion done at their own expense.
• It is imperative that all bike boards are securely affixed to the bikes and have the correct
participants NAME on it. If a participant changes bikes please ensure that the bike board
name is changed as well. There will be spare blank bike boards at the Hospitality Desk. (In the
case of having to contact next of kin, the Event Director will be contacting those related to
the name on the bike board).
• Please ensure that everyone carries water at all times (minimum 3 litres) – it is hot and
dehydration is a real risk. Please ensure everyone REFILLS at all the stops. Hydration packs
are mandatory and any rider who arrives without one will need to make a donation to Children
in the Wilderness.
• Please ensure that you carry the basic bike spares required to fix day-to-day technical
problems within your group.
• If you see a medical vehicle coming through – PLEASE MOVE OFF THE ROAD to allow it
access.
• It is also recommended that you ride with your cell phone PIN CODE deactivated. Please
recommend this to your group as well. We also recommend that all participants and leaders
put their phones on flight mode to reserve battery power. This way you can still take photos
and make phone calls at certain points.
• It is also requested that everyone rides with their passports at all times. This will simplify the
process of having to locate a passport in the event of a medical emergency.
ANY PROBLEMS NEED TO BE DIRECTED AS FOLLOWS:
• Bike Technical – Refer to Bike Technicians
• Physical – Refer to Massage Village
• Health – Refer to the Medical Tent
• General – Refer to Head Tour Leader: Anton Wood
7
If you are unable to resolve an issue, you need to make Anton Wood aware of it so that the problem can be suitably managed. In all instances any amendments or changes to groups must be coordinated and communicated to Anton Wood and the affected Tour/Support Leaders. Selected Leaders are required to arrive at Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site on 19 July 2021 by 12pm. The Leader Pre-Event briefing will take place during the afternoon of the 19 July. LEADER ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY | GUEST ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DAYS Arrival Day: Tuesday 20 July 2021: • You will have arrived the previous day. • Please collect and sign for your communication equipment at the tuck shop. • Collect registration bag from the registration area • Tour/Support Leaders are allocated a T-shirt with their group number on it. This will be in your registration bag. Please ensure that you put this on before the participants start arriving so that your group can find you and you can meet your guests. • All participants will need to get their passports stamped on this day (departure from SA). The immigration team will be stationed close to the registration area. Please ensure all your guests (including yourselves) have received an SA exit stamp. • Please meet with Anton Wood at 15h30 at the baobabs for any last minute updates. • Please ensure that all participants are advised to put their bike boards on their bikes and luggage tags on their luggage for identification purposes (these are found in their registration packs). Please ensure you do the same. • Each Leader will be allocated a time slot to meet their groups to go through the Tour rules and safety requirements. There will be signage at the Registration Area indicating what time and where you will need to meet your groups. The participants will also be directed to the information stand so they know where to meet you. • Please ensure you do a roll call at the group meeting. Please let the Hospitality Desk and Anton know of any changes or people missing from your group. • Please communicate any concerns you may have with regards to your group to Nicola or Anton as soon as possible. Departure Day: Sunday 25 July 2021: All Leaders are expected to assist with bike loading and sorting of their group’s bicycles at Mapungubwe on 24 July 2021. On 25 July, should you be self-driving, please wait until all the riders from your group have left before you depart. TRANSPORT: Please ensure that your transport is booked on your registration profile by 15 May 2021. This includes if you are going to be a passenger in a vehicle so we are able to account for everyone.
ACCOMMODATION:
Your group will be allocated tents alongside each other at every overnight camp, indicated by
a board with your group number on it. Should a participant change riding group, their tent
allocation will remain as per their original group allocation for the duration of the event.
MEALS:
All meals will be fully catered for from the arrival day dinner to the departure day breakfast.
Should you have any dietary requirements, please complete this on your registration profile or
email the organisers.
• Breakfast will be served from 05h15 every morning.
• A light lunch will be served in camp from 13h00 to 16h00.
• Dinner will generally be served around 19h00 (a little later on the first and last night).
TEA AND BRUNCH STOPS:
Both a Tea and Brunch Stop will be included on the route each riding day.
The Tea Stop is normally set up after the first 15 – 25 km of riding. The Tea Stops offer participants
a choice of sweet and savoury snacks, soft drinks, water, energy supplement, tea, and coffee.
The Brunch Stops are at around 40 – 50 km of riding. The Brunch Stop consists of a more
substantial savoury snack i.e. a wrap, baguette with salad, soft drinks, energy supplement and
water.
STRAT POINTS:
Strat points are situated at positions that may have high concentration of game and will be
placed approximately every 15 km. These are not stops but points where there may be a safety
risk. These vehicles carry basic/minimal supplies, where participants who need more water can
fill up, or those needing to opt out can do so here.
LUGGAGE:
Please ensure your team is aware of the luggage restrictions – soft tog bag of max 20 kg.
The luggage will be transported from camp to camp with the mattresses. It is requested that
participants assist with the following:
a. Carry their bags to the end of their tent groups so staff can load onto trucks.
b. Put their mattresses outside their tents so they are visible and easy to load.
HOSPITALITY DESK:
A Hospitality Desk is located in each camp and performs the following functions:
• Selling bar coupons
• Handling lost property
• Charging equipment
• Dealing with general queries
9
EPT RECOVERY MASSAGE VILLAGE: All massage appointments must be booked at the Massage Village as soon as your group arrives in camp. There is one volunteer dedicated to booking the appointments. The later appointments will be reserved for the back groups so if participants wait they may not get a slot. Each person has been allocated one twenty-minute slot per day. THE BAR: Bar tokens can be purchased online prior to the event, or at the Hospitality Desk at the event. These tokens can be used to purchase drinks in camp. You are liable for your own bar bills. Bar tokens are sold in values of R100 or R200. CYCLES UNITED BIKE TECHNICIANS: The Bike Tech station will be set up in camp each day to assist with any technical issues or concerns regarding your bike. Should you or anyone in your group have trouble, please visit the Bike Tech station team as soon as you arrive in camp. Making use of the bike tech services is at your own discretion and own risk. Any accounts held with bike technicians should be settled directly with them. MEDICAL TENT: In each camp a medical tent with a qualified medical team is available to assist with any medical concerns and/or emergencies. Please note that the medical tent is equipped with limited stock and supplies and should you have any specific or chronic medication, we do advise that you bring this medication along with you on Tour. RECOVERY AND SUPPLEMENT STATION: A Recovery Station is set up in each camp near the Bar. The station stocks Energy Supplement and Recovery Drink that everyone can fill up on, and will be available in the evenings and the mornings.
SHOWERS AND TOILETS:
Each camp is set up with open air showers. As the shower rigs are moved from camp to camp,
we will do our best to have them set up for your arrival in camp. Should there be a delay, please
be patient as this is normally caused by unforeseen circumstances. Showers will be open from
your arrival in camp to 21h00 every evening. They are not open in the mornings.
Toilets will be available in each camp. Botswana and South Africa will have portable chemical
toilets whilst Zimbabwe will have long-drop facilities. All toilets are serviced throughout the day.
CONNECTIVITY:
WiFi will be available for everyone in camp on the first and last nights. You will be able to get
the password at the Hospitality Desk. WiFi will NOT be available on any other nights, to allow
participants to ‘Disconnect to Reconnect’.
CHARGING OF EQUIPMENT:
The charging of your radio, GPS and phone can be done at the Hospitality Desk. PLEASE
ENSURE YOU DROP OFF YOUR EQUIPMENT AT THE HOSPITALITY DESK FOR CHARGING AS
SOON AS YOU ARRIVE IN CAMP.
We have limited opportunity for charging of cell phones and this is subject to availability on a
first-come first-served basis, and all event equipment will take priority. Any items for charging
need to be handed in to the Hospitality Desk as early as possible, and it is the individual’s
responsibility to collect it that evening.
It is your responsibility to collect your event equipment before 21h00 every evening. The
Hospitality Desk will not be able to give you your equipment in the morning as they leave
extremely early for the camp-to-camp transfers.
DAILY GROUP BRIEFINGS:
Each Leader will be provided with a set of key cards at the start of the event, summarising each
day’s ride and key interest points to chat about on each day’s ride.
Tour Leaders will be responsible for briefing their group prior to the start of the day, and to
debrief when the group is safely back in camp.
11Please ensure you complete a safety briefing with your group, and reiterate the information below each and every morning before departure: • The rules – not a race – stick together – ride as a group – if one stops, we all stop. • Buddy up – do not ride alone – ensure you always know where and who your buddy is. • Safety procedures – what will happen in the event of an accident. Listen to your Leaders! • Route description/overview for that day (distance, estimated riding time, the terrain, key interest areas). • Tea and brunch stops (where they are located). • Strategic points – their function and where they should be located. • Equipment check – water/helmets/GPS/ passports for emergency evacuations and bear bangers. This is very IMPORTANT – please check equipment is on hand and charged. Debrief at the end of the day – to take place as you arrive in camp or at dinner around the table, to cover all the day’s events: • Group dynamics and safety issues, positioning of participants and riding skills. • Obtain feedback from participants if any concerns, issues etc. If so, these must be managed either through Bike Technicians, the Medical Nurse and/or Massage team, or if a general concern, with the Event Director, Nicola Harris or the Head Tour Leader, Anton Wood. • Feedback regarding bikes, gearing or mechanical problems. • General congratulations to everyone for good ride. MORNING PROCEDURES: The generators will go on at approximately 04h30 each morning. The Bean There and breakfast stations will be open from around 05h15. Energy supplements and water will be available at the bar area for participants to fill up their hydration packs or bottles prior to departure (water and energy supplement will be available at all times at the bar. We encourage participants to fill up the night before to avoid any delays in the morning). DEPARTURE TIMES: The first group will depart at 6:20am. The group departure times are worked on the basis of the groups departing at a 5 minute interval. The reason it is done this way is to try and allow all groups to depart within a reasonable time frame but prevent gridlock. Please do all possible to leave on time, as an early or late departure will compromise other riders and groups. Please ensure that you manage your team accordingly to ensure that they are ready to depart on time. Please ensure that you round up your group 10 minutes PRIOR to your departure time and give them their safety briefing, and check all equipment to avoid delays.
We have a big field and riding time is limited for the back groups, so please be considerate
of fellow participants. Please do not leave prior to your allocated time as it will just create a
bottleneck down the line and lead to frustrated riders.
Please ensure there is a 5-10 minute gap between groups leaving the Tea, Brunch and Strategic
Points to ensure that groups aren’t catching up to each other on the riding route.
During the course of the day it is imperative that you maintain this 5-10 minute delay between
group departures. When leaving any of the stops please ensure you allow AT LEAST 5 minutes
between the group prior to you and your departure. If a group is faster than you, please ensure
they leave before your group going forward.
We have allocated around 15 minutes for tea stops and 30 minutes for brunch. Whilst this is a
Tour and we don’t want to rush people, the stops do get crowded. Please manage your groups
in these instances. Please note that if you are riding slowly you must ensure that your stops
are managed, otherwise your group may not make it into camp prior to nightfall. Please make
an announcement when you reach the stop as to how long you will be spending there so your
group can plan accordingly. A few minutes before you leave, please start rounding up your
group.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU DO A HEAD COUNT EACH TIME YOU ARRIVE AT A TEA STOP, BRUNCH
STOP AND CAMP. YOU WILL NEED TO SIGN YOUR GROUPS IN AT EACH OF THESE POINTS.
EVENING PROCEDURE:
The first thing that you need to do is sign in your group at the Hospitality Desk. Should there
be any changes that happened on that day, please advise the Hospitality Desk team – IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT ALL PEOPLE IN YOUR GROUP ARE ACCOUNTED FOR AND HAVE MADE
IT BACK TO CAMP SAFELY.
You will also need to hold a debrief session with the team, either soon after you arrive or at the
dinner table.
LEADER MEETINGS:
On arrival day, the Leader meeting will be held at the baobabs at 15h30. For the rest of the Tour,
there will be a Leader meeting every evening at 18h00. All Leaders to meet at the Hospitality
Desk each evening and then move off to a quiet spot.
13Please ensure all Leaders attend this meeting. The point of the meeting is to review the route
for the following day and communicate any amendments. Any problems or issues can be dealt
with at this meeting. If there is a participant in your group that is not riding the next day it is
imperative that you inform Anton Wood, the Hospitality Desk as well as the Incident Coordinator.
This decision needs to be made the day before as the support staff leave camp before the
groups depart and those not riding need to be allocated to vehicles the evening before during
the staff meeting, which is held at 20h00 each evening.
LEADER CYCLE SHIRTS:
All Tour Leaders and Support Leaders will be provided with NEDBANK TOUR DE TULI CYCLING
SHIRTS which you will be expected to wear on each riding day. If you do not have the Leader
shirts from 2018 or 2019, please let the organisers know. It is imperative that you wear the
correct Leader shirts so that you can be identified accordingly.
Wearing the Leader Cycle shirts is mandatory.
WHAT TO PACK:
Please refer to the recommended packing list which can be found under The 2021 Tour on the
website.
Recommended Leader packing list:
• 2 spare tubes with slime or sealant
• 2 sets of tyre liners
• Tubeless plug kit and tyre repair with patches
• 4 gold quick links, 10, 11 & 12 speed
• 2 x tyre levers
• Duct tape
• Tyre gaiters (old tooth paste tube works well)
• A few cable ties
• Tyre bombs and applicator
• Gear shifter cables SRAM and SHIMANO
• Leatherman and multi-tool
• Chain lube (you will receive Squirt chain lube in your registration bag)
• Spare derailleur hanger universal
• Any specialised parts
• Superglue
• Shimano cleat bolts
• Shimano cleats
• Small sewing kit
• Tyre levers
• Spokes
15SECTION 2
GROUP
MANAGEMENT
AND TOUR LEADER
ETIQUETTE
Below are the guidelines and common courtesies that we ask all Tour and Support Leaders to
be aware of and abide by:
GROUP MANAGEMENT:
• It is imperative that Tour and Support Leaders ride with their group at ALL TIMES. You are
responsible for ensuring that participants in your group depart with you and return with you.
• You will need to check for and sign all your group members in at the following points: Tea
Stop, Brunch Stop and the Hospitality Desk in camp. If a participant changes groups please
make a note of this on your sign-in sheets and ensure that the affected Tour Leader knows.
• Tour Leaders should determine and appoint a person from your group to be a third back-up
Leader. In the event of an emergency, ensure that they are familiar with using a GPS, hand-
held radio and bear banger. Ensure that he/she and your team are aware that the assigned
individual will fulfil this role as and if necessary. A third radio will be allocated to groups
larger than 16 riders. You will need to allocate this to one of the participants in your group
to assist with communication. It is advised that this person ride in the middle of the group
and assist the front and back Leaders. PLEASE NOTE: IT WILL BE THE TOUR LEADERS’
RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THIS THIRD RADIO IS CHARGED DURING THE EVENT AND
HANDED BACK AT THE END OF THE EVENT.
• Please set a comfortable pace relevant to the terrain and the ability of ALL participants in
your group. Please do NOT drop riders or tell them to ride faster than they are physically
capable of. If you have participants that are holding your group back you must either allocate
faster riders to the group ahead, or, at the end of a riding day, allocate the slower riders to a
slower group. Please do not compromise the enjoyment of the entire group for one or two
people who may be too fast or too slow for that specific group.
• Tour and Support Leaders need to assess the group dynamics to ensure the cohesion of their
riding group. Please also assist participants with safe riding skills and techniques.
17• Technical and nutritional advice and assistance needs to be provided. Tour and Support Leaders need to ensure that each participant is carrying enough water and nutrition to take them to the next stop (minimum 3 litres of water or energy supplement carrying capacity per day). • Mechanical concerns. If a participant experiences a mechanical problem during the ride, Leaders will be responsible to help the rider fix the problem, and for the group to stay as a group until you can continue together. Tour Leaders to ensure that within their group they have enough spares and technical knowledge to manage minor technical issues. (Whilst fixing the mechanical, one of the Leaders should be standing back and watching out for any wildlife). • In the event of a mechanical breakdown that cannot be fixed: Someone in the team will be allocated to walk with the person with the mechanical breakdown to the next tea or strategic stop. From there the person with the mechanical will need to wait until there is a vehicle that can take them to camp. • If a participant needs to move up or down a group, the Tour Leader must first talk to the other group’s Tour Leader and then hand over responsibility to that Leader for that specific rider. The original Tour Leader should update the group manifests at the Hospitality Desk. This should ideally be done at the end of the day. Please do not move a participant up or down to a closed corporate group, or a group larger than 18 participants (this could mean that a person might need to move up or down a couple of groups). Please also keep in mind that a ‘Stragglers Group’ can be formed using the Reserve Leaders. The Head Tour Leader (Anton Wood) together with the Tour Director will manage this at the Leader meetings. • Tour and Support Leaders are expected to be vigilant during the day and to handle any crises. For this reason, they should monitor their alcohol intake whilst on the Tour. RESERVE LEADERS: There are always some participants who arrive unfit and unprepared for this event. It is unfair for the last groups to have to manage these stragglers, as it impacts on their group’s ride. To deal with these participants, we will create a group on site into which to allocate these people. We will have Reserve Leaders who, on the first day, will slot into a group (this will be decided at the Leader meeting on the arrival day), and then if need be, they will form a new group going forward with the unprepared participants. The departure time of this group will be determined the night before at the Leader meeting. Please ensure participants in this group know what time they will be departing and that they have met their new Leaders.
If you find yourself feeling unwell and/or unable to fulfil your role as a Leader, please advise the
Head Tour Leader (Anton Wood) so that a substitute Leader can be found to take your place.
We do have a few Reserve Leaders that are there to assist as necessary, or alternatively we will
ask one of the participants to take on this role.
RIDING ETIQUETTE:
• If your group needs to stop for any specific reason, please move off the track to allow the
other groups behind to pass.
• If you find that there is a group behind you that is faster than you, please allow them to depart
before you in the mornings and swop departure times. This is far preferable to having them
pass you every day.
• When crossing borders with your group please ensure that the group in front of you completely
clears Customs before you approach. Please do not let your group JUMP THE QUEUE.
• Please ensure there is at least a 5-minute gap between group departures at the Tea, Brunch
and strat points.
• Please do not encourage political talk. We have been invited by the various governments to
ride in their country and we treat them with respect as gracious guests.
RIDING THROUGH THE COMMUNITIES:
We ride through a few local communities and always receive a very warm welcome from the
residents. In the past some participants have handed out sweets etc. within the communities,
which has created contention in the households, and is not in the best interests of the child,
the community or the event. Please ensure that participants DO NOT hand out any sweets. If
anyone has any items they wish to have handed to the communities, they should rather discuss
this with the Event Director and an effective, co-ordinated plan can be arranged. We are also
collecting donations for a community school project in the area we ride through. Depending
on how much we collect will determine the project. Please encourage your group to make
monetary donations to add to this pool rather than hand out money/sweets etc. whilst riding
through the community.
19SECTION 3
THE ROUTE
AND GPS
ROUTE INFORMATION:
Start Point: Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site (South Africa)
End Point: Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site (South Africa)
This year’s route will once again traverse the Greater Mapungubwe TFCA area and will include
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Riding will be along ancient elephant trails, single
track game paths and jeep tracks, allowing participants the opportunity of experiencing
wonderful scenery, cultural interaction and the opportunity to see wildlife.
Each year we try and change the route and camps to keep it interesting for participants;
especially for those who have ridden the Tour a number of times. We will communicate the
route when we have a better idea of what we are going to offer. Below is an overview of the
camps we will be overnighting at:
DATE CAMP CAMP LOCATION
Tuesday 20 July Camp 1 Mapungubwe (South Africa)
Wednesday 21 July Camp 2 Shashi Wilderness Camp (Zimbabwe)
Thursday 22 July
Camp 3 Forthergill Rock Camp (Botswana)
Friday 23 July
Saturday 24 July Camp 4 Mapungubwe Confluence Camp (South Africa
Sunday 25 July Departure Day Home
21WHAT WE CAN TELL YOU: • We will traverse three different countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana and two game areas – Northern Tuli Game Reserve and Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site. • Prepare for around 70 – 90 km of TOUGH riding per day – over four consecutive days, comprising approximately 300 km of riding overall.It is an ADVENTURE TOUR so prepare for the unexpected. • It is an ADVENTURE TOUR so prepare for the unexpected.Even though this event is a Tour and not a race please don’t underestimate the challenging nature of this event. We do not manicure the routes; we leave them in their natural state so the route is technical and mountain biking skills are needed in order to enjoy the riding. • You will need a valid passport. • Even though this event is a Tour and not a race please don’t underestimate the challenging nature of this event. We do not manicure the routes; we leave them in their natural state so the route is technical and mountain biking skills are needed in order to enjoy the riding. • The Tour takes place at the end of winter, which means it will be extremely dry and chances are it will be very hot during the day. It can also get quite chilly in the evenings and early mornings. Please note that things can and do change, and the above distances are APPROXIMATE guidelines only. The route is single track, and the tracks originally planned in some instances may have grown over and therefore there could be some slight route deviations.
GPX TRACKS:
The riding GPX tracks will be loaded according to the following:
D1 = first day of riding.
D1SP1 = Day 1, strategic point 1. Please note that you need to zoom into your track to see
the specific points. If you are unclear about this, please ask Anton or one of the Land Rover
Support Volunteers to assist you on your arrival at Mapungubwe National Park and World
Heritage Site.
TIMING TEMPLATES:
The timing templates found in your manuals and key cards will give an APPROXIMATE
indication of the earliest and latest arrival times at the stops and in camp. Please note
however, that these DO NOT INCLUDE time for mechanicals, and only allow for a 15-minute
break at Tea and 30-minute break at Brunch. The last groups will be arriving in camp late. As
we do not want participants to ride at night due to safety reasons, we will have cut-off times.
Any groups that do not make the cut-off times will be transported into camp. Please warn
your groups of this in advance, and if you are one of the slower groups please monitor your
time along the way and limit stops.
RIDING AFTER DARK:
In wildlife areas, riding after dark is not permitted. Any participants that do not arrive at
specified cut-off points on the riding days will either be short-routed or collected and
transferred to camp. Please ensure that participants are advised of this in advance. On other
days, when not in wildlife areas, we will be more lenient and allow participants to complete
the route. For this reason we recommend that any groups that depart later than 08h00 carry
their head torches with them.
23SECTION 4
LEADER
EQUIPMENT
Each group will be allocated event equipment to ensure the safety of their riding group. All of
the following equipment will need to be signed out at registration, and signed in again at the
Hospitality Desk on arrival at Mapungubwe National Parka and World Heritage Site at the end of
the event. The Tour and Support Leaders are RESPONSIBLE for the safe keeping, charging and
return of all of the equipment for their group. In the event of loss or damage due to negligence,
the Tour and Support Leader will be expected to pay the excess. In the event of equipment
return being delayed due to Leader negligence, the relevant Leader will be liable for the costs
of rented equipment.
CELL PHONES:
Each Tour and Support Leader is to ensure that they carry their personal cell phone with
international roaming data (please encourage participants to do the same). Most of the areas
through which we will travel will have cell phone coverage, but it is erratic and cannot be
guaranteed. We suggest that you keep your cell phone on airplane mode to conserve the battery.
GPS UNITS:
• Each Tour and Support Leader will be expected to have their own GPS and ride with it
throughout the Tour. We are not marking the route and you will need to be able to read and
follow a GPS. ALL LEADERS BRING THEIR OWN GPS SO THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH USING
IT BEFORE THE START OF THE EVENT. You will also be given a key ring with all the GPS
coordinates for the strategic and overnight stops. Please ensure you carry these with you at
all times.
• If your GPS runs on batteries, please ensure you bring extra batteries with you. If your batteries
are low it may lead to your GPS giving you false information.
25BEAR BANGERS AND CARTRIDGES: Each Tour and Support Leader will be allocated a Bear banger and cartridge. If you find yourself in a position where you have to discharge the bear banger, please remember to collect a new cartridge at the Hospitality Desk (for safety reasons, please do not leave bear banger cartridges engaged in the pens). Please ensure you know how to use the bear banger and if not, please bring this up at the Leaders’ meeting at Mapungubwe National Park. MEDICAL FIRST AID KIT: Basic medical first aid kit for the treatment of minor injuries will be provided to each Leader at registration. Once again please ensure that you carry this each day. You will be able to restock your medical first aid kit at the nurses’ station. Please ensure this is done if any stock is used. HAND-HELD RADIO: Two hand-held radios per group will be allocated for communication within the group and Tour. A third hand-held radio will be allocated to larger groups for the Leaders to allocate to a responsible person in the group. They should be encouraged to ride in the middle of the group and assist the front and back Leaders. Please also communicate any mechanical, wildlife or any other potential issue that may affect the groups behind you. Please Note: It is the Tour and Support Leaders’ responsibility to ensure that the radios are charged in camp each night to be ready for use the following day. Please also collect your equipment (hand-held radio, GPS, etc.) in the evenings from the Hospitality Desk. Please do not leave anything at the Desk, as they leave early in the mornings and will not be around for you to collect the following morning. RADIO COMMUNICATION AND PROTOCOL: Due to the remoteness of the Tour and the lack of communication infrastructure in the area, the Event Organisers have elected to use VHF radios as the primary communication medium. The allocation of these radios will be to the key Support staff complement, which will enable a comprehensive communication network. The network, however, will rely on the operators – please read the following carefully and acquaint yourselves with the procedures.
RADIO PROCEDURES AND TIPS:
• All staff are expected to have their radios charged and switched on from the time the first
participants leave in the morning until the last participant arrives in camp. The reason for
this is to ensure maximum availability of Support Crew, to enable the smooth handling of
any incidents. Please remember this if you need to contact any of the Support Crew.It is your
responsibility to ensure that your radio is charged at all times.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that your radio is charged at all times. If your situation
is an emergency please start with MAYDAY (repeat x 3) and then identify yourself before
explaining the situation.
• Before you start to talk, identify yourself then the person you are talking to, to avoid any
cross-communication e.g. “Jakob to Andrew”.
• If your situation is an emergency please start with MAYDAY (repeat x 3) and then identify
yourself before explaining the situation. Talk slowly so that other people can hear you clearly.
• Always listen for the other person’s ‘out’ before you start to talk. At the end of the other
person’s transmission there will be a short frequency noise before it will go silent. After that
noise, the frequency will be open and ready for transmission again.
• Keep your microphone about 50 mm away from your mouth when you talk over the radio.
• Talk slowly so that other people can hear you clearly.
• Talk at a slightly louder than normal volume without screaming into the microphone.
• The radios are for event communication, so please be selective and use only as necessary.
• When communicating via the radio, and if battling to get a signal, please find the highest
point available to increase your radio range.
LONG RANGE COMMUNICATION:
In some instances, the person you are trying to contact will be out of your range. Under these
circumstances it is suggested that you call the nearest strategic point and ask them to relay
your message from strategic point to strategic point until the message reaches the destination
point.
27COMMUNICATION FREQUENCIES AND RADIO CHANNELS –
INCLUDING MEDICAL EMERGENCIES:
Communication Frequencies and Radio Channels – Including Medical Emergencies:
Your handheld radios have the first three channels pre-programmed to specific frequencies and
each of these channels is assigned to a specific group of people. If your radio is set on a specific
channel, you will only hear and be able to speak to others on the same channel. Channels are
as follows:
• Channel 1 – Overall Event Communication – the communication channel to talk to any event
staff.
• Channel 2 – Leaders – this channel is dedicated to Tour and Support Leaders ONLY, for them
to communicate with each other. Leaders, if you want to get hold of event staff you must
switch to Channel 1. In any medical emergencies, you will also need to switch to Channel 1
(the medical team will then ask you to switch to Channel 3 until the situation is resolved.
Thereafter you can return to Channel 2).
• Channel 3 – Private Channel – only to be used if you are directed to do so.
29SECTION 5
MEDICAL
OVERVIEW
We have a skilled medical team which is well-equipped to deal with many medical problems
without evacuation. It is not possible, nor ideal, to decide ahead of time what the action plan
will be for a medical emergency. This is because it will depend on many factors, including where
the incident occurs, time of day, type of injury, etc.
PREVENTION:
• It is important to know whether any of your participants in your group have any of the
following medical conditions:
- Heart problems; asthma; diabetes; epilepsy; allergies.
- Please ensure the Incident Coordinator is aware of any participants with medical conditions
in your group.
• With this knowledge, in the event of a medical incident you will have some idea of how to
react. If you have asthmatics in your group please ensure that they are carrying their Ventolin
pumps. If anyone is allergic to bee stings please ensure that they are carrying an EpiPen and
antihistamines with them.
• It is recommended that you enquire as to whom in your group, if any, are medical doctors,
and if anyone has first aid knowledge, so you are aware of who can assist you in the event of
an emergency.
• If any participants in your group are suffering from flu and/or have a fever it is important they
DO NOT ride, under any circumstances. Please do not allow them to ride (this applies to you
as the Leaders as well).
31• If a participant asks for your advice regarding malaria prophylactics, you need to tell them that we are travelling to a low risk malaria area and it is winter. They need to consult with their doctor about whether or not they should take malaria prophylactics. However, if they decide not to take any malaria prophylactics, they must ensure that they use Peaceful Sleep or similar, and wear long sleeves in the evening – and most importantly, if they suffer from flu-like symptoms eight days after the Tour, they need to see a doctor and have a blood test. Taking or choosing to not take prophylactics is at their own risk. • It is also a good idea to get a tetanus shot before leaving for the Tour as we do not carry this with us due to storage requirements. FLUID REPLACEMENT: • Dehydration is one of the most common ailments suffered by participants on this event. It is important that all participants keep themselves well-hydrated – please remind them. They need to drink a minimum of 750 ml of water per hour – small amounts often. • It is important to have a balance between an energy supplement and water, as the supplement will replace your electrolytes. • It is important that participants are passing urine all day; if not, they are not drinking enough and need to increase their fluid intake. Beware of alcohol and caffeine as they are both diuretics. FALLING: • When a person falls their natural reaction is to put their arms out to catch their fall. This leads to possible wrist, arm and collarbone fractures. Try to encourage participants when they are about to fall to try and roll up their bodies as tightly as possible, and allow the bike to bear the brunt of the fall. • Nerve injuries in hands: There are many nerve endings in one’s hand and if a participant rides with too tight a grip, they damage these nerve endings, which will result in them experiencing numb hands or pins and needles. If they complain of numb hands recommend that they be more conscious about not holding the handle bars so tight. SUN PROTECTION: Sun stroke is another common ailment for participants spending a good part of the day on their bikes. Please remind all participants to apply sun block prior to leaving in the mornings. There is sunblock available at all Tea and Brunch stops, and sun block should be re-applied at these stops. The strategic vehicles will also have sun block.
WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY:
For medical emergencies we have implemented the following Incident Command System, which
is a structure that allows multiple individuals to be assigned roles and will ensure our team acts
together synergistically.
STEPS FOR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY:
• Leaders to ensure they have done what they can to make the patient comfortable at the site of
the incident. Remove the fallen participant’s sunglasses and check for concussion (person to
look into bright area then shaded area, pupils should dilate normally). It is important to keep
the injured patient as still as possible. Whilst you are doing this ask the Support Leader to
radio or phone the Emergency Incident Coordinator. All bike boards will have the emergency
cell phone and satellite phone numbers for the medical back-up team and Event Coordinator.
• A medical team will come to the scene of the incident and assess the situation. Pending
the outcome of this assessment, the medical team will determine the best plan of action
depending on the circumstances. They in turn, will be in contact with the Incident Coordinator,
who will coordinate all outside resources.
• The medical team comprises doctors and paramedics whose roles include direct medical
patient care and other specifics like setting up a staging area or evacuating individuals.
• The Tour Leader will make the call as to whether or not the remainder of the group will continue
riding. In this instance a responsible person within your group will need to be nominated to
play the role of Support Leader.
EVACUATION (It is worth mentioning the following about evacuation):
• As a rule it must be expected that evacuation, at least part of way by vehicle will be the only
realistic option.
• There is a likelihood that we may not be able to land a helicopter at the scene of an incident
because of the logistical complications associated with terrain, time of day and cross-border
operations.
• At night it is to be expected that ground transfer to a suitable hospital is the most likely
reality.
• In the daytime, ground transfer or transfer by helicopter to Limpopo Valley Airstrip to connect
with a fixed wing evacuation is the most likely option.
ALL EVENT EMERGENCY NUMBERS ARE PRINTED ON THE FRONT OF THE BIKE BOARDS
33SECTION 6
SAFETY AND
WILDLIFE
Participant safety is of paramount importance and cannot be taken lightly. We are riding through
areas with high elephant populations and everyone must be aware of and observant about what
is around them at all times.
Please note the following general safety recommendations:
IN CAMP:
We are camping in unfenced wilderness areas. Please ensure that the participants in your group
follow these recommendations to ensure their safety:
• Always carry a torch at night and do not wander out of the camp alone.
• Keep tents zipped at all times.
• Please be aware that crocodiles are common in the rivers and streams and we do not
recommend swimming. If you decide to swim, you do so at your own risk.
• Wear shoes when walking around the camp.
ON THE RIDING ROUTE:
SAFETY is our concern and we therefore want to REITERATE these points to you, so that you
can play your part in understanding the risks and ensuring that these risks are minimised as
much as possible. Please ensure that you are well aware of the following:
35• Buddy Up: all participants in the group must buddy up for the duration of the event and must always be aware of where their buddy is at all times. • Tour Leaders and Support Leaders need to stay in contact with each other and monitor the group. You need to keep your group together and ensure it DOES NOT get split up. In this situation, it is important to note that it is easier to get the faster riders to go slower than the slower riders to go faster i.e. put the slower ones in front. If there is someone slowing your group down and impacting the enjoyment of the other participants, please liaise with other Leaders to see if they can be accommodated in a group of their standard. • Communication between Groups: the group Leaders are to advise the group behind them of potential danger or wildlife ahead. However please keep radio talk to a minimum and only when necessary –hearing the radios buzzing with banter continually impacts on the participants’ enjoyment.Mechanical Skills: it is important for you to have basic • Mechanical Skills: it is important for you to have basic mechanical skills. If the participant cannot continue either the Tour or the day, the Support Leader will need to stay with that person and walk with them to the closest strategic point. • Stopping for Punctures: one person stops, everyone stops. If the group stops for a technical issue please ensure that a) the group moves off the track and b) one of the Leaders should stand slightly away from the group and scout for potential wildlife danger. • Wildlife is a Real Concern: please follow our guidelines and don’t take any unnecessary risks that may compromise your safety and that of your fellow riders (e.g. stopping close to wildlife). When entering an area always check the wind direction and be aware of what’s happening around you. In thick bush there is more chance of surprising animals and it is IMPORTANT TO STAY WITHIN YOUR GROUP. • Access is Difficult; be cautious: due to the fact that we are riding predominantly on single track, access to the route is difficult and therefore evacuation is not straightforward, and for this reason medical back-up may take some time to get to you. We ask that in technical areas you please SLOW DOWN and consider the consequences of an injury. We strongly recommend that the fast rocky descents are only ridden by competent riders. Please do not try to ride down a technical area if you are unsure about it – rather walk until you do feel comfortable.
IN THE EVENT OF A WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER:
• First and foremost, stop and stand still. Get off your bikes and keep quiet. The Leader with
the wildlife experience will need to take over the instructions and will need to slowly get the
group of participants away from the situation and keep them in a tight bunch. Stay calm and
still as long as possible – don’t attract attention.Assess the situation. Chances are whatever
you have come across will move off.
• Assess the situation. Chances are whatever you have come across will move off.
• Stay still as long as the animals are looking at you. Remember that you are in their territory,
and their senses are much more attuned than your own.
• Back away slowly with no sudden movements as soon as their attention is diverted. DO NOT
RUN.
• If the animal is close, the Leaders will use sign language to communicate with their group.
Participants must pay attention to the Leader’s behaviour and follow any instructions given.
• If an animal is blocking the road the group is to wait until the road is clear, or if feasible, to ride
around it. IN THESE SITUATIONS PLEASE TRY AND CONTACT THE GROUP BEHIND YOU SO
THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE WILDLIFE SITUATION IN FRONT OF THEM. If the wildlife
Leader decides it is safe to ride past, it is imperative that the two Leaders work together to
keep their group in a close bunch and do not stop until the entire group is at a safe distance.
• When informing the group behind you of the wildlife encounter please include information of
the direction the animals were moving and the wind direction.
• Bear bangers are used as a last resort and should ALWAYS BE SHOT INTO THE AIR AND NOT
IN THE DIRECTION THE ANIMAL. If it is shot in the direction of the animal, the bear banger
may go off behind the animal causing the animal to run straight at you. You will also be given
an air horn.
37SECTION 7
HISTORY, NATURE
AND WILDLIFE
OVERVIEW
The Nedbank Tour de Tuli travels through the Greater Mapungubwe TFCA. Much of the Nedbank
Tour de Tuli area is flat scrubland, with mopane and combretum bush, giving way to rugged hilly
terrain in the valleys, which supports riverine vegetation such as ficus and faidherbia. Wildlife
includes elephant, lion, wild dog, cheetah and leopard. These animals move freely between the
areas.
THE GREATER MAPUNGUBWE TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREA:
“I look forward to a time when the rage for destruction will have disappeared, when the
senseless slaughter of the wild fauna will be as criminal and contrary to public opinion as cruelty
to humans and when those who love the wilds, their shy denizens and intimate ways, will come
from all parts of the Earth to find peace and refreshments in Africa”. Jan Smuts speaking at
Oxford University in 1930
South Africa is anxious to see Mapungubwe as part of a larger conservation and cultural
landscape. But it was Jan Smuts who originally proposed a cross-border concept emulating
the proposed Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA) of our time. It
was to be referred to as ‘Dongola’, and Jan Smuts was adamant that it should include what is
now Botswana and Zimbabwe. However in 1948 Jan Smuts’ political party was beaten by the
Nationalists and the concept of Dongola was abandoned. In 1967, the Vhembe Game Reserve
was proclaimed on the present site of Mapungubwe National Park and utilised as a hunting
area for South African Government Ministers and their guests. In 1994 the process began
which culminated in the proclamation of the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site in 2003 and
Mapungubwe National Park in 2004.
39The idea of a Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) has gained momentum and a major commitment from all three countries saw the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in June 2006. This document is initiating and assisting all stakeholders in a consultative process, so as to jointly establish the GMTFCA. Although unique in many respects, the TFCA’s overriding asset is the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape that spans all three countries. Assistance with the creation of a common conservation policy ensures a secure and significantly larger area enveloping a cross-section of more diverse natural systems. The Peace Parks Foundation has played a major role, and has aggressively promoted and funded much of the facilitating process of the TFCA, and there has been steady progress in this regard. The GMTFCA will initially cover an area of 4 872km2 in extent, 28% (1 350km2) of which will be situated in Botswana with a further 53% (2 561 km) in South Africa and the balance 19% (960km2) in Zimbabwe. With already viable populations of the larger drawcard species such as elephant, lion, leopard and cheetah, as well as 19 other mammal species, 26 plant species and a fair number of bird species listed in the Red Data book, the area is of substantial importance for conservation reasons alone. The added range, protection and combined efforts offered through the establishment of the TFCA will contribute immensely to the protection of all species found within the area. The dramatic landscapes and contrasts within the TFCA are some of the most visually and naturally beautiful areas in Southern Africa. Add to this rich and varied cultural heritage sites, the TFCA’s potential for drawing a large number of local and international visitors to admire, cherish and ultimately ensure the protection of this sacred icon of African history is greatly enhanced. MASHATU GAME RESERVE – LAND OF GIANTS We will spend two days riding the elephant and game trails of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. Created over aeons by the herds of elephant that roam this wilderness, the ‘riding paths’ could not have been better designed by trail builders. They are soft, sweeping and well cleared by the herd matriarchs.
The area’s geological history and makeup is fascinating. Around 100-183 million years ago
volcanic eruptions ejected large amounts of lava, a phenomenon that can clearly be seen in
the capping of basalt over the sandstone along the Limpopo River. There are also numerous
dolerite dykes in the area some of which include Solomon’s Wall on the Motloutse River.
The Northern Tuli Game Reserve forms part of the Limpopo drainage system. This river, which
rises in Braamfontein Johannesburg, runs from west to east and forms the southern border of
the reserve with South Africa. Two large feeder rivers, which flow into the Limpopo River in this
area, are the Motloutse and Shashe Rivers. The Shashe River forms the reserve’s north-eastern
boundary with Zimbabwe and flows in a south-easterly direction joining the Limpopo at the
point where the three countries meet.
The Motloutse River has played a marked part in Botswana’s history as it was in this riverbed
in the 1960s that the first diamonds were discovered. This discovery transformed Botswana
from a subsistent and largely destitute recently independent protectorate of England into a
successful, vibrant and responsible democracy with the third highest per capita GDP on the
African continent.
The reserve is a haven for birds and animals, with 48 mammal species present and approximately
20 000 animals including elephant, 15 large herbivore species and all the large cat species. 350
different bird species have been identified in the area including a number of rare species, such
as the Pel’s Fishing Owl and the Egyptian Vulture. It is likely that people will get to view some
of the species, in addition to the large concentration of plains game prevalent in the region.
Earliest indications of humans in the Tuli area are found in the numerous stone tool quarries
dating back to the Middle Stone Age (20 000 to 100 000 years ago). Many Late Stone Age
tools can be found scattered in the Reserve, where the Khoi and San people practiced a hunter-
gatherer lifestyle or nomadic pastoralism.
They hunted on the game-filled plains and produced rock art, depicting the magnificence of the
Limpopo River Valley. The disappearance of these nomads coincides with the occupation of the
region by the early Iron Age civilisations.
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