UKU’SHIBA
We highly recommend that all participants read through the key information below before coming to our 2024 event.
Looking for something specific? Topics are listed in alphabetical order to help you find what you’re looking for.
Alternate Accommodation
Camping not for you? There are a few lodges in the Mkushi area within 15-45 minutes of the Mkushi Country Club. Be sure to book well in advance.
Fika Lodge formerly Forest Inn (on Great North Road, 20 km from Country Club): +260966423388, Fika Lodge on Facebook *Chalets fully booked, camping still available
Green Mango Guesthouse (in Mkushi farm block, 18 km from Country Club): Contact Louise at +260 97 1018848, Green Mango on Facebook *Fully booked
Loza Lodge (in Mkushi farm block, 10 km from Country Club): Contact Susie at +260968838863 *Fully booked
Divine Lodge (in Mkushi town, 35 km from Country Club): Contact Salome at +260978516530, Divine Lodge on Facebook
Shalom Lodge (in Mkushi town, 35 km from Country Club): Contact Reception at +260 966362546
Camping
The majority of participants in Tangila Trail Series will travel to the Mkushi Country Club on Friday, 19 July and camp the night before the race. Participants are also welcome to stay and camp after the race on Saturday, 20 July.
Access to the Mkushi Country Club campsite is included in your entry fee. The campsite features hot showers, toilets, and communal charging stations for mobile phones. A limited number of braai stands and sustainably harvested firewood are also provided, as well as energy-efficient stoves courtesy of North Swaka Trust - perfect for cooking your pre-race nshima.
Campers are expected to bring their own tents and bedding. Temperatures can drop significantly in July once the sun sets, so be sure to bring sufficiently warm bedding and clothing to ensure you get a good sleep before race day. Other essentials are a head sock, towel, toilet roll, flip flops, and a torch or headlamp. Earplugs are also recommended for sleeping.
Tangila Trail Series does not offer camping equipment for hire. You must bring, buy, or borrow your own gear!
Camping spots will not be pre-assigned and there is no registration required for camping. The best spots will be snapped up on a first-come, first-serve basis. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Loud music and noise will not be tolerated in the campsite after 22:00 on Friday, 19 July and before 05:00 on Saturday, 20 July. As per the T&C’s of Participation, breach of this rule will result in disqualification from the event.
Valuables should be locked in your car when you are not present at your camp site. Tangila Trail Series does not take responsibility for the security of your personal items.
A spouse, child, supporter, or driver who is not participating in the event is welcome to camp. However, we ask that she/he participates in the Nature Walk (see information below) and provides a minimum 100 ZMW contribution (cash only), which will go straight to our conservation education beneficiaries. Registration is not required for the Nature Walk.
Cancellation
Email trailseries@tangila.com or WhatsApp +260 968005059 to notify the event organizers of a cancellation.
The refund deadline is 13 July. Refunds will be provided by bank transfer in ZMW equivalent. Please provide bank details at the same time as your refund request.
Cancellations after 13 July will not be eligible for refund. Individuals that cancel after this date or are unable to attend the event due to unforeseen circumstances will also not be eligible to receive a race pack.
Cash
There is no ATM at the Mkushi Country Club and POS facilities are limited. Bring cash to avoid disappointment if you intend on purchasing food and beverages.
Check In and Race Pack Collection
Check-In will be open from 12:00 to 21:00 on Friday, 19 July and from 05:30 to 06:30 on Saturday, 20 July.
New rules this year that will be strictly enforced:
Tangila Trail Series will now request photo identification as part of the check-in process. As per the T&C’s of Participation, individuals that fail to produce valid identification will not be permitted to participate in the event.
Race packs are for participants only. Individuals who are unable to attend the event due to unforeseen circumstances will not be eligible to receive a race pack.
Group check-in and race pack collection will not be permitted, except in situations whereby a large registered group has engaged in a written arrangement with Tangila Trail Series prior to 17 July.
Course Cut-Offs
Trail Run 11 km: 4.0 hours
Trail Run 22 km: 4.0 hours
Trail Run 33 km: 4.0 hours
Buffalo Soldier Challenge: 1.0 hour
We follow the same strict approach to cut-offs as Comrades - participants who complete the course even a few minutes after cut-off will not receive a medal!
Participants who remain on the course following the cut-off may be collected by a sweeper vehicle and/or asked to leave the course.
There are no formal mid-course cut-offs, but Tangila Trail Series reserves the right to request that you hop in our sweeper vehicle if it is clear you will not finish the course by the final cut-off.
Course Navigation
All courses are well marked and GPS navigation is not required.
However, GPX files are available via the link below for those who wish to use a GPS device. There will not be a tech desk nor will event organizers be available to help with your device. Please ensure you have charged and tested your device in advance.
Directions
The journey can frequently take over 5.5 hours from Lusaka and 3.5 hours from Kitwe. Plan accordingly to ensure you get to the event safely and avoid travelling and setting up camp in the dark.
You do not require a 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle.
Search for “Mkushi Country Club” on Google Maps or follow the detailed directions below. Click to enlarge or download.
First Aid and Medical Emergencies
Basic supplies and first aid response from a qualified paramedic will be available at the event.
Depending on severity, injuries will be treated on-site or at Tusekelemo Clinic in Mkushi. A small plane and pilot will also be on standby at Masebe Ranch if urgent evacuation to Lusaka is required.
As per the T&C’s of Participation, participants are responsible for reimbursing Tangila Trail Series for any evacuation or other costs beyond first response.
Food
Meals are not included in entry. Campers are encouraged to self-cater and supplement their own food with limited options available from the Mkushi Country Club restaurant, including burgers, chicken, t-bone, chips, and nshima. We are also delighted to announce that Peaberry Coffee Roasters will be back at Tangila Trail Series this year providing excellent coffees, wraps, and pastries.
Tangila Trail Series will provide braai stands and sustainably harvested firewood. However, braai stand availability will be limited. If you have a portable gas cooker for camping, bring it! A limited number of energy-efficient stoves will also be available courtesy of North Swaka Trust - perfect for cooking your pre-race nshima.
Health and Safety
Protect yourself from the sun! Bring your own hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
Stay hydrated. Water and food will be provided at aid stations. However, in keeping with the ethos of trail running, participants are encouraged to be as self-sufficient as possible.
Watch your step. Like all trail runs, the course contains a variety of surfaces including compacted dirt roads, sand, loose rocky crossings, and uneven steps. Stay aware and look after your ankles! Also, keep a look out for the rare snake!
Avoid ticks. This is a game area and there are numerous ticks in the grass fringing the trail. These ticks do not present a health risk but can be itchy and irritating if allowed to linger. A soapy scrub immediately following the run is recommended and will remove hard-to-see pepper ticks.
Follow procedure if lost or injured. All trails are well marked. However, if you get lost or injured simply make your way back to the last point of the trail where you saw a marker, and thereafter do not leave the trail. Look out for each other!
Emergency response. Participants carrying phones may call the race organizers at +260966206525 or +260968005059 or engage the staff at the closest aid station who will have radios.
Masebe Ranch
While all routes start and end at the Mkushi Country Club, the trails exist on Masebe Ranch, a private game and cattle ranch. Spectators must remain within the fenced grounds of the Mkushi Country Club and will not be permitted to enter Masebe Ranch. Absolutely no vehicles or motorbikes other than those of event organizers and authorized persons are allowed on the course.
Masebe Ranch is a beautiful protected area containing numerous species of wild flora and fauna, including sable, zebra, puku, lechwe, kudu, waterbuck, tsessebe, hartebeest, roan antelope, bush pig, and many others. Although none of these species are believed to present a significant risk, participants are expected to be sensible when encountering animals and respectful of the property and staff.
MTB
There will be no MTB event at Tangila Trail Series 2024.
Nature Walk
A guided walk through the beautiful miombo woodland of Masebe Ranch will depart from the start line on Saturday, 20 July at 07:10. The walk will be roughly 5 km. No registration is required.
The nature walk will require a minimum donation of 100 ZMW per person (cash only) which will be passed directly to our conservation education beneficiaries. This contribution will be collected at the beginning of the walk.
Please ensure children are accompanied by an adult. It is easy for children to wander away from the group and become lost.
Prizes
Non-cash prizes will be awarded as follows for each event:
Trail Run 11 km: First Man, First Woman, First U16, First Silver Fox Man, First Silver Fox Woman
Trail Run 22 km: First Man, First Woman, First U16, First Silver Fox Man, First Silver Fox Woman
Trail Run 33 km: First Man, First Woman, First U16, First Silver Fox Man, First Silver Fox Woman
Buffalo Soldier Challenge: First Man, First Woman, Team Prize
Participants 45 and older on race day are eligible to win Silver Fox prizes.
Participants 15 and under on race day are eligible to win U16 prizes.
Participants are eligible to win multiple prizes. For example, if a male athlete under the age of 16 wins a race overall, he will win both First Man and First U16 for that event.
Discretionary prizes will also be awarded.
Registration and Payment
Registration and payment must be done online for all events:
Trail Run 11, 22, or 33 km: 38 USD
Buffalo Soldier Challenge: 25 USD
Click REGISTER NOW below to register. Spots are limited and the event is likely to sell-out. Register early to avoid disappointment.
There is no option to pay by cash, mobile money, or bank transfer. If you do not own a bank card for online payment, find a friend or family member to pay on your behalf!
Registration Confirmation
Upon successful payment for one or more entries, emails will be sent to the email address entered for each registration with subject Registration Confirmation for Tangila Trail Series 2024. A receipt will also be sent to the email address linked to the account of the person that made the payment.
If emails are not received within a few minutes, check your spam folder.
If a friend or family member registers and pays on your behalf, ensure they enter your email address correctly! Otherwise you will not receive a confirmation email.
If you still do not receive a confirmation email and would like to confirm that you are registered for Tangila Trail Series 2024, contact us at trailseries@tangila.com or +260 968005059.
Rubbish and Recycling
Numerous rubbish bins will be provided at the camp and the Mkushi Country Club. Recycling bins will also be provided for paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, and medal.
Rubbish bins will also be provided at aid stations. Littering on the course will result in immediate disqualification.
Schedule
The starting gun for all trail running events is 07:00 sharp on Saturday, 20 July.
The detailed Schedule of Events is below. Click to enlarge or download.
Shoe Drive
Look out for a bin for previously-loved running shoes for distribution to enthusiastic but less privileged runners. We will also happily accept your smelly shoes post-race! Thank you for your generosity!
Terms and Conditions of Participation
The T&Cs of Participation will be provided for your review and consent during the online registration process. You may also download and review this document here.
If a friend or family member completes the online registration on your behalf, you may review and consent to the T&Cs of Participation by clicking on the link provided in your Registration Confirmation email.
If you have still not agreed to the T&Cs of Participation when you arrive to check-in at the Mkushi Country Club, you will be provided with a copy to read and sign in order to complete the check-in process.
Parents are permitted to agree to the T&Cs of Participation on behalf of minors.
Persons that have not agreed to the T&Cs of Participation will not be permitted to partake in the event.
Transfer to Another Individual or Distance
Email trailseries@tangila.com or WhatsApp +260 968005059 to request the transfer of your paid entry to another individual or another distance.
All transfer requests are subject to availability and will be actioned at the sole discretion of Tangila Trail Series.
Transfer requests should not be considered approved until written confirmation is received from Tangila Trail Series.
The transfer deadline is 13 July.
Transport
Tangila Trail Series does not provide or arrange transport to the event.
T-Shirts
High-performance t-shirts are available for purchase during the online registration and payment process and are 30 USD each.
T-shirts will not be available for purchase at the event.
The last day to add a t-shirt to your registration is 20 June.
If you have already registered for the event but failed to purchase a t-shirt (or would like to purchase additional units):
1. Go to Active.com
2. You will likely be automatically signed-in. If not, select Sign In or Sign Up (top right corner). Ensure you use the exact same email address that was attached to your entry.
3. Select My Events (top right corner).
4. Select Purchase Merchandise
Please see size chart below to ensure you purchase your perfect fit. Click to enlarge. T-shirts are custom made-to-order and you will not be allowed to exchange your t-shirt for another size at the event.
T-shirts are custom made to order and are non-refundable.
Virtual Race
Tangila Trail Series brings together a diverse group of participants from all over Zambia to celebrate sport, nature, and community. We do not offer a virtual version of this unique event.
WhatsApp Broadcast
Join our WhatsApp Broadcast by clicking on the link below for important updates prior to and during Tangila Trail Series.
WiFi
There is no WiFi at the Mkushi Country Club but there is both MTN and Airtel coverage. Ensure you have topped up your data in advance! Network coverage on the trails is sporadic.
