Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 94, May 2017 | Page 7

Bush Running at it’s Best
Bush getaways and trail running are
synonymous in South Africa, and a trip to
the picturesque town of Nelspruit brings
you to Tomjachu Bush Resort, the ideal
place to combine these two activities in a
sporting, relaxing package.
I
t’s no secret that trail running is growing in
popularity. Not only does it expose you to our
country’s real beauty, but it also builds strength
that is hugely beneficial when running on the road.
It’s also widely acknowledged that running can
be a somewhat selfish sport: Early mornings, hours
on the road, afternoon naps and very necessary
sympathy from loved ones can all take their toll on
your family.
Tomjachu, with their luxury accommodation in either
Valbonne Villa, the large homestead, or a variety of
luxury cottages, offers the perfect solution. Guided
game drives and outdoor picnic dinners can be
arranged inside the park so that you can really feel
part of your surroundings, and the resident chefs cater
for every taste, offering traditional ‘bush’ meals right
through to sushi.
HIT THE TRAILS
While your family is distracted by the relaxation and
sheer luxury of their surroundings, you can sneak
off to tackle one of the trails on offer. As the resort
doesn’t have the Big 5 animals, you are able to freely
walk or run through the wonderful world of the African
bushveld. The easy 3km trail, consisting of roughly
70% dirt road and 30% bush trail, is great for all fitness
levels, and children can comfortably accompany their
parents or join one of the rangers on a guided walk.
The 5km trail is also predominantly on dirt road, but is
much hillier and needs a slightly higher level of fitness.
And for those wanting more of a challenge, the 10km
www.tomjachu.co.za
trail is predominantly
off-road and consists
of a lot of climbing. This
is great for runners and
walkers with a higher
fitness level.
All trails are well marked and
can be undertaken on your own,
or a guide can go with you to educate
you on your surroundings. The area holds
so much beauty and history, including Voortrekker
wagon trails that are still evident!
If you’d prefer to tackle the great outdoors on a bike,
Tomjachu also offers self-guided, easily identifiable
mountain biking trails for both beginner and more
advanced cyclists. The combination of dirt roads and
single track routes cover anywhere between 4km
and 12km, and give you the chance to encounter
giraffe, zebra, kudu, wildebeest, ostrich, warthog and
an abundance of birdlife. You can bring your own
mountain bike and helmet, or do an advanced booking
through the resort to make use of theirs.
NATURE’S PHARMACY
As every athlete knows, problems do sometimes
arise when out on a run or ride. Luckily, Tomjachu’s
natural surroundings are perfectly suited to cater for
your outdoor challenges. The African Wattle, more
commonly known as “nature’s two-ply”, has large,
soft leaves that are perfect for those “emergency
@tomjachu
@tomjachu_bush_retreat
@tomjachu
situations.” Sore legs? No problem! The leaves
of the Silver Cluster tree have extensive numbing
properties. Thirsty? With a bit of patience, the leaves
of the Kiepersol tree can be dug up and squeezed to
get water. Finally, the bark of the Coral tree can be
crushed to effectively treat open wounds. Everything
an athlete could want!
EXPLORE NELSPRUIT
If you have time, a visit to the nearby botanical
gardens and Sudwala Caves is a must, and the
Nelspruit Tourism Board will open your eyes to the
amazing reality that the Long Tom Pass has much
more on offer than just being a beautiful ultra-
marathon route. For the inner adrenaline junkie in
you, the Long Tom Toboggan at Misty Mountain is a
1.7km monorail track with an open toboggan cart that
winds you down the pass at an exhilarating 45km/
hour. Then finish your holiday off with lunch at Misty
Mountain Lodge, with a full view of the pass, and you
can consider your perfect getaway complete.
7