EVENT: Bonitas Mont-aux-sources Challenge
DATE: 11 September 2010
PLACE: Royal Natal Park
DISTANCE: 50km

KZN Wildlife staff at Royal Natal Park with the help and sponsorship from ABI (and Bonitas from 2007), organized the first Mont-Aux-Sources Challenge in 1993, with 212 participants taking part. The aim of the Challenge is to provide the means for runners and sponsors to contribute financially to our Conservation Trust whereby the money raised is invested and the interest is ploughed back into conservation projects.

MAS Challenge consists of a 50km run up mountain passes, chain ladders and steep gullies to the top of the Amphitheatre and back, beginning and ending in the Royal Natal Park. To the best of our knowledge the event is unique in that it is organized by a wildlife organization to raise funds for conservation projects. The start / finish is in the Royal Natal Park at 1300 meters (4300 ft) and peaks at 3100 meters (10200 ft) giving an overall ascent / descent of 1800 meters (5900 ft).

The event has a limited field of 250 runners and one must apply to place their name onto a waiting list after which once invited, runners are allowed to participate in the Challenge for three consecutive years. On running their third year, runners receive a framed permanent number badge of their race number. The main race winner since the beginning of the challenge has been Dirkie Moolman who has won the race 9 times. An outstanding achievement for an individual athlete.