The Big 5 O-Week organising committee, together with the South African Orienteering Federation, invite you to South Africa’s second international five-day orienteering competition. The five events will take place in the country’s eastern province of Mpumalanga, with each competition area taking place on a different map.
Registration and four of the five days of competition will be centred on Kaapsehoop, an old historical gold mining village – famous for its wild horses – that sits atop the picturesque Great Escarpment of South Africa, 30km south-west of the city of Nelspruit. The final day of competition, a sprint event, takes place in Nelspruit just a short drive from the world famous Kruger National Park, the Kingdom of Swaziland and other tourist regions.
Majestic Mpumulanga
The Big Five O events are taking place in Kaapschehoop, Nelspruit and Nelshoogte. There are various categories of accommodation available in and around these areas. For the duration of The Big Five O, it is advisable to overnight in one place and travel to and from the daily events.
Top Class Competition
Two of the events will be World Ranking Events and are sure to attract several of the world’s best orienteers. Olav Lundanes, currently ranked #2 in the world, took the major honours at the first Big Five-O this year.
Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa with an area of 19,485 square kilometres. It lies in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 kilometres from north to south and 65 kilometres from east to west. Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898.The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, an area designated by the UNESCO as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve. All the Big Five (Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhino and Buffalo) are found at Kruger National Park, which has more species of large mammals than any other African Game Reserve.
