About Orienteering
Orienteering is a sport that combines both a physical and mental element. The aim is to navigate between control points marked on a special orienteering map. There is no set route but you have to visit the control points in numerical order. The skill and fun is in choosing the best route to get from point to point looking at features on the map and in the terrain. The winner is the person who completes the course in the fastest time. Orienteering is suitable for all genders and all ages. Competitors take part individually or as pairs or groups in competitions that allow such entries.
Benefits of Orienteering
- You can do it as a sport or a recreational activity to keep active.
- It is a sport for life as it is suitable for all ages from six to eighty+
- The events are held in a variety of outdoor venues, such as parks, plantations, nature reserves, schools and universities.
How do I get started?
The easiest way to start is to come to a club event. An experienced orienteering will explain how the event works. It is best to start with the Explorer course in Urban Events and the short Orange course in Bush Events.
You can find the next event on the event calendar. We welcome at all events including Championships.
Here are more links to some articles to help you get started.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Useful tips & techniques
- Event checklist for novices
- How to choose a course
- Basic Navigation Techniques
- Safety Guidelines
History
Orienteering in South Africa was started in Cape Town in 1981 followed by Johannesburg in 1982. Clubs were founded shortly thereafter and the SAOF was formed in 1983. The first South African Orienteering Championships was held in 1983 in Cape Town and it has been held annually ever since.
During the 1980s the sport grew steadily with attendances peaking in 1986/87 in the Johannesburg area. At one event early in 1987 over 250 people attended. However, this growth was not maintained and attendances declined during the late 1980s and 1990s.
In the late 1980s Kudus Orienteering Club (KUDUS) was started to try to bring some competition and diversity to the Highveld Orienteering scene. However, this club disbanded in the early 1990s to be replaced by Rand Athletic Club Orienteers (RACO) currently one of the three very active clubs in Gauteng.
During the “apartheid years” it was made clear to the SAOF that they would not be welcome as a member of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF). However, as South Africa moved towards the new democracy in the early 1990s, the way became open for us to join the international orienteering community. The SAOF was accepted as a member of the IOF in 1992.
This opened the door for us to compete in the World Orienteering Championships in the United States in 1993. Teams were sent to subsequent Championships in Germany (1995), Norway (1997), Scotland (1999), Finland (2001), Switzerland (2003) and Sweden (2004). The World Championships became an annual event from 2003 and it was obvious that the SAOF would not be able to send a team every year. So it was that in 2005, we were unable to send a team to Japan.
Coming last by some margin in 1993, the team has gradually improved its performances. However, no South African has yet qualified for a World Championship final i.e. been placed in the top 60 men or women in the world.
In the mid 1990s, the Defence Force actively started to orienteer. Despite having had combined Championships with the SAOF in 1997, 99 and 2000, their attendance at other events has been sporadic. There has been no participation in events by members of the SANDF over the past ten years and all attempts to re-establish contact have failed.
In 1998, the concept of Park Orienteering was introduced to Gauteng. Events had been held in parks before, but this was the first time that the Park event as promoted by the Park World Tour was introduced. A series of ten events was held during the year, and attendances did indeed pick up. Sprint Orienteering is now a regular component of orienteering alongside the traditional bushveld and forest events. This is variant of the sport is typically held in urban environments and his characterised by higher speeds and frequent decision making.
More
Wikipedia has a lovely entry on the sport of orienteering.
Introductory Video
We made this short (5:50) video to show you the basics of orienteering and what to expect at an event.
This video of the World Champion Hubmann brothers is a treat. It shows them racing each other over technical forest terrain. The video is well edited and makes for exciting viewing.