Close to home. Far from easy.

The Grit North West is a single-stage, non-stop MTB endurance race starting and finishing at Die Krip — just ten minutes outside Magaliesburg, right on Joburg's doorstep. Don't let the convenience fool you. Over 400km of the gnarly North West awaits, and you have 50 hours to get it done.  You don't need to travel far to find out what you're made of.

Quiet dirt roads, wide open landscapes, Four fully stocked waterpoints manned by farmers who know how to look after a suffering rider, and one race villages where you can eat, sleep, and question all your life choices before getting back on the bike.

This is the Grit format at its finest — raw, real, and close enough that you have absolutely no excuse not to enter.

RACE INFORMATION: 

• RACE DATE: 28-30 August 2026
• Registration: Compulsory on 28 August from 8:00 at Die Krip, Magaliesburg
• Entries: Available online only at https://themunga.com/grit-north-west/
• Entry Limits: 300 for 50 hour riders
• Entry Costs: 

• 50hour Early Bird: R 5769
• 50 hour Normal Price: R 6750
• 2 Person Team Early Bird: R2792 Per person
• 2 Person Team Normal: R3375 Per person

PAYMENT: 

• Options: Card or EFT via the online portal. Follow payment instructions carefully.
• Deadline: Pay within 2 weeks, or the entry will lapse.

CONFIRMATION:

• Entry confirmation will be emailed after payment.
• Race number confirmation will be sent a week before race day via email/sms.

REGISTRATION:

• Compulsory on Friday, 28 August  from 8:00
• Die Krip, Magaliesburg
• Medical form for the 50 hours is required at registration

ROUTE & TIMING:

• Start Time: 50 hour at 12:00, 28 August, 24 hour 12:00, 28 August, 100 Miler 6:00, 29 August
• Route Maps: GPX and route file will be published and sent one week before the race, this route is unmarked so navigation equipment is required.
• Cut-off Times: 50 hour cutoff is 30 August at 14:00, 24 hour cutoff is 29 August at 12:00

POST RACE:

Medals are handed out as the riders finish

Prize Giving will be held at as the top 3 Finishers come in.

MORE INFORMATION:

Race rules can be found on The Munga Website

Rider Preparation document to be sent upon entry

E-Bikes are also welcome, however E-Bikes are not eligible for prize money.

Ts&Cs apply.

Follow the race on social media for regular updates:

Facebook: @TheMunga

Instagram: @MungaMTB

WHAT IS THE GRIT?

THE CRAZIEST, LIFE ALTERING EXPERIENCE YOU CAN HAVE ON A BIKE

HALF THE DISTANCE – LESS THAN HALF THE TIME (of the Munga)

Over the course of the Munga’s history, it has become apparent that plenty of riders are motivated and intrigued by our unique race format and want to give it a ‘try’, but the distance is mentally challenging compared to most other South African mountain bike races.
Thus the idea of The Grit was born.
To offer a cross over or bridge if you will, to the main Munga event.

Gear up to ride the Grit North West a single-stage mountain race through magnificent Magaliesberg! You have just 50 hours to complete the course of around 500km. For those not quite ready to tame the Munga beast in 50 hours, there is a 100 miler option as well as team options. Ebikes are also welcome, although Ts&Cs apply.

THE BASICS: 50 HOURS

The Grit’s vary from race to race but you can expect roughly half the distance of the Munga MTB, some a bit more, some a bit less. But riders will only have 50 hours to complete the course

One of the most authentic and life changing aspects of the Munga, are our water points and race villages. So this core component of the Munga experience will be carried over to Grit. Thus riders can expect one or two race villages and four water points manned by those beloved farmers! The WPs will be roughly 70 to 100km apart, with the two RVs roughly 200 to 250km apart.

CANCELLATION / SUBSTITUTION:

Organising such an event has many challenges and can’t be left to the last minute. The refund policy schedule is based on certain suppliers, service providers, and volunteers that have been paid leading up to the preparation of the event weeks and months to the race. If your refund, deferral or substitution is requested after the last cut-off as stated below, we have already prepared and paid for you to attend the event. It’s not a matter of ‘carrying-over’ the entry (your money) to the following year – it’s spent already. Which would mean we are paying you to either not attend this year or ride for free next year – which is not fair, hence warning you upfront. This includes medical reasons as well.

CANCELLATION PROCESS:

All cancellations must be submitted in writing to The Munga at:  jackblack@themunga.com and jayden@themunga.com. The date of receipt will determine the applicable terms.

PLEASE REFER THE OFFICIAL MUNGA RULES FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION.

CANCELLATION MORE THAN 8 WEEKS BEFORE THE EVENT:

If a rider cancels more than 8 weeks before the event start date, the rider may be eligible for a credit of up to 75% toward a future official Munga event, the exact amount retained will be reasonable and based on costs already incurred. Credits are valid for 12 months and subject to event availability and a rider can only defer an entry once in 12 months.

CANCELLATION BETWEEN 4 AND 8 WEEKS BEFORE THE EVENT:

If a rider cancels between 4 and 8 weeks before the event start date, the rider may be eligible for a partial credit of up to 50% toward a future official Munga event, the exact amount retained will be reasonable and based on costs already incurred and the likelihood of filling the rider’s place (Rider to arrange a substitute rider for their entry). Credits are valid for 12 months and subject to event availability and a rider can only defer an entry once in 12 months.

CANCELLATION WITHIN 4 WEEKS OF THE EVENT:

If a rider cancels within 4 weeks of the event, the rider may be charged a cancellation fee, which may be up to 100% of the entry fee. However, if the rider’s place is successfully filled (Rider to arrange a substitute rider for their entry), a partial credit may be considered

 RIDER SUBSTITUTIONS:

• A rider can substitute their entry with another rider as per the Time Frames stated above.
• Rider substitutions will only be allowed once, as each entry has one ‘life’. In other words, a rider may substitute / transfer his entry only once.
• Substitutions may be requested up to 3 weeks before the event start date. Note that no custom apparel etc would be available for the substituted rider.
• Approval will not be unreasonably withheld.
• The substitute rider must complete all entry requirements on the online portal and pay the necessary administration fees.
• An administration fee will apply, based on actual processing costs (typically 25% to 50%).
• No Apparel or Customized items will be included in entry or goodie bags if request for substitution is made within 8 weeks of the event start date. 
• Take note that no rider substitutions will be allowed 21 days before the race start date.

TRANSFERS AND CREDITS:

Entry fees are not transferable to another rider outside of the approved substitution process. Approved credits may be used for any official Munga event, subject to availability and within the Time Frames above (within 12 months).

DISCRETION AND FAIRNESS:

The Munga reserves the right to make decisions in exceptional circumstances.
All decisions will be made in line with the principles of fairness, reasonableness, and applicable law, including the Consumer Protection Act.