There is only one question that matters when someone finds out you ride: Have you done the Munga?

Not what your PB is. Not which stage races you've finished. The Munga. Because everyone in the MTB & Endurance world knows what it means — and what it costs to take on this journey.

The Munga is South Africa's flagship ultra-endurance mountain bike race. 1,148km. Predominantly off-road. Starting in Bloemfontein, cutting through the raw, ancient heart of the Karoo in the height of summer, and finishing at Doolhof Wine Estate in Wellington. You have 120 hours to get there. What happens in between is entirely up to you.

This is a single-stage, non-stop race. No transfers, no stages, no team support alongside you on the road. Just you, your bike, a GPS route, and the Karoo. The heat will be real. The distances between waterpoints, spaced 60 to 90km apart, will be real. The nights will be long, cold, and magnificent. And somewhere around the 600km mark, you will have a conversation with yourself that you will never forget.

But here's what the Munga also is: looked after. Five fully stocked race villages where you can sleep in a bed or on a mattress, eat a hot farm-cooked meal, take a shower, and get mechanical assistance. Ten waterpoints between them, manned by farmers who treat every passing rider like family. ER24 Medical support along the route. A GPS-tracked race village system so you always know where you are and what's ahead.

When people ask if you've done the Munga, they're not asking about your time. They're asking whether you've looked that road in the eye and kept going. Whether you've found out... really found out.. what you're made of.

RACE INFORMATION: 

• RACE DATE: 25-30 November 2026
• Race categories: Male & Female
• Registration: Compulsory on Tuesday, 24 November 2026
• Entries: Available online only at https://themunga.com/munga-mtb/
• Entry Limits: 300
• Entry Costs: 

• Christmas Special = R23 500 (1 December to 30 December)
• Early Bird = R26 900 (1 January to 30 March)
• Normal Price = R29 999 (1 April to Race Day)
• Age 18-29 = 15% discount on Normal Price R25 499
• Age 60-69 = 15% discount on Normal Price R25 499
• Age 70-75 = 50% discount on Normal Price R14 999

PAYMENT: 

• Options: Card or EFT via the online portal. Follow payment instructions carefully.
• Deadline: Pay within two 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.

RACE CHARITIES: (eg.)

• They Ride Along
• Nika Capital
• Middelburg Care Village
• Vlokskop Foundation
• Many other...

REGISTRATION:

• Compulsory on Tuesday 24 November 2026 10:00-16:00  
• The Windmill Casino, Bloemfontein
• Medical forms are required at Registration

RACE BREIFING:

• Compulsory on Tuesday 24 November 2026 16:00
• The Windmill Casino, Bloemfontein

ROUTE & TIMING:

• Start Time: 12:00, Wednesday, 25 November
• Route Maps: GPX and route file will be published and sent one week before the race
• Cut-off Times: 12:00, Monday, 30 November

POST RACE:

Medals are handed out as the riders finish

Personalised Bottle Wine for each rider as they 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

Follow the race on social media for regular updates:

Facebook: @TheMunga

Instagram: @MungaMTB 

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.