Otter African Trail Run

Otter African Trail Run Otter TERREX Trail presented by EasyEquities, SA's Premier Marathon Distance Trail Run

Meet the women’s field for the 2026 Otter TERREX Trail, presented by EasyEquities: a four-time champion defending her cr...
11/09/2026

Meet the women’s field for the 2026 Otter TERREX Trail, presented by EasyEquities: a four-time champion defending her crown, and a sharp crop of new talent ready to give her a run for her money.

👉 Bianca Tarboton — PR 04:30:55 (2025, Classic)
The queen of the Grail of Trail returns as the first athlete, male or female, to win the Otter four times. Her dominance over this course is unmatched, and every year she toes the line, she raises the bar just that little bit higher.

👉 Rebecca Watney — PR 05:06:19 (2024, Retto)
Back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Otter in 2024 and 2025. Her 2025 season backed it up: 1st at the Cape Town Trail Marathon 22km, 4th at RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town PT 55km, plus a European block with a 2nd at La Thuile Trail 25km and a 12th at the Jungfrau Marathon. Five Otter finishes deep, she knows this course well and we are excited to welcome her back.

👉 Mila Geldenhuys — Returning (first ran in 2023)
A return to the trail that started it all: Mila's first Otter back in 2023 was also her first "big" trail race, and she comes back now a different runner. 2026 has brought two wins (George MUT Marathon, Bastille Day Trail) plus podiums at Two Oceans Trail and Pass2Pass Light, real proof of how far she's come since that first Otter.

👉 Lijan Burger — PR 05:25:19 (2023, Classic)
Represented South Africa at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck, with wins at RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town 23km, George MUT 25km and RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 38km across various years, plus a 2nd at the Cape Town Trail Marathon 22km just five months postpartum. That form carried straight onto the Otter too: 2nd place on debut in 2023, in 05:25:19.

👉 Maryke van Zyl — PR 05:51:37 (2024, Retto)
A season stacked with wins: 1st at Pass2Pass Marathon, 1st at Magoebas Ultra 28km, 1st at the Cape Town Trail Marathon 43km, plus a 3rd at RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 38km. Form like that makes her a genuine threat on the Otter's toughest terrain.

👉 Nadia Booyens — Otter debut
A runner on the rise: 2nd at RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg GC 65km and a new course record at The Cogmans Trail Run 34km in 2026, backed by a 5th-place finish at RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town PT 55km in 2025. The trajectory is pointing firmly upward.

👉 Julika (Juli) Pahl — PR 05:25:55 (2021, Classic)
Mostly on the mountain bike rather than the trail in recent years, but the results are still there: 5th at RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town 55km in 2024, 7th at RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100km in 2025, and a win at the Top Dolomites Outdoor Festival 50km in 2026. Her Otter debut in 2021 was no less impressive, a 2nd-place finish in 05:25:55.

👉 Julia Hunter — PR 06:17:32 (2024, Retto)
Consistently in the mix across distances, with a win at the Noordhoek Superbowl 21km, a 2nd at Pass2Pass 35km, a 3rd at George MUT 44km (2025), and a 4th at George MUT 100km. Range like that will serve her well over the Otter's marathon distance.

Grail of Trail
Presented by EasyEquities

Introducing the men's field for the 2026 Otter TERREX Trail, presented by EasyEquities: a mix of proven course record ho...
11/09/2026

Introducing the men's field for the 2026 Otter TERREX Trail, presented by EasyEquities: a mix of proven course record holders and hungry debutants all chasing the same finish line.

👉 Kane Reilly — PR 04:11:07 (2020, Retto)
One of Otter's most familiar faces, back again for another crack at the top step. Six-time runner-up and three third-place trophies tell you exactly how close, and how consistent, he's been on this trail.

👉 Robbie Rorich — PR 04:10:54 (2018, Retto)
A technical specialist who treats the boulder fields like a playground. Backed by a strong 2026 season (2nd at RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg GCU 60km, and 8th at George MUT 60km), he's raced the Otter enough times to know exactly where it's won and lost.

👉 Jacques du Plessis — PR 04:45:38 (2024, Retto)
2026 has been a clean sweep: course records at the George MUT Marathon, the RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg SDR 34km, and the Pass2Pass Challenge 35km. Three wins, three records, one clear signal of form heading into Otter.

👉 Philani Sengce — Otter debut
A course-record specialist, with back-to-back wins at the Cape Town Trail Marathon 43km and a standout run at Sierre-Zinal, becoming the first South African to break 3 hours on that course.

👉 Jacques Buys — PR 04:24:39 (2024, Retto)
Off the back of three 2026 wins (Pass2Pass Ultra, Magoebas Ultra, George MUT 60km), Jacques already has Otter pedigree too: a 2nd-place finish on the Retto route in 2024, which, at the time, he's called the best result of his career.

👉 Mvuyisi Gcogco — PR 4:31 (2019, Classic)
A veteran of the Otter, with 10 previous appearances on the trail, still chasing more from a race he clearly knows well. His 2026 season has been strong across the ultras: 2nd at the G.O.A.T. Trail Race Oasis Ultra 55km, 4th overall at the RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg GCU 62km, and 4th in the men's category at Whale of Trail 53km.

👉 Admire Muzopambwa — PR 04:42:02 (2024, Retto)
A model of consistency, both on the trail and at the Otter itself, with three straight appearances (2023 debut, 2024, 2025) and a clear upward trend each year. His 2026 season includes a runner-up finish at the Steyn City Ultra, a win at the Harties Loop 83km, and 3rd at the George MUT Miler.

👉 Johardt van Heerden — PR 04:02:59 (2019, Classic)
Six Otter finishes, three wins, a runner-up and a third, and one of only four athletes to win back-to-back editions, alongside Lauenstein, McCann and Simpson. He still holds the record for the quickest a South African has ever gone on this trail, in either direction. He's been off the racing scene for a while, and we can't wait to see his comeback on a course he knows and loves.

👉 Remaketse Lekaka — Otter debut
A big 2026 across multiple distances: 3rd at the RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 65km, 1st at the Cape Town Trail Marathon 22km, and 2nd at George MUT 42km. Versatility like that makes him one to watch across the whole field.

👉 Collin Kanyimo — Otter debut
The genuine wildcard: a 2:24 marathoner and sub-70 half marathoner who swapped road for trail to stay injury-free, and it's working, with wins at the Two Oceans Trail 24km (2026) and the Cape Town Trail Marathon 44km (2024), beating Perfect Dlamini by over 8 minutes. By his own admission, technical, rocky terrain isn't his strength, which makes his Otter debut, on a course built almost entirely from technical terrain, the most interesting question mark in the men's race.

👉 Tsielo Tsanyane — PR 4:49 (2023, Classic)
A strong 2026 season across distances: 2nd at the George MUT Marathon, 1st at RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 25km, and 2nd at RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town 23km. His single Otter appearance to date, in 2023, already produced a time inside 4:50.

👉 Sinovuyo Ngcobo — PR 5:02 (2024, Retto)
Four Otter finishes and counting, with 2026 form that includes 2nd at RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 25km, 11th at the George MUT 60km, and 7th at RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town 35km, at the end of last year.

👉 Lovemore Nyaude — PR 05:02:59 (2025, Classic)
Lovemore's résumé stretches from a stage win at THIRSTI AfricanX to podiums at Pass2Pass, RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town and Maxi Race Cape Winelands. He's raced the Otter many times, giving him a course-knowledge edge few in the field can match.

👉 Brendan Lombard — Otter debut
An Otter debutant with real ultra pedigree behind him, from an Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB start to podiums at RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 100km and RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town 65km. First time on this course, and we can't wait to see what he brings to it.

Grail of Trail
Presented by EasyEquities

This year, everyone who crosses the finish line gets to feel like a winner. 🏆Right now the looms at Mungo are running in...
10/09/2026

This year, everyone who crosses the finish line gets to feel like a winner. 🏆

Right now the looms at Mungo are running in colours drawn from the Otter coastline, weaving a custom kikoi for every Grail of Trail finisher. 🦦

Technical boulder fields. Multiple river crossings. Relentless climbs. And at the end of it all, something woven especially for everyone who dared to take it on. 🧵

👉 Podium finishers will each receive a specially woven Mungo Itawuli towel.

Scroll to see last year’s podium towels and this year’s colours taking shape on the loom for the finish-line kikois and towels.

Grail of Trail
Presented by EasyEquities

09/09/2026

So many highs await. 🎢

For those who've run it before: what's your favourite part of the route? 🦦 Give our first timers something to look forward to.

Grail of Trail
Presented by EasyEquities

07/09/2026

First light at Nature's Valley. 🌅 Ocean on your right. 🌊 The breathtaking (literally 😅) Otter Trail ahead.

This is where the Otter TERREX Trail, presented by EasyEquities, begins. It doesn't get more iconic.

A few weeks to go now.

Grail of Trail
Presented by EasyEquities

04/09/2026

Kane Reilly was twenty when he ran his first Otter 🌊 A university kid who showed up with his mom, not really knowing what he’d signed up for, and finished fifth.

That was 2012. He’s run thirteen of them now, and he’ll tell you himself that he still hasn’t had his perfect Otter TERREX Trail, presented by EasyEquities 🏃‍♂️ Which tells you something about how uniquely challenged this course is this, because he’s finished second five times and third three times 🥈🥉

That curiosity about what a perfect race would look like is what he keeps coming back for. Fourteen years now, and he’s fitted every one of them around a job, and around being a father. Nobody makes that much room in their life for a race they’ve stopped caring about ❤️

The perfect Otter is still out there. 26 September isn’t far off 👀

Grail of Trail
Presented by EasyEquities

02/09/2026

Your final month of Training Plans are live. 📈

This is the block where everything comes together. Your highest volume weeks early on, then the taper. Here your volume drops, intensity climbs, and you sharpen the knife you have spent six months forging. 🔪

Toni's last word on the final two weeks: the work has been done. You can only mess it up from here. No cramming, no silly sessions. Just trust what you have put in. 🙌

🔗 https://otter.run/info/

Grail of Trail
Presented by EasyEquities

Thank you to everyone who packed out Jack Black Brewery for our Otter Legends screening night! 🦦For one evening, kilomet...
31/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who packed out Jack Black Brewery for our Otter Legends screening night! 🦦

For one evening, kilometers from its home, you got a taste of the Otter TERREX Trail, presented by EasyEquities. There were four Otter Legends films, burgers and beers, and a Q&A with the people who know the race best. Between the films and the questions, a picture came together: your mindset truly is your greatest asset, nature shapes every step of the route, and there's one heck of a community behind every runner who makes it to that start line.💛

Missed it? All four Otter Legends videos are up on our YouTube channel now - https://www.youtube.com/

Grail of Trail
Presented by EasyEquities

27/08/2026

There’s plenty you can’t control on race day. Fuelling doesn’t have to be one of them. 🥤

Amacx South Africa, our official nutrition partner, is hosting a free webinar with David George, Donovon Shirley and Melissa Nel. Here they will cover what to eat and drink before, during and after race day, and how to train your gut between now and the start line. Bring your questions. 🙋

🗓 Wednesday 2 September
⏰ 18:30 (SAST)
💻 Online
💰 Free to attend
🔗 RSVP here: https://otterrun.howler.co.za/events/2026-otter-terrex-trail-the-race-d04b/tickets

Grail of Trail
Presented by EasyEquities

25/08/2026

Two sleeps to go, Otter Legends. 🎞️

We’re at Jack Black's Taproom this Thursday, 27 August, for our very first in-person screening. 🎞️ One small ask before you come: have a look in the cupboard for running shoes that still have a bit of life in them 👟 and bring them along for our Shoes for Good campaign with the Jack Black crew.

We’ll also have Pint for a Purpose going 🍻. Ask for it at the bar and the proceeds head to Nature’s Valley Trust.

See you there!

Grail of Trail
Presented by EasyEquities

Address

Tsitsikamma National Park
Nature's Valley
5670

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 16:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 16:00
Thursday 08:00 - 16:00
Friday 08:00 - 16:00

Telephone

+27443822932

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