The opportunity to cycle through Swaziland's Mlilwane game reserve was too good an opportunity to pass up even for the non-racing types amongst us. Mliwane Game Reserve is set in in the mountains and plains of the Ezulwini valley and is considered the jewel of Swaziland's game parks.

What to do on the Saterday before the race? That was much to easy. About 50km away from Mlilwane is the Bulungapoort gorge with its spectacular waterfall.Arriving in Mlilwane on Friday night we discovered that Darren and Shane Raw, sicko kayakers and owners of Swazi trails, were taking some adventurer racing teams down the river and doing some filming. They kindly agreed to let us tag along with the group and helped with the drive around.

The aptly named, Lewinski rapid, posed some minor problems for Nick and Piers although at this low level it was mostly harmless and then it was onto the gorge itself.

Hlomi Station rapid opens the gorge run with a semi circular pourover across the width of the river. At this level there was no need to eddy hop to grab the right hand shoot, simply head straight down the middle. Around the corner is a minor rapid before the big one - "Initiator". Out with the tv cameras ... At higher levels Initiator forms a double hole across the river which is very intimidating. Now the drop into the first hole was followed by the exposed rock in the middle which normally forms the second hole. Boats flipped, people swam and cameras clicked over and over and then we did it again. Darren showed lesser mortals how its done by throwing great cartwheels.

But what were the cameras really there for? Everbody gathered on cliffs above the falls and declared any attempt to run them as sheer lunacy. The falls at higher levels have a left and a right drop. Only the left drop had ever been run because the water slams into a cliff face as it shoots over the right drop. The left drop was empty now and there looked like a slim possibility that a kayaker might run clear over the right hand side without connecting the wall. But wait there's more - immediately above falls are two rapids, a wicked 3m drop and a sick pillow wave that certainly concealed a siphon. The falls had only ever been run once before all the way from the top - by Darren 11 years previously. It weren't going to happen again in my estimation but then Darren disappeared from his recce point on the cliffs. The crowds on the cliff held their breath. What fearful consequences was the cameraman about to record? Darren slipped through the gorge. My first view of him was as he was swept round the bend after the entry rapids, upside down, into the boiling pot above the falls. As sharper roll as you ever saw and he hit the shoot cleanly, disappearing in the pouring water. People rushed to the edge of the cliff - had he been slammed into the cliff at the bottom and swept into the certain undercuts? Relieved cheers greeted a triumphant wave as he paddled into view. Shane wasn't to be outdone and moments later he too rolled in the boiling point and hit a perfect line over the falls.

Back at Mliwane that night we shared a braai with the guys from Pioneer. The salads and fruit salad were so good we just had to eat more until eventually we crawled off to bed well satisfied and dreading the early start of the morrow.

Piers and Ann elected to do the Classic 45km pro race. No problemeo for Piers, hyper fit triathlete and adventurer racer, but Ann had never been on a mountain bike before, despite being a top road cyclist. I think she figured, "how hard can this really be?" - Hah. Nick and I opted for the easier 35km  Challenge and had a great cycle deftly managing to avoid landing up in the hippo pool or stepping on any flat dogs in the river crossing. Adrain has less luck in the family race with mechanically failures but his son and daughter certainly enjoyed it

Piers's chance of a placing was wrecked by a broken chain - 3 times! As someone quipped, "that'll show you what happens if you never wash your bike!". Then we waited, watched the Swazi dancers and the prize giving and contemplated coming back for Ann next year! Some five hours after the start she came shooting in with a huge tired smile- attitude as cool as they come - though you would never have known from the very battered bike and the bruises. Certainly an initiation as tough as they come. Something tells me Ann will be back for more punishment like this - well done.

A great time was had by all and we will definitely be doing more things with Pioneer in the future.

Jono

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