Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon

This year, our prize-giving function was sponsored by HEINEKEN Beverages with bubbly, wines, beers and ciders. THANK YOU HEINEKEN Beverages for your contribution towards our KAEM hospitality.

Heineken🍺🍺 Augrabies Falls Lodge & Camp

The sun is out, and summer is in full swing in the southern hemisphere! Today, celebrating 25 years of KAEM, we thank Van Dyk Pharmaceuticals again for their steadfast support every year in their sponsorship of Xeroderm sunscreen for participants and crew.

It was a privilege to be in partnership with such a winning brand for more than two decades.

Look out for the Xeroderm Camo tube on the shelves, just the beauty supplement you need for your summer vacation. Be safe, be protected with Xeroderm.

For our KAEMers that tasted Trail Food Co. Meals.

The sun is out, and summer is in full swing in the southern hemisphere! Today, celebrating 25 years of KAEM, we thank Van Dyk Pharmaceuticals again for their steadfast support every year in their sponsorship of Xeroderm sunscreen for participants and crew.

It was a privilege to be in partnership with such a winning brand for more than two decades.

Look out for the Xeroderm Camo tube on the shelves, just the beauty supplement you need for your summer vacation. Be safe, be protected with Xeroderm.

Another wonderful write up from Helena Barnard News24.com

Trail runners off into the sunset at last edition of extreme marathon | News24 Trail runners from all over the world gathered at the Augrabies National Park for the last edition of the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon (KAEM).

A lovely write up from Lance Fredericks, Sports Editor of the Diamond Fields Advertiser about our final edition of KAEM ❤️

Trail runners say farewell to scenic Augrabies extreme marathon after 25-year run - DFA Adventurers and nature lovers will be disappointed and saddened to learn that, following the 25th edition of the KAEM, the last race took place between September 12-22 2024. The last edition of the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon was run in September. Picture: FaceBook | Kalahari Augrabies Extre...

Congratulations to our Shadow Runner Prize winners! 🥳

Nols Kennedy: for sweeping the markers from the route as a participant. Tough job for anyone. 💪

Flip Jurgens: he kicked off KAEM on a high note, winning the men’s race in 2000 and then, after a quarter of a century he came back to smash 8th position in 2024! 🎉

Annie Dougall: our very own Queen of the desert clocking her 9th KAEM! 👑

Patrick Hobbs: KAEMs most loyal supporter. He’s been on the startline 16 times and claimed himself 5 trophies now! He also brings sweeties for the crew. 🍬 ♥️

Evelyn O’Brien: portraying the true KAEM spirit - always having the time of her life no matter the aches and pains. 💪

The Shadow Runner prizes were previously sponsored by 3 times KAEM finisher, Stefan Müller. For the final year we continued the prize to give recognition not just to those who finish in the top positions but to others in the event who have accomplished amazing things.

Congratulations to our top 3 women in the final KAEM 250km!
🥇Silke Leikheim - 32 hours 14 minutes (and second overall!)
🥈Riana Henning - 35 hours 25 minutes
🥉Esté Bezuidenhout - 39 hours 29 minutes

What an incredible bunch of athletes. They persevered through the rocky, sandy and technical terrain of the desert. Their drive and determination was next level but each was out there running their own race and making the most of the experience.

Congratulations to our top 3 men in the final KAEM 250km!
🥇Andy Williams - 30 hours 6 minutes
🥈Barry Thraves - 33 hours 10 minutes
🥉Christoph Bunse - 34 hours 7 minutes

Such a lovely bunch of guys each out there running their own races. They were impressive to watch as they covered the varied terrain. All gave an incredible performance and pushed themselves to their limits. The camaraderie was a sight to behold, not just amongst themselves but with all of the other participants as well.

In the wake of the last Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon, we want to say thank you and pay tribute to one man in particular, the legendary Estienne Arndt, father and founder of KAEM.

For this man, nothing is impossible. Back in the year 2000, with extraordinary vision, a brave heart and pure guts, Estienne soon became one with the landscape of the Kalahari. Today, there’s not a road, track or footpath, koppie or valley that is unknown to him. The Kalahari Augrabies is imprinted in his mind. He has a remarkable ingenuity in putting an event plan together and making it work, taking into account numerous factors: from terrain diversity and technicality levels to vehicle accessibility and support, too many to list. Most important for this man was always to create an exciting and challenging but doable and enjoyable event for all participants and crew every year. With his knowledge and vast experience of the land, he delivered year after year an epic event. 🙌

In addition, Estienne’s leadership and skills in people-, resource-, and project management have proven invaluable in making KAEM one of the top multi-stage, self-sufficient events in the world with a repeat participant level of 30% year after year.

Thank you Estienne for your dedication, enriching our lives with a life-changing event that thrived for 25 years. Through your inventiveness our KAEM participants (and crew) gained the opportunity to discover the beauty of Kalahari Augrabies, conquered the challenge of KAEM, and made special memories that will remain with us forever. ♥️

Day 7 - 26kms (Post 2/2)

We are so incredibly proud of all of our participants in the final Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon Big Daddy - 250km!! 🥳

They all battled through tough terrain pushing themselves both physically and mentally. There were lots of emotions on the finish line as they achieved their ultimate goal of crossing that finish line ♥️

Well done to all! 🔥 👏🙌