For running enthusiasts, Damwal is associated with two different events in the Loskop Marathon Series. The starting locations and details on distance, time and event dates provide different points of reference for planning.
Runs in Damwal: starting location, distance and date
For the 2026 edition of the Loskop Marathon Series 21 km Wild Challenge, Damwal Complex (Loskopdam) is listed as the starting location, with a strictly fixed start time of 06:30. The route is listed as 21 kilometres; the early, fixed start is an important planning consideration for this run. If you are considering taking part, check the date for the relevant edition and plan around the start time.
The Loskop Marathon Series Rhino Fun Run is a family run. It started at Damwal Slaghuis on 26 April 2025 and 25 April 2026. These two dates apply to those editions and are not dates for a later year. For future planning, the event date for the relevant edition is therefore the one to follow.
The two events differ in the details that matter when choosing: for the Wild Challenge, the 21-kilometre distance and the strict 06:30 start are the main considerations; for the Rhino Fun Run, they are its classification as a family run and the specific April dates of the 2025 and 2026 editions. The stated starting locations also differ: Damwal Complex for the Challenge, Damwal Slaghuis for the Fun Run. So check the details for the specific run you are planning to attend.
Mpumalanga: nature and culture in the wider travel region
Beyond Damwal’s connection to running, the wider destination of Mpumalanga offers other distinct nature and culture themes. They provide a broader view of the region without attributing the named landscapes and attractions to Damwal.
The Blyde River Canyon is considered the world’s third-largest canyon and the largest “green canyon”. The Blyde River Canyon Reserve includes Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels, Pinnacle Rock and God’s Window. The description of the canyon conveys the scale of the landscape; the names of the individual formations provide specific geographic reference points within the reserve.
The Verloren Vallei Nature Reserve offers a different nature experience: it is an internationally recognised wetland with high biological diversity and a rich birdlife, as well as rare and distinctive plant species. The Barberton region is also noteworthy for nature enthusiasts: more than 350 bird species can be observed along its birding routes, hiking trails and in its nature reserves. The wetland, plant life and birdwatching are distinct highlights and do not offer the same landscape experience as the canyon.
Barberton lies in the De Kaap Valley in the heart of Mpumalanga and is surrounded by the Makhonjwa Mountain Range. The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains make up 40 percent of the Barberton Greenstone Belt; their volcanic and sedimentary rocks are between 3.6 and 3.25 billion years old. The mountains are a World Heritage Site. In Barberton, two further perspectives on nature and history are available: the Heritage Walk is one of the town’s main attractions, while the Geotrail lets visitors discover clues hidden in the rocks about the earliest life forms visible to the naked eye.
Pilgrim’s Rest also brings landscape and history together: the historic mining town lies along the Panorama Route. During the Second Boer War, an emergency mint operated there, striking the famous and rare Veld Pond using hand-made dies. The town’s history can thus be connected with a specific numismatic detail.
The Sudwala Caves are notable for both their natural and cultural history. The caves are considered a site where some of the earliest evidence of human habitation anywhere in the world has been found. Visitors can choose between two cave tours, including the four-hour Crystal Tour. Its duration is a practical guide for planning your time; check current tour times before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Ngwaritsi, Tsimanyane, Ga-Mongatane, Tonteldoos.
Back to the wider travel overview: Southern.
