The Essence
of Wildrun
Who we are
The heartbeat of the Wildrun® is exploring & experiencing truly wild places on the run. Be it on the Wild Coast of South Africa, the remote mountains of Lesotho, the geologically & botanically rich Richtersveld desert or the bushveld of Mapungubwe, each Wildrun® is unique and will be sure to leave an indelible impression on your life.
No markers. No massive crowds. Just you, your sense of adventure and a truly wild place. Be prepared to experience a run like no other.
The Story of
Wildrun(ner)
What we're about
Three or more days of wilderness trail running through some of the most rugged and beautiful scenery in Southern Africa. This is the backbone of a Wildrun®.
The Wildrun® is organised by Wildrunner, premier trail running event organisers in South Africa. We focus on pure trail running with a heartbeat born from a lifetime's passion of exploring wild places on the run.
Wildrunner was established in November 2007 and has held over 200 trail running events in seven South African provinces, as well as Internationally in Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
With this comes a wealth of trail and mountain running event management experience that is unmatched in Africa.
The Wildrun
Management Team
Who runs the world
Owen Middleton
Founder & Managing Director
Trail running, sailing, mountaineering, adventure racing, orienteering, surfing, paddling, kloofing, rock climbing, fly fishing, scuba diving & mountain biking are the life-blood of what makes Owen tick.
Tamaryn Middleton
General Manager
The Real Boss. She is the backbone of Wildrunner and will put a smile on your face any time of the day. Her passion is people, with a healthy dose of scuba diving, trail running and general adventure-seeking thrown in!
Marion Siebrits
Chief of the 100 acre wood (and damn good at catering to!)
Marion's ability to cook up a feast in the middle of nowhere is a gift. She is never short on laughter or practical jokes, but when it comes to delivery always the consummate professional, and when you taste her food you will no doubt agree!
Jason Sharrock
Hospitality & logistics
When not organising events Jason can be found smashing the waves on his surfboard or cruising the cattle trails on his Momsen mountain bike. From entertaining guests to making a plan with broken trailers, Jason is the wild asset working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep operations moving ahead smoothly.
Wildrun
Testimonials
What people are saying
I can't put into words a thank you big enough for the unbelievable few days you gave us last week! The Wildrun has been the highlight of 14 years of running and frankly it has been a life changer for me too! Its all too easy to come home and rave about the event without actually acknowledging the people that made it all a dream come true! So thank you and congrats on such a winning formula!
Tamara MacMillan
Wildcoast Wildrun® 2014
Wildrun Africa’s Rwanda 2019 inaugural trip was an absolute treat – from start to finish. Owen, Chris and their team of four local Rwandan youngsters Jado, Olivier, Emanuel and Danny laid on a completely unique trail-running experience. The Rwanda Wildrun was a bucket-lister of note that exceeded all my expectations. Rwanda has a very tangible soul – she is powerful, positive, hopeful. As a country, she has drawn me in hook, line and sinker and I have fallen quite hopelessly in love.
Karoline Hanks
Rwanda Wildrun® 2019
"Thank you so much for another life-changing event. It's is truly a privilege to get to explore such a remarkable area, whilst making memories with my dad that will last both our lifetimes. If it weren't for your time and dedication to bringing incredible adventures to everyday people, we would never be able to experience something so unique. Can't wait for the next adventure!"
Janine Mazery
The Namibia Crossing 2016
I come back a changed person, all the trivialities of every day life have taken on a new meaning, I leave the Richtersveld a richer person for the experience, a richer person for the friends I made and the people I met. Thank you everyone for an epic, life changing and humbling experience.
Tracy Zunckel
Richtersveld Wildrun® 2014
Thank you Owen, Tamaryn and the rest of the amazing Wildrun crew for 3 of the best days of my life! The fact that one day after the event I am already missing the race, company of new friends and the beautiful wild coast, just shows that this was an unforgettable experience! Thank you for an extremely well organised event. Your attention to detail and making everything special to the runners did not go unnoticed! Your crew were amazing and everything and everyone worked together like a well-oiled machine. Thank you for hosting this unforgettable race in one of the most beautiful areas in South Africa (or even the world!). I wish every runner out there could experience this race. Thank you for everything you put into organising this event and for truly caring about each participant. I am actively recruiting runners for next year's event and hope to see you again next year. God bless you and your company!
Nicolette Koch
Wildcoast Wildrun® 2016
"Legendary event! If it's the only one on your calendar for the year, it will not be a mistake ..."
Greg Walsh
Wildcoast Wildrun® 2016
It’s been about 36 hours since I finished the Lesotho Wildrun and I am ready to go again. Thank you so much for that incredible event. It was an amazing experience which I absolutely loved. Meeting all those incredible people and seeing those beautiful trails, really were awesome. Your team were fantastic. Especially Robbie, he always put a smile on my face when I saw him out on the trails. Thanks again, hope to see you guys soon.
Andrew Lowndes
Lesotho Wildrun 2012
I have now settled back into the routine of what is everyday life after having spent a life changing 3 days on the Wild Coast, running what I believe is the most amazing run in the word! Sitting behind my desk I often find my mind wandering back to the wonderful event that you have organized. I just wanted to again thank you for a brilliant “journey” that you and the team have organized for us privileged few. Please thank the team for all their efforts and for hosting the best run in the world!!!! Your organization was phenomenal and that added to a very special experience.
Iaan van Heerden
Wildcoast Wildrun 2012
Just a note to thank you guys for yet another wonderful event and a truly great and memorable experience. The organisation as always was superb. The routes are excellent and just all round fantastic. Also thanks for accommodating Sharon at such a late stage, she really had a wonderful time and will have many a fond memory of the three days. You people work hard and with passion, so you deserve every bit of success you receive.
Roland van der Merwe
Lesotho Wildrun 2012
"I looked forward to the Wildrun for months but nothing could’ve prepared me for how awesome it actually was. It was without question the best sporting ‘holiday’ I’ve ever had."
Kevin Welman
WIldcoast WIldrun® 2013