The Toyota 1000 Desert Race
May 29, 2012

Have you ever dreamed of racing off-road across desert landscapes in a four wheel drive? Well in June you can as the annual Toyota 1000 Desert Race returns to Botswana.

Botswana is a country most people think of as the real Out of Africa experience with exclusive and diverse safari experiences where huge herds of game roam freely between the Kalahari's plains and the Okavango's waterways. Yet this tranquil and pristine environment receives the global spotlight each year when a unique sports event brings many new visitors into the country.

A race that started life in 1975 when it was known as the Total Trans-Kalahari Race, the Toyota Desert 1000 race has become the most popular off-road event globally.

A relationship between the Four Wheel Drive Club of Southern Africa and Toyota SA Marketing offers motorists, motorcyclists and quad bike enthusiasts a truly adventurous insight into the desert.

For political reasons, from 1981 onwards the race moved to the Northern Cape in the Vryburg/Taylor's Pan. However, with the rise of game farming in this area, the ability to find 1000 kilometers reduced so, ten years later, the race returned to its roots in Botswana, and the race starts and finishes in Kumakwane, a village in Kweneng District of Botswana.

The organizers always highlight their commitment to the area, doing their best to ensure the race does not have any environmental impact on the area. There’s often a feeling of camaraderie between locals and the competitors, with festivals of traditional African music often cheering on the participating teams.

Explore the beauty of Botswana today with a private, tailor-made Enchanting-Africa tour!

Image Courtesy: Sports Industry Group South Africa: www.sportindustry.co.za

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