Orbis Challenge Review
This review was written by Barry @usinghbolt after he took part in The Orbis Trail Challenge with Dame Kelly Holmes in 2019.
One of the best decisions I have ever made was to take part in the Orbis Trail Challenge to Malawi in 2019. It was just the most amazing week of my life.
A team of 30 strangers thrown together over 5,000 miles away from home; all with some key shared passions; running, supporting good causes and a passion to travel and embrace new cultures. It doesn’t sound like it should work, but what a week we had. Lots of laughter, an incredible amount of running, plenty of travelling, a few tears and discovering a country that is just remarkable.
The Trail Runs…
Three incredible unique runs; 25km up and down Mulanje mountain. The views are just breathtaking wherever you are on the mountain. The constant change in terrain on the mountain is staggering but guided by some wonderful local runners the run feels to safe and joyful and you get to see some incredible views.
The second run on the forest trails of Zomba Plateau is nowhere near as tough as that first run but again, your breath will be taken away by the incredible scenery you get to witness. When I got to a point called Emperors View, I could have just stood there all day to take in the incredible view. But not just the view. The calmness, the tranquility, and the sounds of nature all around. It really was a spot where you could forget everything and just relax to your hearts content.
The final run around the sandy trails of Lake Malawi. An early start to avoid the heat and one of the most amazing sights I have seen. Running with mountains in the distance and witnessing the sun rising above the peaks. And as it was the last day, everyone split into equal groups based on pace to create an incredible sense of camaraderie.
All the runs are emotional and funny. Emotional because there is a real sense of having done a run where you have worked so hard. And for different reasons. From the ascent of running Mulanje, the beauty and undulation of Zomba and the increasing heat of the final run. The fun is the guide runners telling us they are going for a ‘proper’ run after the ‘gentle stroll’ we did with them!
The Malawian people…
In the course of a week you get to do 3 runs that are so unique but show you the incredible beauty of Malawi. It may be a country with one of the lowest GDP’s in the world, but there is one thing that Malawi is not short of. People with incredible love and humility. Whether shopping in the markets of Zomba, visiting numerous community projects that are enriching and improving lives, running with local guide runners, or just eating out; the incredible grace, humility, friendship and love of the Malawian people cannot be beaten.
An incredible example for me of those with less having all the good qualities we should have as human beings.
The Extra Bits…
The week itself is so much more than the running. We visited an international standard school, an orphanage, we visited a community project and did a 3km with hundreds of school children; many of whom ran with sheer joy despite being barefoot. We had chances to shop in local markets; try a bit of horse-riding, chill out by a waterfall; watch some students perform drama and so much more. A river safari was one of the highlights. Not many people can say they have seen herds of elephant drinking on the banks of The Shire River! And we all got to know each other. It’s amazing to look back at that week in Malawi. I’m left scratching my head, when I see all the pictures and think of all the memories, to believe it all took place over just 7 days. Definitely an action-packed week but the energy levels of everyone involved never dropped. It was just a buzz all the way; well until we all got on different flights and a bit of sadness and a few tears kicked in.
What makes the Orbis Challenge so amazing….
The week would not have been such a success if it were not for 2 things. The first was the wonderful mix of the team. The second was the incredible organization. Great places to stay throughout the trip. The travelling between places did not feel so bad thanks to the quality of the minibuses we used. All dietary requirements were catered for. Our guides and hosts everywhere we stayed were incredibly pleasant and helpful.
The flow of information before we headed out, whilst we were in Malawi and after we came back reflects on how seriously Orbis take the wellbeing of everyone that books with them. It really lived up to what we were promised, Sport with Purpose. The sport side of it, the running, felt great. But to see how we were making a difference with our fundraising; that was unique. Yes, it felt good to see but it certainly made us even more determined to raise more for these causes. The most unique trip I have ever taken. I was not 100% sure of what to expect; but I what I got was so memorable that I would do it all again in an instant. Drop everything and head off to Malawi for the best of times.
My only complaint? Why could it not have been 2 weeks! Without a doubt I will head out again someday. To re-attempt the runs, to see the friends I made whilst out there and just to see how these incredible people improve their lives by working together as a community.
