Foot and Mouth security leads to cancellation of 2026 Drak Challenge

Following the recent spread of foot and mouth disease through inland areas of KwaZulu-Natal, organisers of the N3TC Drak Challenge have taken the difficult decision to cancel the race for 2026.

The popular two-day canoeing race on the uMzimkhulu was set to take place on 31 January to 1 February 2026, however due to a significant spike in foot and mouth cases a unanimous decision was taken to cancel the race and the two other events, the Euro Steel Drak Descent and Euro Steel Run the Rivers, planned for the same weekend.

Each of the three events rely on access to private, commercial farmland. The events recognise and respect the need for farmers to implement biosecurity measures on each of their respective farms to protect their livestock accordingly.

It is important to note that only farm-based activities are affected by these decisions and that the Southern Drakensberg is fully open to visitors and tourists accordingly.

All three events apologise to all those who had already entered, or who had planned to attend whether as a spectator or participant.

The events will return in January 2027, and we collectively look forward to hosting all our loyal supporters again.

The events will be in touch in the coming week to engage each entrant directly around the options available to them.