persistence race

persistence race

kalahari ADVENTURE experience

150km in the birthplace of humanity

Next Edition: May 2025

This is more than just a race

Ten days living and running with the original persistence hunters.

September 2024 is the first time in history that outsiders will have the opportunity to run with the persistence hunters of the Kalahari and join in the experience of a lifetime.

The first edition is strictly limited to max. of 10 participants.

Subsequent years will have a max. of 50.

Our principles are simple:

Humility, Respect, & Reciprocity

Everything that we do, and everything that you do as participants, must be guided by these standards. There is no other way to ethically engage in the Kalahari.

This is where we come from

Our ability to run long distances at a steady pace under the desert sun is what originally gave our species an evolutionary advantage over other animals, allowing us to capture more game, and eventually develop the larger brains that make us who we are today.

Long distance running here in the Kalahari is literally what made us human. Most academic experts, however, will tell you that persistence hunting no longer exists as a way of life; they say it’s a lost art-form, a forgotten practice of the ancient past.

We, on the other hand, have been there. We’ve done it. We spent years searching through desolate stretches of desert, exploring dozens of dead ends, and finally met with the last remaining hunters still running as our ancestors did.

We’ve run with them, hunted with them; we know what it feels like to share in the effort and the hardship and the celebration.

The Persistence Race is a collaborative project with the last remaining persistence hunters on the planet, our best effort to help them make sure that the tradition stays alive.

we are committed to supporting local Ju/’hoan communities and helping them sustain their traditional ways of life.

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  • All participants will be registered for a fully immersive 10-day experience; airfare is up to you, but everything else is included.

    We come together, run together, and leave together. No exceptions.

    There are no luxury add-ons or cheap DIY alternatives.

    Why? The most fundamental aspect of Ju/’hoan culture is fierce egalitarianism, and Persistence is committed to keeping that tradition thriving. We’ve seen the way large running events have transformed other indigenous communities for the worse, and we’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen here.

    All participants must come with respect; we’re here to build relationships out of reciprocity and humble enthusiasm.

    All participants will receive free training material to help them prepare, and also be invited to join an online community of fellow enthusiasts.

    If you prefer an individual adventure or custom hunting experience, we recommend that you get in touch with our friends at www.sapientfuture.org