RAC OrienteersRand Athletic Club · Est. Gauteng
An orienteering control flag out in the Magaliesberg bushveld
CONTROL 01 · YOU ARE HERE
👪 Family-friendly · All ages welcome · Gauteng, South Africa

GET LOST.
ON PURPOSE.
FIND YOUR WAY BACK.

Looking for something different to do with the family this weekend? Orienteering is the sport of reading a map, trusting a compass bearing, and running — or walking — straight into terrain most people only see from a car window. No two courses are ever the same, and no phone can navigate this one for you. Held across Gauteng, from Johannesburg parks to Magaliesberg bush — built for kids, parents and total beginners alike.

Find a family event near you → New to this? Start here
2Series running each year
Urban & Bush
2–15kmCourse lengths on offer
pick your own challenge
0Experience required
an instructor meets you at Start
KidsFree or discounted entry
at most events
// WHAT ORIENTEERING ACTUALLY IS

Read the map. Trust the ground. Find the control.

Every orienteering map uses the same visual language as the real terrain — colour tells you what's underfoot before you get there. Learn to read four colours and you can navigate anywhere in the world.

Open Runnable Forest

Clear ground under a canopy — your fastest route, if you can find it.

Thick Vegetation

Slow going. The map warns you before the undergrowth does.

Water Features

Streams, dams, drainage lines — often the fastest handrail on course.

Contour Lines

Every hill, valley and reentrant drawn in brown, exactly as it climbs.

// PICK YOUR TERRAIN

Two series. Every kind of adventure.

Gauteng Orienteering Clubs run two series through the year, plus regional and national championships. Come try either — or both.

Urban Series

Parks and Schools

Fast, technical courses through local parks and schools, plus headlamp night events on golf courses. Sharp decisions, short legs, and ground you thought you already knew.

2–4kmDistance
SprintPace
WeekendTypical slot
Bush Series

Bushveld & Forest

Longer, wilder courses through bushveld and forest, sometimes in game reserves. Contour reading, route choice, and real terrain underfoot.

4–15kmDistance
EndurancePace
WeekendTypical slot
// EVERY COURSE IS COLOUR-CODED

A course for every age in the family

Orienteering courses are graded by colour, from short and simple to long and technical. Every event offers the easier colours side-by-side with the harder ones, so parents, grandparents and kids can each pick their own challenge and still finish together.

Kiddies String Course

A short taped route the little ones can follow on their own. No map reading needed — just follow the string from control to control.

Yellow

A little longer, still simple. Great for the whole family together.

Orange

Introduces basic route choice. Confident kids and casual adults.

Light Green

More distance and decisions. Good next step once you're hooked.

Green

Longer legs and real route choice, for regulars building technical skill.

Blue

Longer, technical bush navigation for club regulars.

Red

Longer legs with easy navigation, built for trail runners.

Brown

The hardest courses on offer — for seasoned competitors.

// FIRST TIME OUT

Your first course, start to finish

This is a genuine sequence — follow it in order and you'll be navigating within the hour.

01

Enter online first, no gear needed

Pre-enter at orienter.co.za or entryninja.co.za — entries close several days before the event, so book early. No kit or experience required.

02

Get matched to a course

Courses run from beginner loops to hard bush routes. An instructor helps you pick the right length and difficulty.

03

Five minutes of map reading

Someone on hand teaches you the symbols and hands you a specially prepared map at the Start line.

04

Go find your controls

Head out solo, with a friend, or as a family. Punch each control marker in whatever order the course demands.

05

Finish, compare routes, repeat

Swap route choices with other finishers over tea — then check the Event Calendar for your next one.

// 2026 CALENDAR IS LIVE

Next events on the calendar

Memberships are open for 2026 — join for coaching, race discounts, and priority entries across the full season.

SEP13
Bush 9 — Avianto
Avianto Trails, Muldersdrift · 7 courses, ±1.0–6.0 km
R190 SAOF members · R220 non-members · juniors from R150 · Yellow R20
Entries close Wed 9 Sep, 23:59 · Yellow course entry on the day
Enter on Orienter → View flyer →
SEP20
Urban 9 — Inanda Country Base
Rose Rd & Maple Rd, via Kyalami, Midrand · 3 courses, ±2.5–3.6 km
R190 SAOF members · R220 non-members · juniors from R150
Entries close Tue 15 Sep, 23:59 · pre-entry only
Enter on Orienter → View flyer →
SEP25
SA Championships — Mogale's Gate
Mogale's Gate Nature Reserve, Magaliesburg · 25–27 Sep · champs & open courses
Champs R260 · open courses R230 · juniors from R200 · SI hire included
Entries close Sun 20 Sep · pre-entry only
Enter on Orienter → View flyer →
See the full 2026 event calendar →
// FAMILY FAQS

What families ask before their first event

Is orienteering suitable for young children?

Yes. Every event offers short, simple beginner courses (White and Yellow) designed for children and first-timers, and an instructor talks every new family through map reading before they start.

Do we need any equipment or experience to try orienteering as a family?

No experience and no kit — just comfortable outdoor shoes. Maps, course choice and a five-minute map-reading briefing are provided at the Start line. You do need to enter in advance, though: every course except the short beginner Yellow course is pre-entry only, and entries close several days before the event.

Where in Gauteng does RAC Orienteers hold events?

Events run across Gauteng, including local parks, schools and headlamp night events on golf courses in Johannesburg for the Urban Series, and bushveld and forest areas such as Melville Koppies and the Magaliesberg — sometimes in game reserves — for the Bush Series.

How do we enter?

Pre-entry only — entries close several days before each event (usually the Tuesday or Wednesday midnight before), and late or on-the-day entries cannot be accepted. Enter online at www.orienter.co.za or www.entryninja.co.za. The one exception is the short beginner Yellow course, which is entry on the day. Each event's closing date is on the calendar and its flyer.

FINAL CONTROL

Join the growing
RACO family.

Coaching, membership discounts, race entry discounts, and a club that will get your whole family lost in the best parts of Gauteng — on purpose.

Become a member for 2026 →