Jozi Journeys

Tanks, Donkeys, and Camels: The Amazing Mammoth Race Roars Back into Joburg

Published

1 week ago

July 4, 2025

Chiraag

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A madcap race with a big heart returns this July

If you see a donkey trotting through Fourways this weekend, followed by a convoy of tanks, classic cars, and camel riders, don’t panic. Joburg’s most delightfully chaotic charity race is back.

The Amazing Mammoth Race returns on Saturday, 5 July 2025, promising a full day of clue-cracking, location-hopping, and challenge-solving across the city. But this isn’t your average treasure hunt. You’ll need speed, smarts, and a seriously unconventional ride to win.

Teams will race from point to point, following clues and completing creative challenges in a kind of Joburg-meets-The Amazing Race adventure. The first team to reach the final secret destination wins the day, but the elephants are the real winners.

What’s the catch? You pick the ride

Part of the charm of the Mammoth Race is the absurd range of vehicles allowed. Want to take part on a superbike or in a flashy car? Go for it. Prefer a slower route via donkey or camel? That’s completely valid too. And yes, someone actually entered in a tank last year.

This year’s officially permitted transport list includes motorcycles, cars, classic cars, supercars, tanks, donkeys, and camels. No one bats an eye if a Porsche pulls up next to a goat cart at a clue stop.

More than laughs, it’s for the elephants

While the event may look like a Monty Python sketch on wheels, there’s a powerful cause behind the madness. All proceeds from the race go to HERD Elephant Orphanage, South Africa’s first dedicated elephant orphanage, known for rehabilitating orphaned and displaced elephant calves.

With an affordable R100 entry fee per person, participants not only get to enjoy a wildly fun day out but also contribute directly to wildlife conservation. It’s adventure and purpose all in one.

Where it starts (and how to join)

The 2025 race kicks off at The Secret Tea Garden, tucked inside Norscot Manor Recreation Centre, a peaceful green nook in Fourways, Sandton. The action begins at 9am sharp, with racers expected to finish by 6pm.

Spectators are welcome at the starting venue, and tickets can be booked online via Quicket. The race is family-friendly; however, wheelchair accessibility may vary depending on the challenge locations.

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Image 1: Quicket

The social buzz: “Only in Joburg…”

Joburg social media has already lit up with excitement and confusion. “This is peak Joburg chaos, and I’m obsessed,” one user posted on X. Others joked about building hybrid camel-Jeep entries to win both speed and style points.

The event organisers, Fiery Octopus, are promising even bigger clues, crazier stops, and surprise prizes this year. Their social feeds have been teasing highlights from past races, including a man in a full astronaut suit driving a tractor to collect a clue. You can follow the chaos on Instagram and Facebook.

Why you don’t want to miss it

The Amazing Mammoth Race is more than a quirky competition. It’s a celebration of Johannesburg’s creativity, generosity, and sense of humour. Whether you’re racing, spectating, or just trying to dodge a camel in traffic, it’s the kind of event that reminds you why Jozi is unlike anywhere else.

So bring your crew, choose your ride, and get ready to race: for the elephants, for the laughs, and for Joburg.