Action-packed adventure seekers can now enter the Ranger Odyss competition – Ford announced recently.
A total of 20 African contestants will navigate through the challenging north-western region of Namibia on a 12-day expedition that will push each person to the limit.
The adventure will start off at Spitzkoppe and travels through Palmwag, Khuwarib and the barren and unforgiving Desolation Trail that follows the Huab River to Desolation Valley.
Along with tackling some extreme off-roading, from desert plains to soft river beds and punishing rock trails, the contestants will witness some of the region’s most breathtaking sights. These include a crater in Palmwag that is a UNESCO heritage site, along with Brandberg which happens to be Namibia’s highest mountain at over 2 600 m.
While the life-changing experience is an exceptional prize in itself, there’s also the allure of the grand prize which includes the use of an Odyssey-spec Ranger for a year, along with R5 000 worth of fuel per month.
The first Ranger Odyssey in 2012 had around 700 entries, while last year more than 8 000 people registered for the competition.
The competitive focus of Ranger Odyssey has been stepped up for the 2015 edition, as it returns to an individual-based competition with an even stronger focus on points-scoring special challenges that will ultimately determine the overall winner.
It’s not all about sheer brawn, however, as there’s an equal split between mental and physical tasks, while overall endurance in Namibia’s unforgiving environment will remain key.
The process begins with the call-to-entry, and those interested in participating are required to register online at www.rangerodyssey.com by the closing date of 24 May for South Africa and neighbouring countries. The 15 May is the closing date for for Angola, Nigeria, Mozambique and Ivory Coast. The application requires submitting a short personal biography, followed up with a ‘selfie’ photograph taken with an Odyssey-branded Ranger at any Ford dealership.
Dealer events are also planned during May that will give aspirant adventurers further opportunities to enter. The Cape Town event takes place in Cape Town on 2 May, followed by Durban on the 10th and Johannesburg on the 16th – for more information, visit www.RangerOdyssey.com.
