The Piggs Peak 400, a biking event organised by the Swaziland of Road Extreme (SORE Swaziland) club, held in northern Hhohho, has been congratulated for drawing sporting tourists to the country. Reported on Eswatini Tourism’s Newsletter on their October edition.
Marketing Manager for the Eswatini Tourism Authority, Bongani Dlamini, praised the organisers for attracting sporting tourists to the event.
“We are told that the majority of participants at the debut Piggs Peak 400 were from South Africa, and most of them came with their partners, family and friends. We are glad that they got to discover Eswatini’s unparalleled biking terrain, which is ideal for extreme sports, adventure, as well as casual biking,” said Dlamini.
About 55 South Africans participated at the event, aside seven locals. The bikers fully booked out the Pigg’s Peak Hotel & Casino, with others staying at Maguga Lodge and Hawane Resort.
The Piggs Peak 400 consists of four laps each measuring approximately 80 kilometres. Each lap starts at the Pigg’s Peak Hotel and heads to the Bulembu Village, and then back to the start point.
SORE Swaziland committee member Mike Craigie revealed that it was the first time a Swazi club organised such an event from the grassroots. Craigie said his club was indebted to the anchor sponsor Mbhilibhi Group for their sponsorship, which he said enabled the event to become the resounding success that it was.
SORE Swaziland was set up as a non-profit making NGO and aims at giving back to the communities that the race passes through. The club plans to make Piggs Peak 400 an annual event and urged bikers who wish to join the club to email mcraigie@mbamotors.co.sz for more information.
Several medals and awards were given out to outstanding bikers, as well as to sponsors. Some of the sponsors for this year’s debut event included Peak Timbers, Swazi Roof Masters, Swazi Treated Timbers, Thurinie Group, Mbabane Motors, Dixies International, Logico, Total, Daleca, ExodusMX, Augusta Enterprise, Serec, Radio Cape Town, Coldwagen, among others.
Other sports tourism events that attract regional and international participants into the country include the Inyatsi Swazi Frontier, the King’s Golf Cup, the GALP Classic Car Rally, and the Swazi Rally, among others.
