The top group of contenders who manages to finish the prologue within the top 24 times amongst the male athletes and the top 8 times amongst the female athletes (or any lady who posts a prologue time within 10% of the fastest lady) is know as “The Abangeni” (The Challengers).
Athletes must be part of the Abangeni in order to be eligible for a place on the podium in the men’s and ladie’s open category and entitled to the relevant prize money. The Abangeni will start the OTTER African Trail Run in one group ahead of the rest of the field. A 10 minute delay will follow the departure of “The Abangeni” after which the rest of the field will be started off in groups of 4 participants according to the ranking of their prologue results in thirty second intervals.