A Journey To Unite South Africa
the rope, carried by many, pulled by One
More Than A Challenge
The Bigg Pull is a purpose-led national initiative designed to unite people around what we share, not what divides us. A rotating Power Team of South Africa's strongest hauls a truck the length of the country, 1,671 kilometres over 41 days, from Pretoria to Cape Town (starting in Centurion, finishing in Paarl), testing the limits of the body, the mind and the spirit.
Along the way the team passes through town after town, pulling communities into one shared story of strength, endurance and unity, broadcast live, every day.
Where It All Began
In 2003, Wayne Price, "the Gentle Giant", led 20 strength athletes on an extraordinary feat: pulling a truck from Centurion to Cape Town across 35 gruelling days. It captured the country's imagination and proved what a team carrying one rope could achieve.
More than two decades later, that rope is picked up again. The 2026 Bigg Pull honours the original journey and reimagines it for a live audience and a new generation.
Carried By Many, Pulled By One
One Nation, One Rope
Bringing South Africans together around shared strength and purpose.
Beyond The Limit
Testing body, mind and spirit across 1,671km of road.
A Cause Worth Pulling For
A movement that lifts communities and the causes behind them.
The Facts
The Possible Route
Northern & Free State
The opening haul out of Centurion, through Krugersdorp and Potchefstroom, then across the Free State heartland via Welkom and Bloemfontein.
The Karoo Crossing
The toughest stretch: the vast, dry Karoo through Colesberg, Middelburg, Graaff-Reinet and Willowmore, where limits are found and broken.
Route 62 & the Winelands
The final push: De Rust and Oudtshoorn, Route 62 through Calitzdorp, Barrydale and Montagu, then Robertson, Worcester and over the mountain into Paarl for the finish.
Dates are estimates from the day-by-day plan: the road, the weather and the town events decide the real day. The pull finishes in Paarl on 12 December.
Where We Pull, Where We Stay
1,671 km from SAAF Centurion to Paarl, about 40 km a day on the open road and less on the climbs. Town days mean a pull into town to meet the team. Dates are estimates: the road decides.
🛏 Most overnight stops still need a host. Own a guesthouse, hotel or lodge on the route? Sponsor accommodation & food →
Week 1Day 1–7 · Mon 2 Nov – Sun 8 Nov
SAAF Centurion Between Lanseria and Krugersdorp
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Sleep Over Lanseria ✓ Booked
Between Lanseria and Krugersdorp Between Randfontein and Carletonville
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Sleep Over Lanseria ✓ Booked
Between Randfontein and Carletonville Between Carletonville and Potchefstroom
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Potchefstroom Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Carletonville and Potchefstroom Between Potchefstroom and Orkney
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Potchefstroom Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Potchefstroom and Orkney Finish just after Orkney
Pull into Orkney · meet the team · community stop
🛏 Overnight: Orkney / Potchefstroom Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Orkney Bothaville
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Bothaville Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Bothaville Between Bothaville and Odendaalsrus
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Welkom Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Week 2Day 8–14 · Mon 9 Nov – Sun 15 Nov
Odendaalsrus Welkom
Pull into Welkom · meet the team · community stop
🛏 Overnight: Welkom Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Welkom Between Welkom and Theunissen
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Welkom Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Welkom and Theunissen Finish in Winnie Mandela
Pull into Winnie Mandela · meet the team · community stop
🛏 Overnight: Amanzi, Brandfort ✓ Booked
Winnie Mandela Between Winnie Mandela and Bloemfontein
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Bloemfontein Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Winnie Mandela and Bloemfontein Between Bloemfontein and Trompsburg
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Bloemfontein Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Bloemfontein and Trompsburg On towards Trompsburg
Bloemfontein community day · meet the team
🛏 Overnight: Bloemfontein Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Bloemfontein and Trompsburg On towards Trompsburg
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Bloemfontein Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Week 3Day 15–21 · Mon 16 Nov – Sun 22 Nov
Between Bloemfontein and Trompsburg On towards Trompsburg
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Bloemfontein Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Bloemfontein and Trompsburg Between Trompsburg and Philippolis
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Sleep Over Colesberg ✓ Booked
Between Trompsburg and Philippolis Finish in Philippolis
Pull into Philippolis · meet the team · community stop
🛏 Overnight: Sleep Over Colesberg ✓ Booked
Philippolis Between Philippolis and Colesberg
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Sleep Over Colesberg ✓ Booked
Between Philippolis and Colesberg Between Colesberg and Noupoort
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Sleep Over Colesberg ✓ Booked
Between Colesberg and Noupoort Finish in Noupoort
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Middelburg Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Noupoort Finish in Middelburg
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Middelburg Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Week 4Day 22–28 · Mon 23 Nov – Sun 29 Nov
Middelburg Between Middelburg and Graaff-Reinet
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Graaff-Reinet Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Middelburg and Graaff-Reinet On towards Graaff-Reinet
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Graaff-Reinet Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Middelburg and Graaff-Reinet Finish in Graaff-Reinet
Pull into Graaff-Reinet · meet the team · community stop
🛏 Overnight: Graaff-Reinet Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Graaff-Reinet Between Graaff-Reinet and Aberdeen
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Graaff-Reinet Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Graaff-Reinet and Aberdeen Between Aberdeen and Willowmore
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Graaff-Reinet Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Aberdeen and Willowmore On towards Willowmore
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Willowmore Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Aberdeen and Willowmore On towards Willowmore
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Willowmore Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Week 5Day 29–35 · Mon 30 Nov – Sun 6 Dec
Between Aberdeen and Willowmore Between Willowmore and De Rust
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: De Rust Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Willowmore and De Rust On towards De Rust
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: De Rust Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Willowmore and De Rust On towards De Rust
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Calitzdorp Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Willowmore and De Rust Finish in Oudtshoorn
Pull into Oudtshoorn · meet the team · community stop
🛏 Overnight: Calitzdorp Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Oudtshoorn Finish in Calitzdorp
Pull into Calitzdorp · meet the team · community stop
🛏 Overnight: Calitzdorp Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Calitzdorp Between Calitzdorp and Ladismith
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Calitzdorp Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Calitzdorp and Ladismith Between Ladismith and Barrydale
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Barrydale Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Week 6Day 36–41 · Mon 7 Dec – Sat 12 Dec
Between Ladismith and Barrydale Finish in Barrydale
Pull into Barrydale · meet the team · community stop
🛏 Overnight: Barrydale Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Barrydale Between Barrydale and Montagu
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Montagu Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Between Barrydale and Montagu Finish in Robertson
Pull into Robertson · meet the team · community stop
🛏 Overnight: Robertson Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Robertson Finish in Worcester
Pull into Worcester · meet the team · community stop
🛏 Overnight: Worcester Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Worcester Between Rawsonville and Paarl
On the rope: open-road pull
🛏 Overnight: Worcester Host us? Sponsor wanted →
Finish in Paarl
The final stretch: the finish in Paarl, then the Paarl finish promotion
The team will pass through some 40 towns, stopping for public interaction along the way. Gentle Giant Promotions may adapt the route, map and plans at any time for the safety of the Power Team or if instructed by provincial safety officials. Exact stops are confirmed closer to the event.
The Route Is Confirmed
A two-day drive survey confirmed the 41-day route is doable with preparation. The team flagged hospitals and clinics, pre-booked lodges, and mapped the mountain passes that will need truck-control zones.
- Accommodation: towns + pre-booked lodges, with backup plans for longer gaps
- Medical: hospitals and clinics flagged along the route
- Road safety: control zones through the mountain passes
- Town promotions: media team announces the Power Team's arrival ahead of time
- Daily shuttle vehicles for food and medical supplies
We're Going For The Record
The Bigg Pull isn't just a journey, it's a world record attempt. Every kilometre from Centurion to the Western Cape is measured and logged by category, so the record stands up to scrutiny.
Control
On the downhills the truck is controlled for the safety of the Power Team, every controlled metre is measured and logged.
Assisted
On the uphills and through the mountains, all 20 of the Power Team pull together, the assisted distance is logged.
Free Pull
On the flat, 5 to 20 of the team pull unassisted, this free-pull distance is what stands for the world record.
For the world record application, every kilometre is logged by category, controlled, assisted and free pull. It was done and tested 23 years ago, now we're back, bigger, better, and going for the record.
Why 41 Days
The Bigg Pull is purpose-led. As South Africans we pull together, serve together, love together and finish together.
41 Days Pulling
On the road, walking ~40km a day to reach 1,671km.
40 Towns
Meeting mayors, communities, churches and sport organisations.
40 People
A Power Team of 20 and a work team of 20, on the road together.
41 Days Live
Streamed every day so the nation can walk with the team.
41 days on the rope. On day 41, we pull into Paarl together.
"We walk for purpose. We lay down our load."
A Collective Sacrifice
The Power Team walks every day, rain or sun, for 12 hours, and leaves a message behind for every community it passes.
Never Give Up
Encouraging South Africans to be brave and endure any challenge, to keep pushing forward, especially in sport.
Everyone Belongs
An all-inclusive Power Team championing women's empowerment, youth and people with disabilities.
A Legacy Of Hope
When you set your mind on something, you can achieve it. Everybody has a talent and a mission to fulfil.
"I will endure because we endure"
Be Part Of It
Pull with the team, follow it live, or back the movement as a sponsor.