FAQ's

Anyone can take part!! The activity can be enjoyed by men, women, and children - old and young - who are fit or unfit. As you set your own pace, it is ideal recreation for individuals or groups.

The length of an Orienteering course varies from 1,5km with six to ten controls for beginners, up to about 10km for the more adventurous. The challenge is yours!

You do not require expensive equipment nor special gear. Wear old clothes (shorts and t-shirt are fine) and comfortable shoes - running shoes or hiking boots. An Orienteering compass is useful for the more advanced courses. Hats and sunscreen are essentials for outdoor protection. Drinking water is normally provided along the route, however, a small water-bottle will not go unused. All the other material (map and control card) is supplied by the event organisers.

Single-event entry fees are normally around R60~R80 for individuals and R100 for Groups (of maximum 3 people). A reasonable compass (not needed until you progress to the more challenging courses) will cost in the region of R250 - R500.

All Orienteering maps are specially drawn - based on topographical surveys, retaining basic symbols for contours, buildings, streams etc, but much finer detail, such as depressions, ditches and vegetation changes are added. Maps are reproduced in scales of between 1:2500 to 1:15000, and are in colour, with a full legend explaining the various features. Maps are provided as part of your event entry fee.

From each contour (brown line on a map joining equal elevation or height) a route crosses in the positive direction (ie. going up-hill), the climb is calculated. Maps normally show 5m contours, hence crossing 10 of these lines in total (only on upward slopes), will equal a total climb of 50m.

Not necessarily. You may compete as an individual, however, joining RACO has the benefits of giving you cheaper entry rates and you get sent the latest information regarding events, results etc. With membership you are also eligible to take part in Championship events and also score points towards an annual Performance Log.

Entry to most Orienteering events is by logging into the OriEnter portal (see below).  When you arrive at the event, you will need to Register, where you will receive a MAP, EMIT and DESCRIPTION SHEET (list of control numbers, codes and feature descriptions). You will also have to select a START TIME (always give yourself about a half an hour to get organised !).  Make your way to the start at least ten minutes before your official start time. Enter the first start enclosure when your start time is indicated on the gate clock (T-2). At T-1 move to the front start box. At 10 seconds to start, place the EMIT card into the receptacle provided at the front of the start box. A 5 second countdown followed by a long 'beep' alerts you to remove your card from the receptacle. Pick up your map and rotate it to face North. Locate where you are on the map (triangle), then locate the first control (#1) on the map. Choose a route to the first control and proceed. Continue to all the controls in sequence in this way until you eventually return to the finish. Hand in your EMIT card for download.