The Trophy is back! Defender Trophy marks the return of the legendary adventure race.

SUVs are everywhere one looks, but how often do you stop and think about where or why the Sport Utility Vehicle came into existence?

It was indeed war that created the need for an off-road-capable machine that could carry more than a typical Jeep and still traverse rugged terrain. The British Humber F.W.D is probably the earliest creation that resembles what we know as an SUV today.

In later years, the likes of the Jeep Wagoneer, Chevrolet Suburban, and Range Rover emerged, winning favour with adventurous consumers looking to venture off the beaten path and explore their surroundings.

In 1980, Camel cigarettes, looking to market their products as lifestyle accessories, dreamed up an off-roading challenge where three German teams would travel from Belem, Brazil to Santarem, across the Amazon jungle in 4x4s. The first year didn’t use Land Rovers, but on the back of the successful first event, Land Rover stepped in, changing the event forever.

Teams of adventure-thirsty competitors would compete against each other, facing numerous navigational, problem-solving, and driving challenges along the way. This was no highway race; it was a test of man and machine to traverse uncharted territory. It soon became known as “The Olympics of 4x4” and attracted attention from around the globe.

But it was not simply a race; from the early days, there was a humanitarian aspect to the event, initiated by the medical team, which not only looked after the participants but also set up clinics in the villages they visited. Soon, the Sandglow Yellow Land Rovers would become synonymous with discovery, humanitarian work, and conservation, planting the seed of adventure in the hearts and minds of almost all who heard of it.

A new era

The Camel Trophy was last run in 2000 and was briefly replaced by a similar concept called the G4. This was short-lived lived though, and only ran for a few years.

Roll on 2026, and Land Rover has dusted off the trophies, armed with the latest generation Defender (more on that in a bit), and has revived the competition in what is now known as the Defender Trophy.

Attracting interest from over 75 countries, the global challenge aims to be an epic adventure with a purpose, partnering with Tusk Wildlife Trust to ensure the environment is better for having hosted the event.

More than 600 entries were received, with only 12 national finalists making the cut. From that, two competitors (plus a reserve) will be selected to represent South Africa at the global finals, set to take place in October this year, somewhere in Southern Africa.

The finalists will have to display an appetite for adventure, a passion for humanitarian/conservational causes, the ability to perform demanding physical tasks, all while being able to work as a team and maintain a level head. No mean feat indeed.

The new Defender 110

Competitors will be armed with the new Defender Trophy Special Edition. This facelifted D350 variant is available in two distinctive colours: Deep Sandglow Yellow and Keswick Green. The exterior colour is carried over to the interior, where the dashboard insert and doors match, tying it all together.

It’s fitted with 20-inch Style 9013 alloy wheels, shod with all-terrain tyres. Illuminated tread plates are a nod to the original Trophy, and Defender Trophy decals on the exterior let everyone know that this is something a little more special. A raised snorkel intake, expedition roof rack, lockable side carrier, and retractable side ladder help ensure the Defender Trophy Edition is ready for adventure right off the showroom floor.

They can expect 275 kW and 700 Nm of torque available to all four wheels through the intelligent Terrain Response system. The air suspension provides nearly a full foot of additional ride height, ensuring excellent articulation.

The Media Challenge

Rather than simply allowing us to watch competitors take on the tasks, JLR South Africa chose to involve us in the experience, setting up a near-identical challenge for us desk-jockeys. Some challenges were modified slightly, with extended timeframes or a switch from an individual to a team task. Nevertheless, the challenge remained.

The competition has evolved over the years, and while the spirit of adventure is still alive and well, multiple navigational, physical, and problem-solving challenges are included, some using the Defender Trophy 110, the others relying on physical and mental prowess alone.

Day 1

The first day saw us assemble at the Jaguar Land Rover Experience Center in Lonehill, JLR South Africa’s hub for driver training, instruction, and experiences. After a briefing about the Defender Trophy and what to expect, we were given refresher courses on orienteering, knot tying, and of course, 4x4 driving techniques.

Cryptic clues then gave us our waypoints as we headed to the Bronkhorstspruit region for our overnight stop. The heavy rains made traversing the challenging terrain more difficult, and as the rain started to fall, we discovered a tractor and trailer stuck at the river crossing (perhaps deliberately so). This meant that in the soggy dark, we would have to lash together a makeshift bridge from gumpoles and ropes to get the 6 Defenders across the 2m deep and 5m wide river.

With all the vehicles safely on the other side of the river, we could settle in for the night in our campsite, warming up with coffee and a camp dinner, before tucking into a sleeping bag and hoping that the lightning would stay away.

Day 2

After a night in the sleeping bags, we washed up and were split into teams of four. Each team was handed a schedule of challenges, each occupying a 30-minute slot.

Throughout the day, invigilators would monitor our progress, team spirit, and conflict-resolution skills. Our driving between tasks and challenges would also be assessed. At all times, we were expected to exhibit the “Spirit of the Defender” and conduct ourselves in a way that the brand would be proud of - in essence, we had to become Camel Men (and women).

Our set of tasks kicked off with the Invisible Maze, a 5x5 grid of buoys in the dam that we would have to navigate, armed with only a rudimentary map with directional arrows, while trying to remain upright on a stand-up paddleboard.

The Claw was a rather enjoyable, life-size version of the arcade favourite. Each team member would be in one corner of an arena, armed with a rope that was attached to a pulley and a single hook. Teams would have to work together, coordinating their movements to pick up stumps and place them on scoring markers to earn points. Clear communication was vital here.

Wide Load saw an offset beam attached to the rear bumper of the Defender Trophy Edition, inconveniently wider than the demarcated course set out in front of us. The team had to navigate this course without hitting the side poles, worming the wider-than-usual Defender through successfully. Easier said than done.

Photobomb saw the Defender parked up and competitors tasked with collecting as many orienteering punches in their cards from the control points as possible in the 25-minute timeframe. The caveat: You have to memorise the map. Or return to the posted map after each attempt to find a control point.

Auto Test was a test of memory and communication with the teams split into two. Two members had to memorise a set of directions: gates labelled A through F and directions N, S, E, or W. The other two members, a navigator/radio operator and a driver, would have to follow the first two's directions and pass through the gates in the correct order and direction.

Frustration awaited as teams tackled the Ring Fence challenge. Here, the Defender had to be driven into a small circular pen, turn around, and exit in the opposite direction. The pen is far too small for a U-turn or 3-point turn. It requires a clear understanding of how all four wheels work in relation to each other, and clear communication from the teams and monitoring to ensure that no pylons are struck. Patience is required here.

The lunch break tasked competitors with building Owl Boxes. These simple wooden houses provide a place for owls to rest, breed, and raise owlings in a safe space, away from predators. The boxes were glued and nailed together before being placed on gumpoles, which were then planted into the ground around the property.

The afternoon session saw a lot less driving but a lot more physical exertion with several team and individual challenges, ranging from an obstacle course relay race, to a rope and tyre pulley challenge, before being tasked with building a tripod from gumpoles and ropes, spanning a rope across a river, and sending a willing participant (in this case, yours truly) across the water and back.

Duck Dive combined swimming, paddling, and orienteering to challenge teams to find a code on a submerged buoy in the middle of the dam. Someone had to plant navigational flags, while others had to swim and paddle out to the invisible location on the water.

It all concluded with an intense obstacle race across ground and through water, ending off with a vehicle challenge that called on coordination, teamwork, and communication. No easy feat when you’re huffing and puffing and your lungs are on fire.

All in two days’ work

We were finally given a reprieve and an opportunity to get out of our wet socks (yes, the water challenges were as you were dressed, hiking boots and all) and settle into a hearty meal. 

Mark Collins and his team presented participation certificates and awarded podiums to the individuals based on the scores they’d accumulated over the last two days.

- 1st. Kyle Kock - Car Magazine

- 2nd. Avon Middelton - Top Gear Magazine

- 3rd. Chad Lückhoff - AutoTrader.co.za

Not too bad for a desk-jockey, right?

Thanks to Jaguar Land Rover South Africa for the opportunity to try my hand at a challenge that I’ve only ever managed to enjoy from the sidelines. Keep your eyes peeled for the entries for next year’s Defender Trophy and be sure to get your entries in early!