General Information

Never taken your Land Rover off road? This is the ideal opportunity to build confidence and gain familiarity with your vehicle. There will be plenty of guided trips marshaled by experienced off-roaders who drive the same vehicles as yourselves, and will guide you through the tricky bits.

Things you should know:

Online Registration

You can pre-register for the Safari and pay using PayPal (you do not have to have a PayPal account OR create a PayPal account - you can also pay via credit card) or send us a personal check.  While pre-registering, select the items that you want and check-out.  You will also have the option of adding your annual CROC membership (it is a drop down selection on the Safari Registration item).

We hope you'll pre-register as it will ensure that you will get a t-shirt (if you order one) and meal (if you order one) and it is also cheaper then registering on site.  It also helps us out tremendously since we can organize everything before the event. 

Trail Passes

Every vehicle that goes out on the trails needs a pass (if you do not plan on trail riding with your vehicle, you do not need a pass).  We don't include them with registration because some people like to buy the annual passes and it keeps the registration costs down.  You must purchase trail passes if you are going out on the trails (it is quite a hefty fine to not have one)!

Daily passes are $5, or get a great start on a whole season at Uwharrie with a $30 annual pass (prices subject to change by the forest service - these were last years prices) - buy your pass where you'll be buying gas, ice, biscuits, and everything else - the Eldorado Outpost.

Camping

Camping will be located at the Badin Lake Group Campground in the Uwharrie National Forest.  We welcome all types of camping from tents to RV's.  We have booked all 3 group sites (A,B,C) so feel free to camp where you wish EXCEPT within the fenced in area by the bathhouse (feel free to camp outside the fence).  Each site (A, B, C) has a small number of tent pads available.  If these are not available, do not be shy.  Just find a spot you like and setup your campsite.

The Group Campground has flush toilets and sinks in the bath house.  That is correct - you no longer HAVE to use a pit toilet.  There are also two pit toilets.  When setting up camp, please be mindful of where your park your vehicles since there will be a lot of people coming to the event and camping space can get sparse.

Agreement of Risk

Every participant will need to fill out an Agreement of Risk.  When you pick up your packet or paying for the event at the Registration Tent, please remember to fill one of these out.  Each form must list ALL drivers and passengers in the vehicle.

T-Shirts

We will once again be creating a Uwharrie Safari t-shirt for the event but remember, ONLY those who pre-register will be guaranteed a shirt.  We do not want to end up with a large supply of extra t-shirts that we cannot sell.  Therefore we only order the exact number of t-shirts for those who pre-register.  There will a VERY limited supply of extra t-shirts at the event so if you want to be guaranteed a t-shirt, pre-register (we run out of extra t-shirts within a few hours of registration).

Saturday Dinner

We will once again be hosting the Saturday night dinner.  Due to cost, we will only be ordering enough meals for those that have pre-registered (plus a few extra).  Again, ONLY those who pre-register will be guaranteed a meal.  You will be issued a meal ticket in your registration packet.

Event Board

Under the registration tent, there will be a white board containing the most up-to-date information about the event.  This will include any last minute changes but more importantly, the time and date of our guided trail rides, meal time, etc.  Please stop by and check it out to make sure you have the latest information about the event.  Your packet will also include a schedule of events but the whiteboard will be the most current.

Event Organizers

Those folks who help support and run the event will be ostracized by making them wear these obnoxious bright hunter orange hats.  Why?  So you know who to go to if you have any problems, issues, and/or questions about anything at the Safari.  We have heard that in the past it was very hard to determine who are attendees and those involved with supporting the event.  This will hopefully make it a lot less confusing but also allow you quick access to someone in case you need a bit of help.  You are always welcome to ask anyone at the registration tent.  If tent is closed, look for a group of campers/tents across from the bath house and see if one of us is over there repairing a Land Rover.  The officers try to always camp in the same area from year to year.

Firewood

Firewood will be available at camp.  The firewood will be located next to the registration tent.  Just take what you need from the big pile.  There is no cost for the wood for event participants but donations are appreciated.  Feel free to bring your own wood as well.

Raffle Tickets

We will again be selling raffle tickets.  This year, the tickets will be $1 each.  Tickets will go on sale Saturday afternoon around the camp.  We will be walking around the campground selling tickets.  Tickets will also be sold during dinner and just before the raffle begins.

Event Guidelines

Every event has to have a few guidelines, here are ours.

1. Quiet Hours - Quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am. Group camping is a highly social event, but not everyone is a night owl. That said, smart campers know to always bring their earplugs for an uninterrupted nights sleep!  We try to enforce this rule but every year we get a complaint.  Please bear in mind that many of these folks only get to see each other one time a year and sitting around the campfire, they tend to get a bit loud.  If there is a problem, just come find one of the officers and we will quiet them down.  FYI - earplugs can be quite helpful.

2. Alcohol - Our group campground is NO LONGER in a dry county although the consumption of alcohol is prohibited by the Forest Service while on Forest Service land. Conspicuous consumption of alcohol will not be tolerated by local authorities (please note the word conspicuous). Unfortunately a few folks tested the limits in the past and learned the hard way. The Rangers can and will fine you so be smart and stay safe.

3. Children Welcome - Future Rover drivers are always welcome.  We're a family friendly event with special events and activities just for future Rover drivers.

4. Pets Welcome - Your well-behaved / socialized pet is welcome at the group campsite and out on the trails but MUST be kept on a leash. Also, you will need to clean up after your pet.  Remember that there will be children and unfamiliar noises and sounds - if your pet gets stressed by these things, you may increase its enjoyment and yours by not having it along.

5. Drinking and Driving - The Forest Service can and will stop you on the trails, even at night. Please don't ruin your weekend and ours by getting a DUI on the trails. Club officers will also be watching for drunk drivers and if caught you will be asked to leave the event immediately.

6. Speed Limits - All the forest roads have marked speed limits.  If you drive fast, you may get a ticket.

7. Trail Passes - Don't forget to buy your trail pass for your vehicle before you take it out on the OHV trails.  The fine for not having a trail pass is very hefty.  Spend the $5/day - it is much cheaper.

8. Garbage Removal - Please clean up your area when you leave.  A group our size can quickly trash if we do not pick up.  There is a large trash container located next the pit toilet over by Camp Site A.

9. Agreement of Risk - This form must be signed by all drivers.  All passengers must be on the form as well.

There, that wasn't so bad, was it?

If you have other questions, feel free to Contact Us us and also check out our FAQs.