The 2019 Nedbank Desert Dash was launched on Monday at Swakopmund. This year the event will once again see more than 1000 dashers taking on the oldest desert in the world over a distance of 373 km. With the stage set for one of the most grueling endurance events in the world, covering 373 km of the formidable Namib Desert, more than 1 000 Dashers already entered for the 2019 event. They will try to conquer the oldest desert in the world in the course of just 24 hours when the annual Nedbank Desert Dash gets underway in Windhoek on the 6th of December . The 2019 Nedbank Desert Dash will start at 15h00 on that Friday at the Grove Mall in Windhoek and end on Saturday at the Platz am Meer Shopping Mall in Swakopmund. At the launch, Nedbank Chief Financial Officer , JG van Graan said that this may have started off as a friendly challenge, but grew from 40 participants to a quality field of more than 1000 riders. "The Nedbank Desert Dash has no equal, with the race becoming known for pure strength of will, and friendships that will last a lifetime. It also create a type of heroism that only a true dasher can appreciate. This year the Desert Dash will welcome visitors from Russia, Finland, Ezwatini, Belgium, Canada, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, The Nederland's and Australia, along with a strong British, German and South African teams" van Graan said. OUT Crossing one of Namibia's most spectacular landscapes linking the capital to the coast, the Nedbank Desert Dash is the perfect opportunity to showcase one of the country's most rugged, soulful, inspiring and liberating terrains. It is estimated that the event will pump in more that N$20 million of additional revenue into Namibia's economy, from flights, car rentals, health services, and other tourism-related activities. "The Desert Dash is not only aimed at brand awareness of Nedbank, but it also focuses on contributing to the development and upliftment of our country as it attracts tourist from all over the world. This event brings a meaningful and positive contribution, not only to Swakopmund, but to Namibia at large" Swakopmund Mayor Paulina Nashilundo said. This year will see a 20 % increase in solo riders that entered, as well as 130 two-man teams, from the 90 of last year. Sixty percent of the riders will be from Namibia, while thirty percent join from South African. The remaining ten percent are from elsewhere in the world.