Held in iconic destinations from Cape Town to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s marathon events are becoming bigger and better every year. Several are now firmly on the international marathon map and draw a diverse professional and amateur field. Run amidst exuberant support, these races put you at the heart of the African experience, enabling you to meet fellow runners from around the world as well as the ever-friendly local athletes.
But, as even a hardened runner will admit, running 26 miles as fast as you can is not much of a holiday, and since you are over in Africa anyway, it makes a lot of sense to combine your African marathon with a safari – even more so if you have family with you or fellow travellers. And the timing of the best African marathons coincides nicely with some safari highlights across both East and Southern Africa.
TANZANIA: THE KILIMANJARO MARATHON
Set under the gaze of Africa’s highest mountain, Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Marathon has you running full or half marathons on good tarred roads at an altitude of between 830 and 1150 metres above sea level (2700 – 3800 feet). There’s a festive atmosphere along the route, and the race can be used as a qualifier for the continent’s toughest race: South Africa’s Comrades Marathon.
The Kilimanjaro Marathon takes place in February: this puts you at exactly the right time to see one of the most exciting chapters of the Serengeti’s Wildebeest Migration – the birthing season. It’s now that tens of thousands of new-born wildebeest calves are wobbling around on the savannah and that means rich pickings for Africa’s carnivores – big cats, wild dogs and hyenas.
Add Tanzania’s other safari destinations such as the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire and now you have a classic safari, leaving you with only one more decision: a few days on a tropical Zanzibar beach or a multi-day hike up Kilimanjaro? Talk to us about six, eight and ten-day Kilimanjaro Marathon and safari combinations.
SOUTH AFRICA: THE TWO OCEANS ULTRA MARATHON
Africa’s biggest race and arguably the world’s most scenic marathon, the Two Oceans – as it is known locally in Cape Town – offers an Ultra Marathon as its showpiece as well as a half marathon. Set at sea level with a meandering course, the 56 kilometre (35 mile) Ultra Marathon takes in stunning views of both the Indian and Atlantic oceans as runners wind their way round the Cape Peninsula.
Run in April when the weather is cooling down after a hot, dry and windy summer, the Two Oceans puts you at a great time to visit other parts of South Africa. The rainy season is coming to an end in the Kruger Park and Kalahari, and you can fly there direct from Cape Town or via Johannesburg. We’d recommend the Kruger’s private reserves for optimum Big Five wildlife viewing as well as private reserves in the Kalahari for unique animals and landscapes.
It’s also a good time of year to go deeper into safari country. Families will enjoy the Big Five game viewing on offer in South Africa’s malaria-free Eastern Cape, and it’s also good-value shoulder season for heavyweight safari destinations such as Botswana and Namibia. And with the Zambezi River in full flow in April, Victoria Falls is looking like a true world wonder.
ZIMBABWE: THE VICTORIA FALLS MARATHON
A flat and fast route set against the backdrop of Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River, this full and half marathon takes in both Zimbabwe and Zambia as well as sections of a national park where antelope and baboons may be among the spectators.
The Victoria Falls Marathon is run in July – the coolest and driest time of year; in fact, it’ll be an icy-cold start to your race. It’s good news for runners – especially as it’s also the very lowest risk for malaria now – and July also has a little safari secret: it’s this time of year – during a full moon – that you have the best chance to see one of nature’s rarest phenomena: a lunar rainbow, arcing over Victoria Falls.
July is also spot on for a safari in the region. The dry weather keeps wildlife near waterholes and rivers while large herds of elephants and buffalo are gathering, attracting the big predators. Talk to us about the best safari options with a Victoria Falls Marathon – you may want to keep it local and stay in Zimbabwe but with Botswana right next door, this is the time to see the Chobe River and Okavango Delta at their most magisterial.
