Big Five Marathon

The wildest of them all
Challenge yourself to a thrilling marathon amongst the wildlife of the African savannah and reward your efforts with a classic safari.

This is a one-of-a-kind running experience - no fences, no rivers, nothing at all separates the runners from the African wildlife!

Date
Annually in June

The Route
The Big Five Marathon offers two distance races: a full marathon and half marathon. Runners will weave through the African savannah, encountering zebras, elephants, giraffes and antelopes. Through route will even venture into lion country and runners could even chance upon a rhino. This is truly the wildest of them all!

Rangers constantly patrol the course and cut-off times are in place to ensure the safety of all participants. The terrain is varied with sand, loose rocks, pebbles and holes. Significant changes in elevation with a few steep ascents and descents should be expected.

On average, temperatures hover around 15-20°C/59-68°F, but with variations due to sun, shade, wind and altitude. Typically, the weather is very dry, sunny and cool at this time of the year.

Tour Package
The Big Five Marathon is an exclusive event and part of a multi-day tour package, giving you the perfect opportunity to combine a challenging run with a classic African safari vacation. If you are seeking more adventure, a selection of extensions are available allowing you to witness more of Africa’s unrivaled natural beauty.

Ready to push your limits?
Visit the Big Five Marathon website