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The Big Five Marathon - Wildlife & World-class Challenge In One!

The Big Five Marathon – Wildlife & World-class Challenge in One!

The Big Five Marathon – Wildlife & World-class Challenge in One!

Forbes lists the Big Five Marathon as one of the Top 10 Marathons in the World That Are Worth Traveling For.

Participating in The Big Five Marathon is both a challenging race and an incredible wildlife safari experience! Despite its reputation as a difficult marathon, the benefits of running through breathtaking African landscapes with a variety of untamed animals make it well worth the effort!

The entire marathon is held in the Waterberg section of the Limpopo Province of South Africa, inside the Entabeni Game Reserve. Situated between Johannesburg and the renowned Kruger National Park, this private game reserve is a part of the malaria-free Unesco Waterberg Biosphere Reserve.

Running through lion country during the marathon should help runners maintain a good pace. To guarantee the participants’ safety, armed rangers and aircraft keep an eye on the region. In the wilderness, runners frequently get up close and personal with antelope species, giraffes, and zebras.

Game Reserve at Entabeni

The marathon is named for the Big Five of Africa—the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo—which may be found at the privately owned Entabeni Game Reserve. Entabeni, which translates to “the place of the mountain,” is a reserve that spans more than 22,000 hectares (85 square miles) of savannahs, wooded hills, ravines, and untamed bushveld.The Big Five Marathon - Wildlife & World-class Challenge in One!

More than 55 species of large mammals, 300 flower species, 50 types of grass, 140 tree species, and more than 300 bird species can be found in this varied game park. There are also many insects, reptiles, and amphibians. Nile crocodiles, African pythons, and at least 15 antelope species are among the residents!

 

The Route of the Big Five Marathons

The Big Five Marathon traverses a challenging course that passes through wide savannahs, woods, ravines, gorges, and hills. Fortunately, it occurs during the winter months in the southern hemisphere, when the weather is a bit more lenient.

After passing the Entabeni Monolith on the higher escarpment, the trail continues down the narrow and steep Yellow Wood Valley before arriving at the lower level. After that, it travels across the valley on the lower plateau before making a roundabout climb through the valley once more.

The track passes through a tiny valley before descending into the final isolated valley after a brief ascent back on the higher cliff. The last stretch, which runs halfway down the ridge before ascending sharply to the finish line, is somewhat challenging.

 

Run-in-One & Safari in Africa

On June 22 of this year, it’s time to put on your running shoes and enter the exclusive Entabeni Game Reserve for an incredible race in Big Five country.

There are several reasonably priced safari alternatives in this region of South Africa, so don’t let your budget deter you. Travelers on a tight budget can take advantage of this marathon challenge while simultaneously going on a wildlife excursion to Kruger Park and the adjacent Big Five areas.

The full marathon, half marathon, and 10-kilometer course are the options available to runners. You must be at least eighteen to participate in the marathon and half marathon.

You must be at least 12 to compete in the 10 km race, however you must always be accompanied by a someone who is at least 18 years old.