Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the SA government asked us to avoid groups in Level 3 and 4 of lockdown. Many trail running events have been cancelled or postponed. Please check on the organisers’ websites to confirm.
Event organisers: To have your event listed on this page, or to appear as a highlighted Promoted Event more than one month in advance, click here for info, including required formatting.
Runners: Find a stockist to get the full South African trail running events calendar in TRAIL 35. It’s available in print and digital editions. We include some of the top international events of interest to South Africans too.
Click to list your event here and in print.
Virtual races for Level 3 and 4 of lockdown
Mon 11 May – Sun 31 May
VWS Run Your Hood. 5km, 10km, 21km, 42km, 70km, 100km. Accumulate your chosen distance over three weeks solo, or as a team. Walkers and riders welcome. Finisher certificates and spot prizes. R60. quicket.co.za
Fri 29 May
The Ranger Protect Night Run. 30 minutes. Run as many laps around your garden as possible in half an hour. Donations go towards game rangers life insurance. 6pm. kzntrailrunning.co.za
Sat 30 – Sun 31 May
Virtual African Oxpecker. 21km/15km. Join the Strava club and run your own Oxpecker over two days! Free. strava.com/clubs/oxpecker
Wed 3 – Sun 7 June
Find Some Run Happy. 5km. Celebrate Global Running Day (3 June) by running a virtual 5km event. Tag @brooksrunningsa in a picture from your run and use #FindSomeRunHappy. Free. facebook.com/brooksrunningsa
Sat 20 – Sun 21 June
Unity Ultra. 21km, 56km, 90km. Share the distance between teams of two to ten. Entry fee voluntary, in support of Endurocad. unityultra.co.za
Trail run event calendar in May 2020
Mon 25 – Thu 28 May EC Cancelled
Pondo Drifter South. 10km/27km/10km/27km. Drifters Adventure Camp, Pondoland. Fully catered four day luxury run in the Northern Transkei from Msikaba to Cremorne Estate. Start 8am. R7,200/R10,200. trisport.co.za
Fri 29 – 31 May WC Cancelled
Langkloof Trail Run. 80km. Louvain Guest Farm, George. Stunning new trails through the Outeniqua Mountains over three days. Start 9am. R4,000-R6,000. langklooftrail.run PROMOTED
Sat 30 May GP Postponed to 24 October
Cosmo Run. 5km, 10km. Pretoria Botanical Gardens. Start 8am. Raising money for the #HOOPstoot project. R60/R80. bouttime.co.za
Sat 30 – Sun 31 May WC
Montagu Mountain Mania. 21km/17km. De Bos Guest Farm. Run one or both days over Cogmanskloof and Bloupunt Trail in the beautiful Montagu Mountains. R800. mountainmania.net
Sat 30 – Sun 31 May KZN Postponed to 14-15 November
African Oxpecker. 21km/15km. Winterton, Central Berg. Run through game farms and Spioenkop mountain. After the mountains, drop down onto the banks of the Tugela River. Start 8am. theoxpecker.co.za PROMOTED
Sat 30 – Sun 31 May MP Cancelled
Bezhoek Extreme. 10km, 15km, 20km, 35km, 65km. Olifants River Lodge. Run virgin trails on banks of Olifants Rivier. bezhoekextreme.co.za
Sat 30 – Sun 31 May LIM Postponed to 31 Oct – 1 Nov
Wolkberg Trail Run. 5km, 10km, 25km, 20km/15km, 40km/25km. Haenertsburg. Unique experience staged over two days. Summit the highest point in Limpopo: The Iron Crown. Vertical gain 1,800m. Start 7am. R120-R5,100. wolkbergtrailrun.co.za
Sat 30 May – Tue 2 Jun EC
Pondo Drifter North. 27km/10km/26km/9km. Drifters Adventure Camps, Pondoland. Fully catered four day luxury run in the Northern Transkei from Cremorne to Msikaba. trisport.co.za
Sun 31 May WC Postponed to 15 November
Rhebokskloof Trail Run Festival. 3km, 5km, 10km, 21km. Rhebokskloof Wine Estate, Paarl. Lots of great activities and entertainment on the day. R80-R200. entryninja.com
Sun 31 May KZN Cancelled
Winter Series Honey Trails. Honey Trails, Monteseel. 7km, 12km, 20km. Indigenous grassland trails through Valley of Thousand Hills. Start 7am. kzntrailrunning.co.za
Trail running events in June 2020
Fri 5 – Sat 6 June INT Going ahead
RMB Brandberg Rhino Run. 10km, 30km. White Lady Lodge, Uis, Namibia. All proceeds go to Save the Rhino Trust Namibia. Riana touchandgorun@gmail.com
Sat 6 June LIM Postponed indefinitely
Pam Golding Wildlife Estate Series #3. 5km, 10km, 20km. Blyde Wildlife Estate. Banks of Blyde River, teaming with hippo and crocs. Start 7am. R90-R165. lowveldtrailrunning.co.za
Sun 7 June WC Postponed indefinitely
The Beast. 12km, 30km, 50km. Old Zoo, Cape Town. Spectacular scenery within the Table Mountain National Park. Start 7am. R295-R695. energyevents.co.za
Sun 7 June KZN Cancelled
Blythedale Trail Run. 6km, 11km, 20km. Blythedale Coastal Resort. Coastal indigenous forest. Start 7am. kzntrailrunning.co.za
Fri 12 – 14 June LIM Cancelled
Rooiberg FRESHtive Ultra and Stage Run. 5km, 10km, 21km, 44km. Rooiberg Limpopo. Leave fresh tracks on unforgettable bushveld trail. Breathtaking views from the majestic Waterberg and lush gorges, variety of game. Start 7am. R120-R570. freshtrails.co.za
Sat 13 June WC
Helderberg Mountain Challenge. 11km, 15km, 24km. Helderberg Mountain Nature Reserve, Somerset West. Forest, fynbos, boulder hopping near summit, ridge line running, incredible views, tricky slopes and traverses below rock faces. Start 7am. mountainchallenge.co.za
Sat 13 June WC Postponed until Level 1
TrailFun Durbanville Hills. 5km, 10km. Durbanville Hills Wine Estate. Winter Series. Run through the vines, with a double loop to make the long distance. Start 7:30am. R120. trailfun.co.za
Sat 13 – Tue 16 June LIM
Leshiba Trail Run. 5km/10km/10km, 15km/25km/25km. Leshiba Wilderness. Boutique trail running experience in abundant game reserve. Mix and match distances to suit you. R5,500. trisport.co.za
Sat 19 – Sun 21 June FS
Kleinrivier Mountain Trail Challenge. 20km, 30km. Kleinrivier Wilderness. Pristine wilderness, big, lung busting climbs and heart-stopping vertical descents on singletrack. kleinrivier.run
Sat 20 June LIM Cancelled: 2021 date 19 June
Big Five Marathon. 21km, 42km. Entabeni Safari Conservancy. Run with zebras, giraffes, antelope through lion country. Special rates for SA residents. big-five-marathon.com
Sun 21 June KZN
PheZulu Trail Run. 5km, 10km, 20km. Valley of 1000 Hills. Tough courses through game reserve with giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest. Start 7am. kzntrailrunning.co.za
Sat 27 June WC Postponed until Level 1
TrailFun Nooitgedacht. 5km, 10km, 20km. Nooitgedacht Wine Estate. Winter Series. Entry level 5km and beautiful 10km and 20km run through vines and forest. Start 7am. R120-R150. trailfun.co.za
Sat 27 June KZN Postponed indefinitely
Gooderson Drakensberg Gardens Challenge. 7.5km, 15km, 20km. Drakensberg Gardens Golf & Spa Resort. Enjoy the spectacular Southern Berg, with crystal clear river crossings and sublime single track. Start 9am. R100/R140/R160. wardevents.co.za
Sat 27 June GP
WildJoburg Winter. 5km, 10km, 20km. Thaba Trails. Tough and exhilarating trails in the city. Start 7am. R150-R250. wildjoburg.co.za
Sat 27 June WC Cancelled
George Mountain Ultra Trail. 9km, 25km, 60km. Cradock Pass. Garden Route mountain running through indigenous forest. georgetrailrun.co.za
Sun 28 June KZN
WESSA Trail Run. 5km, 10km, 20km. Umngeni Valley, Howick. Single track and reserve dirt road through uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve. Start 7am. kzntrailrunning.co.za
Sun 28 June GP Postponed until 26 July
Nissan Trailseeker Buffelsdrift. 5km, 10km, 21km, 40km. Buffelsdrift MTB Park. Hard and rocky grasslands trails past rivers and wildlife Start 8am. R110-R250. trailseekerseries.co.za
Trail events further ahead in 2020
Sat 11 July LIM Postponed indefinitely
Iron Crown Trail Run. 5km, 10km, 22km. Haenertsburg Village. Summit Limpopo’s highest mountain. Village streets, earth roads, firebreaks, and rocky singletrack. Stunning views of Ebenezer Dam and Hunters’ Valley. Start 7:30am. R60/R110/R130. rotaryhaenertsburg.co.za PROMOTED
Sat 5 – Sun 6 September WC
Run2Nowhere. 9km/12km, 20km/18km, 32km/28km. McGregor. A two-day trail run for everyone! Moderate distances, relaxed vibe, festive atmosphere. No cut off times, no pressure. Start 8am. run2nowhere.co.za PROMOTED
Wed 28 Oct – Sun 1 November KZN
The iKhulu Trail Run. 100km/50km. Gugulesizwe, Maputaland. A unique running experience along the unspoiled Maputaland coastline. Pristine beaches, rolling sand dunes and breathtaking views in a rarely-found remoteness. therunningcompany.co.za PROMOTED
See more events in your copy of TRAIL 35, where we list 97 trail running events locally and internationally from April to July 2020.
Get your trail running event listed
Click here to have your event listed in the print and digital versions of TRAIL magazine. Up to 100 events are listed every issue.
Please use the format and order of information above when you send us your event details.
As you might know, listing in the print calendar is free as a service to all events, and our readers.
For PROMOTED website listings more than a month ahead of race date or for more visual exposure through an event banner, or as a banner in our weekly newsletter emailer, the fees below apply.
There are six options:
- Website text listing in final month ahead of your event. FREE
- Website text listing longer than one month ahead. R599 once-off.
- Website text multiple dates (eg series events). R599 first event, R399 per event date thereafter.
- Website banner (728×90 pixels horizontal, on this calendar page only), as a jpeg or animated GIF. Includes single event text listing (option 2 above). R1,399
- Emailer text listing R299 single listing, or R1,250 for five issues anytime in 2020, or R2,400 for 10 issues anytime in 2020. Same text format as on this page. See emailer samples here.
- Emailer banner (600×200 pixels horizontal) R699 first issue and R599 thereafter. R599 for each additional event in the same mailing.
No limit to the display duration for any of the above options. Start promoting your event as early as you want. All prices shown are a once-off fee, excluding VAT. Prices valid to the end of 2020.
Email Deon Braun for more marketing options for your event, including boosted Facebook posts, Instagram, Twitter, and for product slots in our email newsletter.
