Kenya is globally recognized for winning marathons and being Africa’s best safari destination. What kind of country would we be if we didn’t mix the two elements we’re great at and make something even greater? Let’s call it taking advantage of our country in the best way. 

Anyways, moving on… 

Imagine running with giraffes, rhinos, and antelopes. Or seeing lions and cheetahs sprawled on the grass on your run while connecting with nature, exploring new terrains, and supporting a useful cause. Sounds like a beautiful experience and one that all these running events offer each year.

Here are annual running races in Kenya with an unforgettable wildlife experience

1. Lukenya Trail Run

Lukenya Trail Run is one of Kenya’s leading trail running races. Its purpose is to promote a healthy community through running. On the trail, you enjoy the stunning sights of Lukenya Hill (a prominent inselberg), zebras, giraffes, and wildebeests. 

The Lukenya trail run is fascinating, as the rocky Lukenya hills are linked to the middle and late Stone Age periods. A study by  Harvard University is focused on providing historical records on human occupations on Lukenya hills thousands of years ago and a comparative analysis of human skeletal remains found at one site of the hills.

The running races are inclusive to all runners, beginners, and elites, and the courses are fully marked.

• Date: To Be Confirmed soon
• Time: TBC
• Location: Lukenya Hill, Machakos County
• Distance: 5km, 10km, 20km, 30km

Visit the Lukenya trail run website to register.

2. Lewa Safari Marathon

Lewa Safari Marathon is one of the biggest running events in Kenya. It is organized to raise awareness of wildlife threats, fund projects protecting endangered species, and help local communities. 

The runs are set on a terrain that takes runners on a 21km route across Savannah grasslands and river banks surrounded by black and white rhinos, lions, warthogs, giraffes, etc. Since the course is 21km, the full marathon runners complete two loops around to make 42km.

 Funds collected from the Lewa Safari marathon in the past years have helped recover Kenya’s black rhinos from the verge of extinction and protect the few remaining Grevy’s Zebras from extinction.

• Date: 29th June 2024
• Location: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Meru County, Nothern Kenya
• Half Marathon 21.1km, and Full Marathon 42.2km

Visit Lewa Safari Marathon Website for registration.

3. Maasai Mara Ultramarathon

During the Maasai Mara Ultramarathon race, you run with antelopes, giraffes, gazelles, and elephants along the trails of Maasai Mara National Reserve. You might also get lucky and experience the great wildebeest migration (one of the world’s seven wonders) from Kenya’s Maasai Mara to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.

The Maasai Mara ultramarathon began in 2020 to raise funds to support initiatives promoting wildlife conservation and community development.

• Date: 23rd November 2024
• Time: 6:30 am
• Location: Maasai Mara, Narok County, Southwest Kenya
• Distance: 50km

Visit the Ultramarathon website to register

4. Lake to Lake Marathon

The Lake to Lake is a charity event organized to raise funds for the children’s school lunch feeding program. Runners run between Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita, two UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Rift Valley.

On your run, you will see thousands of flamingoes chilling on the shores in their stunning pink feathers, which marry beautifully with the blue colors of the lakes.

Also, have you watched Tomb Raider III, the internationally Award-winning movie? You will run in Nakuru, the nearest city to Hell’s Gate National Park, where it was filmed.

• Day: 20th October 2024
• Location: Lake Nakuru, Nakuru County, Central Rift Kenya
• Distances: 5km 8:30 am, 10km 8:00 am, and 21.1 km 7:30 am

Visit the website for the lake to lake marathon registration

5. Kenya Wildlife Marathon and Half Marathon

The Kenya Wildlife Marathon takes place annually in Lukenya Sanctuary, home to zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and the magical views of Lukenya Hills. The running routes consist of loose rock surfaces, narrow and uneven paths, and a few tough climbs, making them a great running/fitness challenge.

Rangers are available at all times to monitor the routes. Also, water stations are situated every 2.5km with basic first aid.

• Day: 1st June 2024
• Location: Lukenya Sanctuary, Machakos County
• Time: 8.00 am
• Distance: 5km, 10km, 21km, 50km

Visit the website for registration

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