The Best Running Trails in South Africa

11,800 trails

(8)

Photo of Ou Voetpad Mountain 10 Miler 2012

Show map

Wikiloc is a place to discover and share the best outdoor trails for hiking, cycling and many other activities

2016 Greatest Train Race 32km

Running

Save to a List

near Lynnville, Mpumalanga (Republic of South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

19.81mi

Elevation +

666f

TrailRank

36| 4.0

If you want to do your first 32km or a PB then this is the race for you. The weather was also in favour on race day. The waterpoints are well stocked and maybe too frequent. Some of them seemed very close to each other. ...

Awesome run, rather an early start as we drove up from Nelspruit on the same morning.
Redshift3

View trail
Cape Town

Running

Save to a List

near De Waterkant, Western Cape (South Africa)

kilómetros para el mundo

Distance

9.46mi

Elevation +

187f

TrailRank

35| 4.0

Cape Town is a city Southern SA very well known for being touristy. In this track we started in our hotel (Queen Julie Lodge, pic.1) and took the street on the left. After the robot we continued through a pedestrian dia...

Very nice run. Thanks for sharing
Fermin AZANZA 1965

View trail
Ou Voetpad Mountain 10 Miler 2012

Running

Save to a List

near Hercules, Gauteng (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

10.19mi

Elevation +

1175f

TrailRank

34

One of the few races in South Africa that are measured in miles instead of kilometers. An undulating run mostly on tar except for the two occasions when you cross the ridge. And mile 8 to 9. Well organised and worth doin...

View trail
Skukuza Half Marathon 2012

Running

Save to a List

near Skukuza, Mpumalanga (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

12.97mi

Elevation +

433f

TrailRank

33| 4.0

You may not get to see many animals on this race because they chase them away to protect the runners. But its all about the weekend game viewing in the park. This year it was quite warm during the race. The beer at the ...

2014! See you in 2015!
Redshift3

View trail
Create your Trail Lists

Organize the trails you like in lists and share them with your friends.
Get Wikiloc Premium Upgrade to remove Ads
Drie Provinsies Marathon 2012

Running

Save to a List

near Jan Kempdorp, North-West (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

26.41mi

Elevation +

499f

TrailRank

32

A great race. Well worth the traveling from Johannesburg (about 4 hours). Typical small town race where all the locals welcome you to their town. Catch the bus from the finish, in Christiana, at 5am and it gets you to th...

View trail
2017 Wilge marathon

Running

Save to a List

near Frankfort, Free State (Republic of South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

26.49mi

Elevation +

764f

TrailRank

31

A pleasant run on the banks of the Wilge river. Single lap for the half and double for the full. A slight climb at the end of the lap to get from the river into the town. Except for short sections through the town, the r...

View trail
Iron Crown Half Marathon 2012

Running

Save to a List

near Weighton, Limpopo (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

13.20mi

Elevation +

2838f

TrailRank

31

A great offroad run up to the highest point in Limpopo. The first 6km are on dirt road and then the single trail starts for 4km up the mountain. Unfortunately it was misty and chilly up at the top so we could not see muc...

View trail
2016 Bluff marathon

Running

Save to a List

near Flnnland, Province of KwaZulu-Natal (Republic of South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

26.74mi

Elevation +

1916f

TrailRank

30

Quite a hilly little monster! Two laps around the Bluff and they find quite a few hills for you to climb. Just for fun they add a couple more on the second lap. If you can qualify for Comrades on this route then its a gr...

View trail
PPC Riebeek Bergmarathon 2012

Running

Save to a List

near Riebeek West, Western Cape (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

26.34mi

Elevation +

2215f

TrailRank

30

A great undulating run in the country. From 14km to 26km its on dirt road as you go behind the mountain. Halfway is at the top of a 2.5km climb. You drop down for about 5km back to the tar road and then climb up to 30km....

View trail
Foskor Open Pit Race 2011

Running

Save to a List

near Phalaborwa, Limpopo (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

13.30mi

Elevation +

715f

TrailRank

30

They started mining the pit in 1966 and stopped in 1978. Mining started again in 1994. They mine phosphate for fertilizer. It is currently 200m deep. This puts you 200m above sea level. In 30 years time it will be 641m d...

View trail
2012 Golden Gate Half Marathon

Running

Save to a List

near Glen Reenen, Free State (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

13.12mi

Elevation +

1532f

TrailRank

30

The race is run on tar through the Golden Gate park. All of the big climbs are in the first half of the race. There are scenic views along the whole route. The majority of the time is spent above 2000m. Most of the wate...

View trail
2012 Mandela Day Marathon

Running

Save to a List

near iMbali, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

26.41mi

Elevation +

3054f

TrailRank

30

One of the tougher marathons that I have done. The climb from about 7km to 21km seems to go on forever. When you think it is all downhill to the finish you get hit with a few more hills. The last 5km is all gentle climbi...

View trail
South Coast Marathon 2011

Running

Save to a List

near Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

26.24mi

Elevation +

1165f

TrailRank

30

An undulating route from Scottburgh to Amanzimtoti. Weather was overcast and humid. More people would have battled if the sun was shining. The route was a bit tougher than I expected especially the last few km. Route mar...

View trail
Marakele marathon

Running

Save to a List

near Hartbeesbult, Limpopo (Republic of South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

25.89mi

Elevation +

2126f

TrailRank

30

The first 7km are on dirt road and fairly flat. You then start the climbing until halfway. At about 12km the road is tarred all the way to the 21km mark. There are some really tough pulls up to 21km. Once there you turn ...

View trail
Boulders Marathon

Running

Save to a List

near eNyamazaneni, Mpumalanga (Republic of South Africa)

Redshift3

Distance

15.19mi

Elevation +

1811f

TrailRank

30

This most scenic and unique race is run through the Crocodile Gorge Conservancy on the old Mara Road. The course starts with a steep and challenging seven-kilometre climb as you run up the Crocodile Gorge Mountains and o...

View trail
Mazda half marathon

Running

Save to a List

near Denneboom, Gauteng (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

13.11mi

Elevation +

420f

TrailRank

30

Easy run through some industrial area and small holdings to the east of Pretoria. Great water points. A bit chilly at the start. Only one road to the venue from the highway so get there early to avoid the traffic jam. J...

View trail
2013 Constantia Valley Grape Run 21km

Running

Save to a List

near Doordrift, Western Cape (Republic of South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

13.28mi

Elevation +

1276f

TrailRank

29

A great half marathon through the vineyards in Constantia Valley. Most of the run is on dirt roads between the vineyards. This year there were two wine stops.

View trail
2017 Cango marathon

Running

Save to a List

near Boplaas, Western Cape (Republic of South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

26.59mi

Elevation +

495f

TrailRank

28

This is not the most difficult marathon if the weather plays along. We arrived on Friday to 41c degree temperature. The forecast was for cooler weather on Saturday. It rained on Friday for the first time in almost two y...

View trail
Landmarks half marathon 2016

Running

Save to a List

near Wyndover, Western Cape (Republic of South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

13.55mi

Elevation +

686f

TrailRank

28

Quite a pleasant half marathon that takes in many Cape Town landmarks. There is a bit of a climb up to Rhodes Memorial. If you want to race this then you have to make sure that you are in the top 100 for the first 8km. ...

View trail
42.7 km 2015 Kaapschehoop Marathon

Running

Save to a List

near Kaapsehoop, Mpumalanga (Republic of South Africa)

Redshift3

Distance

26.54mi

Elevation +

919f

TrailRank

28

The testing downhill course, which starts in the misty heights of the picturesque village of Kaapsehoop and follows a beautiful panoramic route down to Mbombela, not only tests the mettle of any athlete, but is also an e...

View trail
Sudwala Screaming Monster Half Marathon 2011

Running

Save to a List

near Dollaaskraal, Mpumalanga (South Africa)

doppierunner
with

Distance

12.95mi

Elevation +

2096f

TrailRank

28| 4.67

There are a number of monsters here! The long climb up to 6km. The concrete road up to the stairs at the cave entrance. The steps up to the cave. And of course the monster in the cave. Our last monster was the swimming p...

The name of this race says it all ! 2014
Redshift3

View trail
Jackie Gibson marathon 2016

Running

Save to a List

near Mondeor, Gauteng (Republic of South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

26.52mi

Elevation +

1890f

TrailRank

27

Not the easiest marathon but what helps is the last 9.5k of each lap which is mostly downhill. Mentally the hill to to that point are challenging. The first lap is not too bad because you are with the half marathoners. T...

View trail
DeloitteChallenge marathon Ballito to Durban 2015

Running

Save to a List

near Ballito, Province of KwaZulu-Natal (Republic of South Africa)

doppierunner
with

Distance

26.51mi

Elevation +

1132f

TrailRank

27

Most of the climbing is in the first half. The problem in the second half is mainly heat related as there is very little shade. Fortunately there is full road closure so you van use both sides of the road and the shade i...

View trail
Soweto Marathon 2012

Running

Save to a List

near Diepkloof, Gauteng (South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

26.37mi

Elevation +

1345f

TrailRank

27

The one race in Gauteng where the public gets involved. This is the race where they almost always run out of water. But its not such a big deal because the people on the sides of the road will get you water. Not the easi...

View trail
Yzerfontein parkrun

Running

Save to a List

near Swartwater, Western Cape (Republic of South Africa)

doppierunner

Distance

3.12mi

Elevation +

420f

TrailRank

27

The windmills look big from the road, but if you want to know how big they really are, then try this parkrun. You get to run right next to them. Of course you have a two kilometer climb to get to the highest point but th...

View trail