Safaricom Marathon

Course & Elevation

The Lewa Safari Marathon is run on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Kenya about 230 km north of Nairobi. It is organised by the conservation charity Tusk in partnership with the conservancy, and offers a marathon, a half marathon and a 10K. All funds raised are invested in Tusk's projects in Kenya, including the conservancy. The marathon consists of two loops on a dirt road that normally serves as a four-wheel-drive trail for safari vehicles. Runners cross savannah grassland, follow riverbanks and pass through acacia woodland at more than 5,500 feet above sea level. No physical barriers separate runners from the wildlife; armed Kenya Wildlife Service rangers patrol the course, and a helicopter helps guide animals away from the runners. The first race was held in 2000, and the event has since raised more than $10 million for conservation and community projects. About 1,400 runners take part each year. The 2026 race was held on the last Saturday of June.