When
Late February / Early March (exact date varies)
Where
Moshi, Northern Tanzania
Duration
Race day + 2–3 days in Moshi region
The Kilimanjaro Marathon is one of Africa's most celebrated road races, 42 kilometres through the foothills of Africa's highest peak, finishing in the town of Moshi with Kilimanjaro rising behind the finish line. The course winds through coffee and banana plantations, Chagga villages, and the red-dust roads of the mountain's lower slopes, with the snow-capped summit visible throughout on clear mornings.
The event draws around 8,000 runners from 60+ countries and has a festival atmosphere that extends beyond the race itself. The half marathon and fun run options make it accessible to runners of different levels. Local schoolchildren line the course for the full event, and the finish-line celebrations in Moshi are genuinely joyful.
For those who want to combine the marathon with the mountain, Mboka designs two-part itineraries: run the race first, then spend seven days climbing the route you could see from the road. The combination of racing in the shadow of the peak and then standing on its summit ten days later is an experience with very few equivalents anywhere in the world.
What to Expect
The Course
Challenging but manageable. Some elevation gain in the first half, largely flat from 25km. Altitude start at 900m, not enough to affect most runners.
Mountain Views
Kilimanjaro is visible for much of the race on clear mornings. The finish-line backdrop, with the summit behind it, is the photograph runners come for.
Chagga Hospitality
The Chagga people of Kilimanjaro's slopes line the route. Water stations double as community cheering points. The support never stops.
Post-Race
Moshi's restaurants and bars fill with runners from 60+ countries after the race. The atmosphere is festive and genuinely international.
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