CAIRO
~4,500km
ARUSHA
~4,500km
CAPE TOWN
The geographical heart of Africa. The name of this race is not a metaphor — it is mathematics. Arusha, Tanzania sits at the precise midpoint between Cape Town, South Africa and Cairo, Egypt, equidistant from both ends of Africa's most iconic north-south axis. When you run in Arusha, you are running at the exact center of a continent. In August 2000, former US President Bill Clinton called Arusha "the Geneva of Africa" — recognising its outsized role in conflict resolution, transitional justice and continental diplomacy. No other marathon in the world can claim a geographical identity this profound.
🏔️ Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m) · Mount Meru (4,565m) · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater · Tarangire · Olduvai Gorge · Arusha · Safari Capital of Tanzania · East Africa
Arusha — Africa's Safari Capital runs its second international marathon
On Sunday 31 May 2026, more than 5,000 participants from across Africa and beyond gather at the General Tire Grounds / Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha, Tanzania for the 2nd Cape to Cairo Arusha International Marathon. Four distances — Full Marathon (42.2km, start 06:30), Half Marathon (21.1km, start 07:00), 10km and 5km Fun Run (start 07:30) — wind through Tanzania's safari capital as the sun rises over the foothills of Mount Meru with Mount Kilimanjaro on the eastern horizon. The event is embedded within the Cape to Cairo Arusha International Tourism and Cultural Festival (28 May–3 June 2026) — a week of cultural showcases, business meetings, safari tourism and continental diplomacy. The race itself is timed by ACN Timing.
5,000+Participants · Africa & beyond
2ndEdition — 2026
5,895mKilimanjaro — backdrop
06:30Marathon start · Dawn
The four races
Sunday 31 May · Start 06:30 🏔️ Full Marathon 42.2km Cut-off 12:30 · 6 hours
Start at dawn, with Mount Meru's foothills in view and Kilimanjaro on the horizon. Course through Arusha's city centre and surrounding roads. Final cut-off: 12:30 for all marathon finishers.
EAC: 35,000 TSh Expat: $30 USD Virtual option
Sunday 31 May · Start 07:00 🌅 Half Marathon 21.1km Cut-off 12:30 · Half minimum age 18
13.1 miles through Arusha's cultural landmarks and natural scenery. Perfect balance of challenge and achievability, showcasing the urban beauty of East Africa's safari capital. Min. age 18.
EAC: 35,000 TSh Expat: $30 USD
Sunday 31 May · Morning ⚡ 10km 10km Arusha urban & natural scenery
10km through Arusha's vibrant atmosphere. Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Ideal for recreational runners and those new to distance running in Africa.
Under 18: adult escort required
Sunday 31 May · Start 07:30 🌍 5km Fun Run 5km Families · All ages · Celebrating Africa
The most inclusive distance, celebrating the unity and potential of the African continent. All ages welcome (under 18 with adult). Start 07:30. Virtual option available — run anywhere and send your Strava/Garmin recording.
Virtual option available
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Cape to Cairo Arusha International Tourism & Cultural Festival — 28 May to 3 June 2026. The marathon is the centerpiece of a week-long event designed around sports tourism, cultural exchange, business networking and continental diplomacy. Activities across the week include cultural showcases, travel industry meetings, guided visits to Arusha's tourism sites, and opportunities to extend your stay into the Northern Safari Circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, Tarangire). Tour operators, travel planners, athletes, cultural groups and tourism businesses from across Africa and beyond gather in the city. Tourism circuits extend northward toward Egypt and the Mediterranean — the full Cape-to-Cairo vision in action.
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Arusha — Gateway to the greatest wildlife destinations on Earth. Arusha is the departure point for Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit: Serengeti National Park (the Great Migration), Ngorongoro Crater (the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, UNESCO World Heritage), Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa's highest peak, 5,895m), Tarangire National Park and Olduvai Gorge (the cradle of early human civilization). Many marathon participants extend their stay — Run on Sunday, safari from Monday. The organisation works with pre-vetted tour operators to help participants plan their wildlife experience around the race.
« By the time the starting horn echoes beneath the foothills of Mount Meru on Sunday, May 31, 2026, Arusha will not simply be hosting a marathon — it will be staging a conversation between conservation, tourism, commerce, culture and continental ambition. The second edition of the Cape to Cairo Arusha International Marathon is expected to attract more than 5,000 participants from across Africa and beyond, transforming Tanzania's safari capital into a vibrant corridor of sport, tourism, diplomacy and national storytelling. » — Daily News Tanzania, May 2026
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Start & Finish: General Tire Grounds / Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium, Arusha, Tanzania. Timing: ACN Timing · acn-timing.com. Organisation: Cape to Cairo Marathon · capetocairomarathon.com · event@capetocairomarathon.com. Start times: Marathon 06:30 · Half Marathon 07:00 · 5km Fun Run 07:30. Cut-off: 12:30 (Full & Half Marathon). Entry fees: EAC citizens 35,000 TSh · Expatriate/international $30. Age rules: Half Marathon min. 18 years · 10km & 5km under 18 must be with responsible adult. Kit pick-up: LandAfrica Office, AICC Area, Ngalo Road (May 21–June 21) · Arusha Stadium · AIM Mall · Dar Es Salaam: Mlimani City. Virtual option: Run anywhere and send Strava/Garmin recording to event@capetocairomarathon.com. Travel: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) — 46km from Arusha · Arusha Airport (ARK) — 7km. Accommodation: Extensive hotel options in Arusha including Arusha Coffee Lodge, Mount Meru Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton.
Running shoes & gear — i-Run
Running shoes for the Cape to Cairo Arusha Marathon — laterite roads and Arusha city streets at altitude, from the 5km Fun Run to the full 42.2km under Kilimanjaro. i-Run, running specialist. Worldwide shipping.
Shop i-Run →
Race summary — Sunday 31 May 2026
| Event |
Distance / Start |
Entry / Cut-off |
| Full Marathon EAC EXPAT VIRTUAL |
42.2km · 06:30 |
EAC 35,000 TSh · Expat $30 · Cut-off 12:30 · Virtual option available |
| Half Marathon EAC EXPAT |
21.1km · 07:00 |
EAC 35,000 TSh · Expat $30 · Cut-off 12:30 · Min. age 18 |
| 10km Run |
10km · Morning |
Under 18 with responsible adult · Arusha landmarks & scenery |
| 5km Fun Run ALL AGES VIRTUAL |
5km · 07:30 |
All ages (under 18 with adult) · Virtual option available · Celebrating Africa |
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