Kilimanjaro Marathon 28th Feb. 2010

COOL: the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro

The Kilimanjaro Marathon is run out of the town of Moshi, at the foot of this iconic mountain. This professionally organised IAAF approved race consists of a full marathon, half marathon and fun run. Set up by the organisers to grow sport and promote tourism in Tanzania, these races attract over 3200 runners from over 50 countries, and numbers are growing yearly.

Known as one of the most scenic races in the world, with Kilimanjaro's white peak looking over the runners as they run throught both urban areas and rural farmland and villages, this is a must on all runners wish lists.

On 28 February 2010, a standard 42.2 km marathon and a 21.1 km half marathon will be run from the town of Moshi, Tanzania. This race has been set up to promote the sport in Tanzania, and has the official backing of the Tanzania Tourist Board, the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association, the IAAF, and is registered with AIMS (click here to access the AIMS calendar of marathon events).

The event atttracts both top athletes running for big prizes and a chance to prove themselves on an international stage, from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia etc, as well as social runners from around the world, coming to Tanzania to enjoy their sport and take in Tanzanias top attractions such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar, as well as climb Kilimanjaro of course.

A new category of runners has been introduced with the help of our sponsors, which is a Disabled Category. Sponsors of the event include a range to top industries in Tanzania such as Tanzania Breweries and Vodacom, as well as Tanzania Tourist Board and Air Tanzania.

The race donates a large amount of money each year to Athletics Tanzania as well as local charities, schools, hospitals etc.

The Runners
Interest in this race is extremely high, with both the Tanzanians and Kenyans being keen to enter teams and individuals. The Athletics Associations of Ethiopia and Uganda are being approached to enter this race, as well as other countries in the region. The competition to win this race is calling some of Africas best marathon runners to Tanzania. This does NOT preclude the social runners, and apart from the excitement of participating in a race in such an amazing area, with Africa's highest mountain as a backdrop, this race is run in one of the best seasons of the year for additional travel to Tanzania's famous game parks (the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater - timed to coincide with the annual migration of over a million wildebeest into the Serengeti - the largest migration of these animals on the planet!), and to the Spice Island of Zanzibar, famed for it's pristine beaches and scuba diving, or other areas .
Packages to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro prior to the race, or after the race, will be available, and to visit the parks etc as above, through Wild Frontiers.

The Prizes

Prizes will be given for the 5km and 21.1 km Races.

There will also be spot prizes which we will also advise closer to the event.
The Media
Apart from local print and TV, this race will be covered extensively in South African and possibly international TV and radio, and of course athletics magazines. The whole event is being filmed by a contracted company for inclusion in TV channels after the event. SS1; 2 and CSN broadcasted the 2006 full and half marathon at the beginning of March 2006.

The Sponsors
The main sponsor has been secured as Tanzania Breweries Limited, and the official sponsor is the Kilimanjaro brand of beer! Other sponsors, to be finally confirmed, will be contributing to the medals, the watering points and also fully sponsoring their own teams.
Why not sponsor your own team ?? Contact us for more details on travel packages.

Venue
Kilimanjaro Marathon 2010 will be held at Muccobs Stadium, Moshi, Tanzania on 28th February 2010. Log on www.kilimanjaromarathon.com for Route Map.

Charity Donation
Wild Frontiers & Keys Hotel and a UK based tour operator are involved with building, furnishing and where possible stocking a local Moshi school.

The Kiboroloni Primary School has approx 700 pupils, and recently a first phase of the senior wing was built. The building of the second phase classes are in the process of being funded this year.
There is a dire shortage of school places in Moshi Region, especially senior school .
In Tanzania, it is often difficult to get hold of good quality books and supplies for schools, and often shortages mean that children have to share a book between many of them at a time, as such learning may be curbed because of this.

We would like to suggest, that you may like to take up a reading book, or pens, pencils or crayons, stationery, etc etc for donating to charity. These items may be new or used, and obviously should be in English (books) - for any age group. We will have a central collecting point at the Keys Hotel in Moshi, and they will ensure that all donations are passed directly to the Headmaster of the school - whether it be senior or primary level. Any books - even National Geographic magazines - will be welcomed.

A small donation of this kind will be greatly appreciated by the pupils and teachers alike.
Please note that this is merely a suggestion - please don't feel compelled to buy books etc, but any donations would be most welcome. If you would like to visit the school , please ask the reception at Keys to arrange for you.
The Packages

A "basic" package, consisting of flights Johannesburg / Kilimanjaro / Dar es Salaam / Johannesburg on Air Tanzania, transfers to and from the airport, the race entry and the medals/T- shirts etc, 3 nights hotel accommodation in Moshi and 1 night accommodation in Dar es Salaam, returning to Johannesburg can be viewed in our Travel Packages section.
A package will also be available ex Nairobi for international guests entering East Africa here, and for runners arriving in Kilimanjaro from Europe.
All packages can be viewed at Travel Packages.