Africa Desert Running Calendar 2019

Africa is home to three of the world’s largest and most unique deserts – the Sahara, Namib, and Kalahari. Increasingly, these deserts host a wide range of footraces, making Africa the premier international desert running destination.

The following list highlights some of the main single and multi-stage desert footraces which will be held during 2019 in Africa:

Le TREG / 180km
18-24 February 2019
Chad
http://www.le-treg.com

Sahara Marathon / 42km
26 February 2019
Algeria
http://www.saharamarathon.org

Extreme Runners Cup Mauritania / 160km
17-24 March 2019
Mauritania
https://extreme-runner.fr/extreme-runners-cup-mauritanie/

Transmarocaine Tizi N’Trail / 67km
22-24 March 2019
Morocco
http://www.go2events.fr/transmarocaine-tizi-n-trail/ 

Marathon Des Sables / 250km
5-15 April 2019
Morocco
http://www.marathondessables.com

Klipspringer Challenge / 65km
27-28 April 2019
Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa
https://www.klipspringerchallenge.co.za

Namib Race / 250km
28 April – 4 May 2019
Namibia
https://www.4deserts.com/namibrace/

Trans Atlas Marathon / 280km
7-17 June 2019
Morocco
https://www.transatlasmarathon.com

Fish River Canyon Ultra / 100km
15 June 2019
Namibia
http://windhoeklightevents.com/events/fish-river-ultra

Namibia Crossing / 200km
16-22 June 2019
South Africa & Namibia
http://www.wildrun.com/experiences/namibia-crossing

Salt Pans Ultra / 100km
28-30 September 2019
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Botswana
https://www.saltpansultra.com

Ultra Mirage El Djerid / 100km
5 October 2019
Tunisia
https://www.ultramirage.com/

100km Del Sahara
8-13 October 2019
Tunisia
http://www.100kmdelsahara.com

Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon / 250km
10-20 October 2019
Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa
http://www.kaem.co.za

The Saharan Challenge / 84km
11-12 October 2019
Morocco
https://www.thesaharanchallenge.com/

Marathon des Oasis / 110km
11-16 November 2019
Tunisia
http://www.marathons-tunisiens.com/

Race Desert Marathon / 100km
13-17 November 2019
Morocco
http://www.racedesertmarathon.com

Pharonic Race / 100km
15 November 2019
Egypt
http://www.egyptianmarathon.com/

Race to the Wreck / 203km (or 303km run and bike)
18-24 November 2019
Namibia
https://ratracebucketlist.com/race-to-the-wreck/

The Desert Ultra / 250km
22-26 November 2019
Namibia
https://beyondtheultimate.co.uk/ultra/the-desert-ultra-marathon

100km of Namib Desert
29 November – 6 December 2019
Namibia
http://www.100kmofnamibdesert.com

Trans 333 / 333km
8-15 December 2019
Mauritania
https://extreme-runner.fr/

The dates of a few other races still not to be finalised and will be added to this list once confirmed.

Other significant multi-stage footraces to be held during 2019 in Africa:

Remarkable Rwanda / 150km
9-17 February 2019
Rwanda
http://www.wildrun.com/experiences/remarkable-rwanda

100km du Senegal / 100km
16-22 March 2019
Senegal
http://www.100kmdusenegal.com

Breathtaking Extreme Ultra Run / 265km
18-22 April 2019
Entabeni National Park, South Africa
https://www.breathtakingextreme.com

Madagascar Ultra Trail / 150km
15-20 July 2019
Madagascar
https://www.racing-madagascar.com/

Kilimanjaro Stage Run / 260km
17-27 August 2019
Tanzania
https://kilimanjarostagerun.com/

For Rangers Ultra / 230km
18-22 September 2019
Kenya
http://beyondtheultimate.co.uk/ultra/for-rangers-ultra/#!/2019

Ultra Africa Race/ 220 km
10-14 November 2019
Mozambique
http://www.canal-aventure.com/en/ultra-africa-race

If you know of any other desert races held in Africa which should be added to the above lists, please send the information to barnard.davidb@gmail.com.

Click here to view the 2020 Africa Desert Running Calendar.