Route Maps and Start Times.
Route Maps and Start Times.
FULL MARATHON (42.195KM)
- Start Time : 06h30
The start is at BAOBAB PRIMARY SCHOOL, in the suburbs.
“Lap 1”:
The route leaves Baobab school, with a number of turns within the suburbs (which will be well-marked and marshalled) before heading down the main road toward the Zimbabwean / Zambia border – across the Vic Falls Bridge.
The turn point is just before the Zambian Immigration, to head back over the bridge. Approx 4.5km.
The route turns right up Zambezi Drive offering great views of the river, the Big Tree (8km), and maybe some game. There will be National Parks armed rangers along this section.
The Zambezi Drive then joins Park Way, at a T-junction, and turns RIGHT toward the National Park gate (approx. 12.5km). Here you turn back along Park Way, turning right toward Vic Falls Safari Lodge off Park Way (approx. 15km)
Exiting Vic Falls Safari Lodge property, you head through the suburbs (signage and marshalls at each point) to Park Way (approx. 20.5 km)
“Lap 2”:
At Park way you head once again to National Parks gate, to the turn point (25km), and back through the Vic Falls Safari Lodge property once more (exiting property at approx 29km)
Upon exiting, the route once again heads up Baobab Rd, through the suburbs until it splits from Lap 1…… look for the Lap 2 separate signs. The route takes you up to the ‘new’ suburb of BB7 and up to the Kazungula Road for a distance of approximately 3 km to the final turning point on the route, and then back to the suburbs. (Approx 33.5km)
Return back through ‘BB7’ suburb, retracing your route, to the finish at the Baobab Primary school – where you started.
There are plenty of regular water points, some serving only water, some coke and water and some providing food and/or salt.
There are marshalls at intersections, police, directional signs (look out for Lap 1 / 2 combined, and Lap 2 alone signs) at all corners, as well as NAAZ officials and timekeeping equipment at potential cheat points.
A sweep vehicle will follow the ‘last runners’ as well as First Aid Ambulance on the route.
There is a tog bag drop off at the start.
HALF MARATHON (21.0975 km) & STEWARD BANK RELAY (10.5 km x 2 persons)
- Start Time : 06h50
The start is at BAOBAB PRIMARY SCHOOL, in the suburbs.
The route leaves Baobab school, with a number of turns within the suburbs (which will be well-marked and marshalled, before heading down the main road toward the Zimbabwean border.
BEFORE you reach the National Park entrance, turn LEFT up Zambezi Drive. DO NOT CONTINUE TO THE BORDER, YOU DO NOT CROSS THE BRIDGE.
The route heads along Zambezi Drive offering great views of the river, the Big Tree (8km), and maybe some game. There will be National Parks armed rangers along this section.
The Zambezi Drive then joins Park Way, at a T-junction, and turns RIGHT toward the National Park gate (approx. 12.5km). Here you turn back along Park Way, turning right toward Vic Falls Safari Lodge off Park Way (approx. 15km)
Exiting Vic Falls Safari Lodge property, you head through the suburbs (signage and marshalls at each point) to the finish at the Baobab Primary school – where you started.
There are plenty of regular water points, some serving only water, some coke and water and some providing food and/or salt.
There are marshalls at intersections, police, directional signs at all corners, as well as NAAZ officials and timekeeping equipment at potential cheat points.
A sweep vehicle will follow the ‘last runners’ as well as First Aid Ambulance on the route.
There is a tog bag drop off at the start.
- Start Time : 07h00
The start is at BAOBAB PRIMARY SCHOOL, in the suburbs.
The route leaves Baobab school, with a number of turns within the suburbs (which will be well-marked and marshalled,before heading down the main road toward the Zimbabwean / Zambia border – across the Vic Falls Bridge.
The turn point is just before the Zambian Immigration, to head back over the bridge. Approx 4.5km.
The route turns right up Zambezi Drive offering great views of the river, the Big Tree (8km), and maybe some game. There will be National Parks armed rangers along this section.
The Zambezi Drive then joins Park Way, at a T-junction, and turns RIGHT toward the National Park gate (approx. 12.5km). Here you turn back along Park Way, turning right toward Vic Falls Safari Lodge off Park Way (approx. 15km)
Exiting Vic Falls Safari Lodge property, you head through the suburbs (signage and marshalls at each point) to the finish at the Baobab Primary school – where you started.
There are plenty of regular water points, some serving only water, some coke and water and some providing food and/or salt.
There are marshalls at intersections, police, directional signs at all corners, as well as NAAZ officials and timekeeping equipment at potential cheat points.
A sweep vehicle will follow the ‘last runners’ as well as First Aid Ambulance on the route.
There is a tog bag drop off at the start.
STEWARD BANK TEAM RELAY
Team member #1 – runs part one of the half marathon race described above, and the transition / change-over point to be advised.
Team member #2 – continues the second half of the “Half Marathon” to the finish.
SPECIALLY-ABLED (18KM)
- Start Time: 06h50
This route follows the Full and the half marathon by starting at the Baobab Primary School again at 6h50am
The route leaves Baobab school, with a number of turns within the suburbs (which will be well-marked and marshalled, before heading down the main road toward the Zimbabwean / Zambia border BUT THE SPECIALLY ABLED DO NOT CROSS THE VIC FALLS BRIDGE…..
They head down the main road and turn left into Zambezi Drive offering great views of the river, the Big Tree (8km), and maybe some game. There will be National Parks armed rangers along this section.
The Zambezi Drive then joins Park Way, at a T-junction, and turns RIGHT toward the National Park gate (approx. 12.5km). Here you turn back along Park Way, turning right toward Vic Falls Safari Lodge off Park Way
Exiting Vic Falls Safari Lodge property, you head through the suburbs (signage and marshalls at each point) to the finish at the Baobab Primary school – where you started.
There are plenty of regular water points, some serving only water, some coke and water and some providing food and/or salt.
There are marshalls at intersections, police, directional signs at all corners, as well as NAAZ officials and timekeeping equipment at potential cheat points.
A sweep vehicle will follow the ‘last runners’ as well as First Aid Ambulance on the route.
There is a tog bag drop off at the start.
FUN RUN (Approx. 7.5 km)
- Start Time: 07h45 (this has changed from 08h00)
The start is at BAOBAB PRIMARY SCHOOL, in the suburbs. The route leaves Baobab school, with a number of turns within the suburbs (which will be well-marked and marshalled, before heading down the main road toward the Zimbabwean border.
BEFORE you reach the National Park entrance, turn LEFT up Zambezi Drive. DO NOT CONTINUE TO THE BORDER, YOU DO NOT CROSS THE BRIDGE.
The route heads along Zambezi Drive offering great views of the river, the Big Tree (8km), and maybe some game. There will be National Parks armed rangers along this section.
The Zambezi Drive then joins Park Way, at a T-junction, and turns LEFT back toward town, before a turn to the RIGHT near Rainbow Hotel into the suburbs.
Follow the fun run directional markers, to re-enter Baobab School to the finish.
Please note upon entering the school – you turn LEFT to your finish tunnel (ECOSURE) – do not follow the marathon finish.
There are water points on the route.
There are marshalls at intersections, police, directional signs at all corners, as well as NAAZ officials.
A sweep vehicle will follow the ‘last runners’ as well as First Aid Ambulance with quick access to the route.
There is a tog bag drop off at the start.
THE FINISH
There will be one bottle of water each at the Finish for all athletes.
The atmosphere in the stadium is electric with local bands playing, entertainment, crowds of local enthusiasts to cheer the runners, and lots of food and drink for sale.
The Victoria Falls Marathon is completely backed up, and manned by local organisations. Crowd control and traffic control are provided for, as is medical assistance and communications and sweep cars, marshals, signage, water, and coke at some points.
OFFICIAL COURSE MEASURER
Gavin Wright
World Athletics A Grade Route Measurer
