Route Maps and Start Times.
Route Maps and Start Times.
ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS
“Lap 1”(Full) and Half Marathon route
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, as well as Vic Falls Anti-Poaching Unit volunteers.
The Zambezi Drive then joins Park Way, at a T-junction, and runners turn RIGHT toward the National Park gate (approx. 12.5km). Before the Park Gate is a turnaround point, where you turn and go back along Park Way, to the turning into the Vic Falls Safari Lodge off Park Way (approx. 15km), here you turn right and run through the Safari Lodge property.
Exiting Vic Falls Safari Lodge property, you turn right at the 2nd road (Baobab) and head up to Reynard Rd, turn right into Reynard and continue straight on Reynard going into Reynard extension and then right on to the Kazungula road.
The Half Marathon route differs slightly after exiting Vic Falls Safari Lodge, heading back to the stadium on a well-marked route.
Head out on the Kazungula road to the turn point just 350m past the 19km marker, turn around and follow the same route back to the Water point at Syringa road (21.7km point approx), here turn right and follow the marshalls and signage to take you past Water Point 10 on Wood road, then a left onto Courtney Selous which you follow down past the Rainbow Hotel and turn left on to Parkway drive (Just after 25 km marker)
“Lap 2”:
Once back on Park way, you head once again out to the turning point before the National Parks gate (just after 29km marker), and then back the same way as the first lap, going right at the turning into Safari Lodge, through the Vic Falls Safari Lodge property once more exiting the property (approx 32.7km).
Upon exiting the Safari Lodge property, the route once again heads right up Baobab Rd, then right onto Reynard road, follow this road straight past Water point 9, onto Reynard Extension (BB7 Area) then right onto Kazungula road, to the same turning point as lap 1, on the Kazungula road (Turning point is just after the 36km marker).
Then return on the same route as lap one, back through ‘BB7’ suburb, to Water point 9, (this is approx 38.8km) where you turn right into Syringa and follow the marshalls directions through the turns in the suburbs, finally after the last Water Point, going left off Wood rd, onto Courtney Selous, then the next right to the finish at the Baobab Primary school – the same point as 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 (Laps 1 & 2 are exactly the same) at all corners, as well as NAAZ officials and timekeeping equipment at potential cheat and turning points.
A sweep vehicle will follow the ‘last runners’ as well as First Aid Ambulance on the route.
The Fun Run also departs Baobab School, heading down toward the border but turning left before the Rain Forest – to follow Zambezi Drive. The route then heads LEFT back toward the school and the finish. Approximately 7.5km.
The Specially-Abled (18km) race follows the same route as the Half Marathon, but does NOT GO OVER THE BRIDGE. The route turns left on to Zambezi drive, then continues on the Half marathon route.
There is a tog bag drop off at the start.
SEE MAPS BELOW
FULL MARATHON (42.195KM)
- Start Time : 06h30
The start is at BAOBAB PRIMARY SCHOOL, in the suburbs.
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.
- Start Time : 07h00
The start is at BAOBAB PRIMARY SCHOOL, in the suburbs.
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
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 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