Join us on the equator for one of the most epic African adventures. You'll experience multiple safari game drives, an afternoon boat cruise safari (home to up to 7000 hippos), chimp trekking through the forest, 5 casual running days, and entry to an extra special marathon event - the official Rwenzori marathon. All drivers, guides, permits, accommodation and meals are included. You're well looked after. This is for all abilities.

Dates & Spaces

Only 20% deposit to secure your booking.

Pay the rest any time up to 60 day before trip.

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Itinerary

Join us for the most epic 9 day running adventure through the heart of Uganda. Combining wildlife safaris, trail runs, and the exceptionally unique Rwenzori Marathon. Starting in Entebbe, we journey deep into Queen Elizabeth National Park for the bulk of your time with us. You'll experience dawn game drives with rangers in search of elephants, lions, and leopards; an afternoon boat safari along the Kazinga Channel among hippos, crocodiles, and kingfishers; and a morning of guided chimp trekking under the high forest canopy. Evenings are for sunset dinners and chats around a huge open fire. Each day blends movement and rest. It's open to all abilities. We pride ourselves on always running as a group at no set pace. We simple run together, slowly and with stops for photos. There's 5 group runs of between 8km up to 18km. You'll have jeep support too, so there's no pressure. It's a full week but we'll allow enough time to relax at our lodges, enjoy the pool, and give you plenty of opportunities for reflection around the fire of an evening.

The bonus element of this trip comes in the form of a race day itself. This is a chance to run the official Rwenzori Marathon . You can also opt for the half, 10km, or 5km if you'd prefer. We don't usually include races at Run Weekends events, because we're not about speed or running for a medal, however, this race is so special, we just had to include it. You don't have to run, but we suggest you do. Many of our crew when planning this trip, said this was their favourite marathon event ever. You'll be surrounded by the community and the energy of Uganda. From sunrise safaris and stargazing nights to optional yoga, journaling, and the simple rhythm of early starts and shared meals, this is once in a lifetime trip to combine running with safari's. It’s a deep immersion into nature, culture, and camaraderie.

Accommodation is a great mix: a city hotel in Entebbe to bookend your journey, and a wonderful classic safari style rural lodge near the park during the main block of the trip. Luggage travels with you, so we recommend packing light with quick dry kit and a hydration vest (1.5–2L) for comfort. All abilities are welcome; some hiking fitness in warm conditions will help you make the most of it.

Day 1

Welcome to Entebbe, Uganda

Your 9 day adventure kicks off from 17:00 in Entebbe. Arrive anytime and make yourselves at home in your temporary accommodation. We’re staying in a basic city hotel for the first night to gather the troops before we head off into the remote areas of Kasese tomorrow. From 18:00 gather in the hotel for a welcome briefing with the team. All things safety, wildlife etiquette, hydration, daily plans. From 19:00 it’s a group dinner nearby. An early night encouraged to sync with tomorrow’s transfer. Where possible please book direct flights to avoid baggage being lost in transit or delays to onward flights. Uganda Airlines is a direct option and the most reliable.

Uganda Trail Running Holiday Marathon Run Weekends

Day 2

Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasese) + 8km

After a 06:00 breakfast, we’ll make packed lunches for the road, then roll out at 07:00 for a full day road transfer. It’s around eight hours through some of the most amazing landscapes. It’s bumpy at times, but well worth the trip. We’ll pause for a lunch picnic en route and aim to arrive at 15:30 to our cosy lodge in the heart of rural Uganda. Drop your bags, have a shower and a refresh, and we’ll head for an 8km shakeout on the nearby trails. You’ll meet the locals and get your first glimpse of the savanna. As always it’s conversational pace, frequent stops, with plenty of time for photos. By 20:00 it’s sunset views and dinner at the lodge. This is the start of our rhythm out here: early nights, early starts.

Leopard in tree Uganda Trail Running Holiday Marathon Run Weekends

Day 3

Discover the Savannah - AM Game Drive + PM Run, 15km

At sunrise we roll out in our Safari Jeep accompanied by our tour guides and rangers for a morning game drive. An opportunity to spot elephants, waterbucks, warthogs, lions, leopards, water buffalo, hippos, and a vast range of birdlife. Get cameras at the ready. By 13:00 we’re back at the lodge for rest, lunch, some time in the sun, and plenty of hydration. At 15:30 we lace up for a 15km group run into the park itself. With support from the jeeps and rangers for protection we’ll run with the chance to see more animals en route. Expect warm humid temps, gentle rolling hills, and wide skies. It’s all an easy pace. Let’s soak it in slowly. By 18:00 it’s showers and sunset views. 19:00 means dinner at the lodge and, if the night is clear, a little stargazing before we settle in for the night. The lodge has a huge communal fire pit we can enjoy as the night folds in.

Savannah lion safari male Trail Running Holiday Marathon Run Weekends

Day 4

The Great Kazinga Channel + AM 18km Run + PM Boat Safari

Wakey wakey, it’s another early start. We have breakfast for 07:00 and we’ll be out running from 08:30. Direct from the lodge we head along runnable smooth roads, with a few hills, to the start of a stunning loop on jeep track paths in the bush. As always we run together. It’s an opportunity to take our time and enjoy the trails. Late morning we’re back at the lodge for showers, shade, and lunch. At 14:00 we swap trail shoes for the Kazinga Channel boat safari. hippos are a plenty here. It’s estimated there’s as many as 6000. This is one of the largest population of hippos anywhere in the world. Elephant will also likely come to the water to drink, with crocodiles sunning themselves and fish eagles overhead and kingfishers on the banks. Cameras highly recommended. By evening it’s dinner at the lodge and well earned rest.

Hippa Trail Running Holiday Marathon Run Weekends

Day 5

Game Drive (Another Opportunity), AM Game Drive + PM Rest

We’ve built this day into your time with us as a chance to rest and reset, but also to give you every opportunity to see the very best of the animals. Game drives are always hit and miss, and so we’ve doubled your chances of seeing lions and leopards close up by including another morning game drive to the itinerary. You’re welcome to skip this but you may just have the best animal sightings of your life. Once again we roll into a different sector of the park with our guides and rangers. By now rural Uganda will have taken your heart. It’s spectacular. At 14:00 we’re back at the lodge for an unhurried lunch and some time to flick through photos. The afternoon is yours to truly recover - maybe lounge by the pool or nap in the shade. We’ll host optional stretching and mobility session, and some journaling time too. Tomorrow into the forest we go.

Photographing animals safari Trail Running Holiday Marathon Run Weekends

Day 6

Forest Chimp Trekking + Prep, Rest & Optional Jog

An early breakfast and we’re out to the forest (location TBC by permits and conditions) for our chimp trekking session. You’ll be hiking under the high canopy, so listen carefully for the all important calls of our closest living relatives. The chimpanzee. If we’re lucky we’ll have sighting of the chimps going about their day. It’s a truly amazing sight to see their hands and feet so similar to ours. Their eyes just as sensible and inquisitive as a babies. The trek duration varies dependant on where the chimps are. We’ll always move at the group’s pace. Once we find them, if we’re lucky, we’ll have time for photos and to admire them for a while. By early afternoon we’re back at the lodge to reset and prepare for the official marathon day. Think about your hydration plans, get kit laid out, and if the weather and time permits we’ll have an optional 20 to 30 minute leg loosener jog. Dinner is early and carb heavy. Head to bed with bottles topped up and alarms set.

chimp trekking adventure Trail Running Holiday Marathon Run Weekends

Day 7

The Official Rwenzori Marathon (Optional Half, 10km or 5km)

Today is a special day for Run Weekends. We don’t usually get involved with official race events. We like to keep it casual. However, having enjoyed this race so much, we just had to include it. There’s no pressure to run today, but your package includes this event (you can also choose to run the half, 10km or 5km if you’d prefer). We would highly recommend this event. Running a marathon along the equator with kids and locals getting involved along the way, it’s one to remember. The marathon start is early, so we’ll arrange for transport to the start (which is just down the road). By around 11:00 most of us will be finished and greeted with cold drinks. The afternoon is for a celebratory nap and a slow reset at the lodge.

Day 8

Return Journey to Entebbe - Onward Travel

Sadly it’s time to leave the world of animals and wilderness behind. We’ll have breakfast at 07:00, checkout, and we roll by 08:00 for the road back to Entebbe. It’s a day of changing horizons and snack stops, with an estimated arrival back in the city for around 18:00. Showers first, then either airport shuttles for evening flights or a calm night in the city to sleep before a morning departure. If you're flying out tonight please book flights leaving no earlier than 21:00. We'll get you to the airport for 19:00. Your legs have earned this trip. We hope the photos and memories last a lifetime.

Day 9

Farewell for Now - Bonus day in Entebbe

At 10:00 the trip officially closes. We've included today in your itinerary to allow flexibility of travel. You are free to depart yesterday on earlier flights or today. There's no agenda today, and you'll be available to head out to the city or just rest ahead of flights. Airport shuttles are available as needed. If you’re keen to explore Kampala, our team can advise on options and logistics. Wherever you’re headed, carry a little of this week with you, the light, the stillness, the sound of hippos. Let the national energy travel home with you.

Running the Rwenzori Marathon Trail Running Holiday Marathon Run Weekends

Elephant in Uganda Trail Running Holiday

Girls standing post run, Mile Off Clothing Running Weekends Retreat Holidays

Highlights

Queen Elizabeths' National Park

From the vast plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park to the shaded canopy of Uganda’s chimpanzee forests, this trip truly showcases the essence of this beautiful country. Every day offers new adventures. Vast skies, dirt tracks winding through villages, sunrise over the bush, and golden sunsets reflected on the Kazinga Channel. Long transfers are part of the journey here, and the reward is exceptional scenery.

The Best Wildlife Sighting Opportunities

Your retreat is immersed in the wild. Early morning game drives gives you the chance to bring you close to elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and countless bird species. On the water, the Kazinga Channel is home to one of the world’s largest hippo populations, alongside crocodiles and fish eagles and many more. Forest treks give you the chance to watch chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Wildlife is at the heart of this trip.

Experienced Crew, Guides and Drivers

From the moment you land, you’ll be guided by an experienced crew of Run Weekends hosts, local rangers, and safari guides. Every step of the way is carefully curated. We'll take good care of you. Daily briefings, hydration support, logistics, and wildlife protocols. Whether it’s a sunrise run, a jeep safari, or chimp trekking, the team ensures you can focus on the adventure, the animals, and the shared joy of the group. There's also the potential to adapt the daily itinerary to suit the weather and group preferences.

Run The Wild - Guided Supported Trails

A week in rural Uganda offers the chance for some exceptionally scenic running, with routes that vary in distance and terrain. Across the week you’ll cover runs between 5km and 18km, before capping it all off with the official Rwenzori Marathon on the final day. This is a bonus highlight of the trip. This event is truly special: red dirt roads, single-track trails through the bush, and children joining in with smiles and cheers along the way. If you’d prefer, you can choose to run the half marathon, 10km, or 5km instead of the full distance.

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Included

Accommodation

2 Nights Entebbe City Hotel

6 Nights Safari Lodge (Very Rural)

Running

8km, 15km, 18km, 5km &

Optional Rwenzori Marathon

(or the half marathon, 10km or 5km)

Meals

7 x Breakfast

7 x Lunch

9 x Dinner

Travel

Return Internal land transfer from Entebbe to Kasese. (Queen Elizabeth's National Park).

Activities

5 x Running Days

2 x Game Drives

1 x Boat Safari

1 x Chimp Trekking

Photos

The team will be taking photos throughout the weekend. You'll be sent these via a link post weekend.

Not Included

Travel Essentials

You must make your own way to and from Entebbe.

Travel & Insurance

Visa (about £45)

https://visas.immigration.go.ug/

Yellow Fever Vaccine (Certificate)

Malaria Meds

Extras

All drinks.

Additional food.

Snacks on run route.

Accommodation upgrades.

Extra meals.

Extra game drives.

Kit

Run gear, warm weather clothes, spare socks, swimwear and towel. Warm jacket and layers. Any bags or bottles etc you may want for the runs. Mosquito spray & long trousers for chimp trekking.

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Getting to us

Meeting Point

Your time with us will commence from Entebbe International Airport. We'll be greeted by the Run Weekends crew and drivers who will take you to our hotel in the city. Once you've booked with us, we'll arrange your transport for the best time. Please arrive before 18:00 ahead of a welcome briefing and dinner.

Arrival & Departure Times

Please arrive by 18:00 on Day 1

Your Run Weekend will conclude at 10:00 on Day 9 of your trip in Entebbe (where we started). We will be back in Entebbe from 18:00 on day 8 for anyone travelling back a day earlier.

Getting to Entebbe

There are a number of options to reach the city of Entebbe. (Please note these are suggestions only, we cannot guarantee travel routes) It's your responsibility to get to us.

Suggested Flights: (Remember - we do not cover your travel to and from your Run Weekend)

Ugandan Airlines offer the only direct flight from London to Entebbe. There are however other indirect flights via Ethiopian airlines. We recommend direct flights to reduce the risk of connecting delays or lost luggage.

Important: Trip Confirmation

This trip operates with a maximum number of 16 guests and will be confirmed once a minimum number of 10 guests have booked. We will inform you once this number has been reached. If you wish to book travel in advance, please ensure your travel booking is fully refundable. We do not hold liability for loss of flights if this trip doesn't run. If the trip doesn't run your deposit along with any balance paid will be fully refunded.