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Karkloof 100 Miler

Basic Listing
  1. Karkloof 100 Miler (PTY) Ltd
  2. 2026 Edition

South Africa's premier 100-miler through the forests and valleys of KwaZulu-Natal

Directions
DeadlineSeptember 01, 2026
Register
All trail races in South Africa→
September 25, 2026
Friday 8:00pm GMT+2 start
Howick, KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
159 km
Out and Back Course
3,293 m
Elevation Gain
Open Registration
No lottery
No Service Requirement
Does not require trail or volunteer work
No Qualifier
No qualifier race required
Very Challenging
Experienced ultrarunners
Links
WebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTube
2017
Established

What Makes It Great

South Africa's premier 100-mile trail race, the Karkloof 100 Miler loops through the indigenous forests, rolling farmlands, and valleys of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on a fast, runnable out-and-back course. Starting at Karkloof Country Club at 20:00 and turning at the historic Benvie Gardens, runners pass the iconic Karkloof Falls twice and cross through private game reserves and working farmlands accessible only during race weekend. Inspired by the Leadville 100, it balances accessibility with genuine ultra challenge.

Difficulty

Advanced
7/10

Experienced ultrarunners

Night Running
Technical Terrain
Remote Terrain
Variable Weather

Race Highlights

10th anniversary edition
The 2026 race marks a decade of Karkloof — South Africa's most-run 100-miler since its 2017 debut
Western States 100 qualifier
An official qualifier for the 2027 Western States Endurance Run
Colorado-made silver buckle
Sub-24-hour finishers earn a silver buckle crafted by the same maker as Leadville and Western States buckles
Karkloof Falls at night
Runners pass the iconic Karkloof Falls twice — once in darkness on the outbound leg, once in daylight on the return
Private land access
The course threads through working farmlands and game reserves normally closed to the public, including Mbona Game Reserve

Finish Awards

Finisher Belt Buckle
Awarded to every runner who finishes within the 36-hour cutoff. Hard cutoff at 08:00 Sunday with no exceptions.
Silver Finisher's Buckle
Awarded to runners who finish in under 24 hours. Made in Colorado by the same manufacturer as Leadville and Western States buckles.
Finisher's Cap
Every 100 Miler participant receives a finisher's cap regardless of time.

Karkloof 100 Miler

Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaSeptember 25, 2026

September 25, 2026
Course map for Karkloof 100 Miler
DistDistance159 km
GainElevation Gain3,293 m
LimitCutoff36 h
Night RunningRemote TerrainVariable Weather

Entry Timeline

Registration DeadlineSeptember 01, 2026
Race DaySeptember 25, 2026

Lottery

This event uses open registration - no lottery entry required.

Qualifier

This event does not require a qualifier for entry.

Service Requirement

This race does not have a service requirement for entry.
159.0 km
Distance
Out and Back
Route
36h
Cutoff Time
1,172 m
Average Elevation
3,293 m
Total Ascent
3,293 m
Total Descent
1,412 m
High Point
914 m
Low Point
Course map
Launch Course Explorer

Aid Stations

LocationkmElevation
Start
Start
0.01,059 m
Karkloof Falls
Resource
8.11,009 m
Airstrip
Resource
16.21,154 m
Karkloof Country Club
Aid Station
34.41,127 m
Bushwillow Caravan Park
Aid Station
48.51,181 m
Benvie Gardens
Aid Station
79.51,318 m
Bushwillow Caravan Park
Aid Station
110.51,181 m
Karkloof Country Club
Aid Station
124.61,127 m
Airstrip
Resource
142.81,154 m
Karkloof Falls
Resource
150.91,009 m
Finish
Finish
156.9975 m

Sign in to see cutoffs, crew access, drop bags, and services for every aid station.

On-Site Camping Available

On-site camping on the polo fields at Karkloof Country Club with access to ablution facilities and hot showers. R215 per person per night. Glamping packages (3-night, sleeps 2) also available. 100 and 50 Miler entries include 2 nights self-camping. Additional camping available at Bushwillow Caravan Park for 30/20/10 Milers.

Crew Access Points

Pacer Rules

  • Pacers permitted from the turnaround point at Benvie Gardens (checkpoint 5). Each runner may have up to 4 pacers total — 1 included in entry, 3 additional at extra cost. Only 1 pacer may accompany a runner at any given time; swaps happen at major aid stations. Pacers must register between 1 Aug and 1 Sept 2026 and carry the same mandatory gear as runners.

Crew Rules

  • Crew access at Karkloof Country Club (twice), Gatmore (WP), Bushwillow Caravan Park, Msomi Crossing (WP), Mbona Game Reserve, and Benvie Gardens — 12 total access points. Access roads are a mix of tar and dirt passable by standard sedan. Do not seek unofficial spectator points as this risks future land access.
Weather
Rain/Wet Conditions

September is spring in KwaZulu-Natal — afternoon thunderstorms and overnight rain are common. A waterproof jacket is mandatory.

Cold/Hypothermia Risk

Night temperatures in the Karkloof Valley can drop significantly; runners spend 10+ hours in darkness during the September edition.

Gear Rules

Required Gear

No required gear specified

Recommended Gear

No recommended gear specified

Featured Videos

Karkloof 100 Official 2022 After Movie
Karkloof 100 Official 2022 After Movie
Karkloof Trail Run•2022

Reviews

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Register•September 25, 2026