Cape to Cairo Arusha Marathon races for tourism promotion in the Northern Circuit, June 2025
A full-length cross-country race is debuting in Northern Tanzania, carrying the title of ‘Cape to Cairo,’ and which will see athletes racing 42 kilometers in Arusha, combining sports and tourism.
According to organizers the ‘Cape to Cairo Arusha Marathon,’ is being held in a bold celebration of African unity, cultural pride, and the transformative power of sports tourism.
Tim Mdinka, who coordinates the event, says the maiden Marathon will take center stage on the first day of June, 2025.
The Cape to Cairo Arusha Marathon is a flagship event organized by Sports and Tourism Events (SATE) the same entity which was previously behind the renowned Serengeti Safari Marathon.
This new racing event begs to differ from myriad others that feature only the 21 kilometers races. Cape to Cairo rolls out a full-marathon, with the half-marathon simply thrown in for added effect.
“This marathon is more than just a race; it serves as a dynamic platform for boosting intra-African tourism, unlocking investment opportunities, and marking the official start of the high tourism season in East Africa,” reveals Tim Mdinka.
With this year’s theme, “Promoting Intra-African Tourism through Sports,” the Cape to Cairo Marathon highlights a growing trend: the intersection of sports and adventure as a dynamic force for economic development and cultural exchange.
The Cape to Cairo Marathon will be flagged off from the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium, along Colonel Middleton Road in the Arusha City Center.
The event features a full marathon (42 kilometers), half marathon (21 kilometers), and short-distance races of 10 km and 5 km).
Known as the safari capital of East Africa, Arusha is strategically located between Cape Town, South Africa, and Cairo, Egypt along the great North Road. Especially when the distance is measured from the Clock Tower roundabout junction.
The city serves as a vibrant tourism hub being located near Africa’s highest peak, the Mount Kilimanjaro, East Africa’s most popular wildlife destination, Serengeti, the world’s iconic caldera, the Ngorongoro Crater and the active Oldonyo Lengai Volcano.
To fully harness the potential of the event, the Cape to Cairo Marathon Organizing Committee has planned a series of curated prelude events, offering participants and spectators alike the chance to explore Arusha’s best-kept secrets through city tours, trekking to hidden waterfalls and trips to coffee estates and sampling local markets and Maasai cultural experiences.
During the marathon day, the starting venue will host a vibrant tourism and investment exhibition, where businesses, conservation partners, and destination marketers will showcase their offerings.
The organizers believe it is a rare opportunity to bring the entire tourism value chain into one space, engaging stakeholders from grassroots enterprises to major investors.