A global race with a local ethos
We’ve climbed 12km on the road and the same again on the forested mountain trail on the Kilimanjaro Trail Ultra that forms the beginning of the Lemosho route up Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. At 3200m I’m feeling the altitude, my legs aren’t doing what they’re told as I negotiate the boulders that scatter the sandy path winding through the heather and grasses. Another runner appears behind me and asks if I’m eating and drinking ok. I assure her I am and she power hikes past (she’s a veteran of this race doing the 65km route while I’m on the 50km).
Photo credit: Ignas Lyimo
One of the porters I passed earlier as I went through groups starting their mountain ascent, jogs along behind me, laughing ‘no pole pole’ – I’ve already complained to him that I’ve forgotten to pack my poles and ‘pole pole’ means ‘slowly slowly’ in Swahili. I have to smile, I’m not the one carrying 25kg on my back! One of my race mantras when things get tough is ‘laugh and look up’; don’t focus on your feet but look beyond the race to the trees, the sky, anything to put your miserably crawling self in perspective. In the Kilimanjaro Trail Ultra no mantra is necessary; as I round the corner at the top of the climb the mountain is right there before me. I stop for a good reason this time, to stand and stare at Kilimanjaro. A dormant volcano and the world’s largest free-standing mountain at 5,895 meters (19,341 ft), it looks like a giant’s picnic table.
Photo credit: Eli’sWild
Running down towards Shira plateau, energy rushes back into my body and I hit the 28km checkpoint feeling buoyant. For the next few kilometers across the plateau the terrain is rather like the UK trails I’m used to; technical singletrack with a few steep stream crossings. The mountain is in view the whole time; we’re blessed to see it so clearly as the weather can change rapidly with cloud descending and high windchill at times. At the next checkpoint hot food and a seat in the dining tent is on offer and I enjoy pasta and a cup of tea. Brett Harrison, the race director of the Kilimanjaro Trail Ultra, who keeps a sharp eye on every aspect of the event, tells me I’m first female. I don’t believe him – I’m usually a mid-pack runner and I’m here to soak in the experience (and chill at the checkpoints). But the field for each race is small and with three ultra distances (50km, 65km and 75km) that runners can switch between on course, it’s hard to know what place you’re in.
I tell myself this will never happen again and put some effort into the downhill, a joyful stretch of fire road passing lush forest then farmland. For the first time in my racing history I’ve been told to look out for elephants. A marshall assures me I don’t have to worry but I find myself scanning warily nonetheless. On the final road section the sun is relentless and my legs are flagging but I stumble into the race village in the stunning grounds of Simba Farm Lodge to a very welcome cold juice. The Kilimanjaro Trail Ultra has been a kaleidoscopic experience – since setting off at 5am we’d seen the sun rise to the dawn calls of Colobus monkeys, run through three ecological zones (the 75km also takes in the arctic desert zone) and been spoilt with a view of the snow-topped peak beneath clear skies.
Photo credit: Eli’sWild
Endurance Sport for Development
The ethos and history of the race, established by Red Knot Tanzania, are rooted in development, supporting education-based initiatives in agriculture, livelihoods, and sport. Brett and his wife arrived in Tanzania from the US in 2009 as development workers, raising their family in the rural area of Geita. Brett became frustrated by the need for constant fundraising and being at the mercy of Western donors. When a friend asked what his dream job would be he realised he was already doing it – ‘I love community development in Africa, but I would fund it through business’ Brett told him. Removing the stress of finding funding was his ideal, but back then Brett knew nothing about business.
The friend pushed him to find a solution in something else he loves; endurance racing. The seed was sown and Red Knot Racing was founded in 2012, connecting his passion for triathlon and ultrarunning to Tanzania’s spectacular landscapes. In 2018 they put on their first race, a five-day mountain bike epic. They now organise Traverse Tanzania (5-day races in the back country in mountain biking, gravel riding and running) and Kilimanjaro Trails Festival, a locally-focused and affordable celebration of running; hosted every February it has grown from 120 people in 2019 to over 1200 in 2025 with 10 different races for all ages, music, dancing and volleyball.
Photo credit: Eli’sWild
The Kilimanjaro Trail Ultras (50km, 65km, 75km), that I took part in, and the half marathon, that my friend Kate enjoyed hiking despite an ankle injury, were established in 2021 and take place in August. Red Knot’s aim is to introduce people to parts of the country that see fewer tourists – West Kilimanjaro, though easily accessible from the airport, is the quieter side of the national park while the bike races visit Lake Natron and other lesser known regions, making use of existing trails and taking care to limit impact on the environment. They take the mission for ‘the sustainable integration of endurance racing, tourism, and social good’ seriously.
Red Knot Tanzania is now a fully-fledged social enterprise supporting over 1000 kids in running clubs that also teach life skills, goal setting and train children’s run coaches across East Africa. They’ve established a cycling team and have begun working with Athletics Tanzania. Ernest, one of the coaches, says that the kids get a lot from the clubs, coming back because they feel valued. He reflects, ‘it’s not just about running … it’s about so much more than that. The running bit, really, as a physical activity, is just a platform for teaching how a focus or an awareness of intent can really build capacity … but then of course it’s also exercise, which is good itself.’
Photo credit: Eli’sWild
This appreciation of the simple goodness of running feeds into the Red Knot racing community too. Brett emphasises that the involvement of both local communities and the national park service is key to developing a trail scene that is ethical and sustainable, attracting people to add sports onto safari or work trips and to venture beyond the busiest routes. Adventure sports are still in their infancy in Tanzania and across East Africa, but interest is growing as people gravitate from road runs to the trails and Red Knot are leading the way, from coaching kids to sponsoring Tanzanian runners to enter their ultras.
A Local-Global Trail Community
Chatting on the veranda and round the pool at Simba farm, runners and supporters appreciate the relaxed atmosphere. There’s an intimacy to the event that Annie, a longstanding competitor who lives in Arusha, says keeps her coming back (along with the delicious food in the race village). She often runs with her friend Krissie and this year they’re taking on the 65km ultra, gravitating from the 50km and the uphill and downhill marathons (thankfully now discontinued as the race has adapted to runner feedback – the scenic half is certainly more appealing!).
Photo credit: Eli’sWild
Another local, Sune, is racing the Kilimanjaro Trail Ultra for the fifth year, making the day trip from Arusha. He came to running from basketball and finds trail running less relentless than road racing, praising the brilliant organisation of the team at Red Knot and noting the increasing enthusiasm for running across the country; from churches to charities everyone seems to have a race happening.
There’s a wide-ranging international field too; Koji, from Japan, has made the most of a solo mountain training camp, exploring the various routes from Simba Farm for a week prior to undertaking the 75km. Farah, a UNICEF worker from Lebanon living Tanzania for twelve months, has been documenting her running and weight loss journey to her growing following on social media. The 50km race will be her most technical course so far. For Shaun and his partner Tal from Florida, the 75km race is part of an adventurous holiday.
Tal, a seasoned crew member and supporter, tells me emphatically that she doesn’t like running herself, but they’ve made the most of the local area, visiting waterfalls and national parks. Shaun chose the race because he loves smaller more niche events. I hear the same thing from many runners – these races are a tough challenge but without any corporate fuss. Guy, a South African now living in Nairobi, agrees that the simplicity of the event makes it a more relaxed experience than the longer or multi-day ultras on the scene. Having previously won the 65km, this year he has focused on speed training and is gunning for the 50km course record (which he goes on to smash in style).
Photo credit: Eli’s Wild
For others, the race is part of a longer trip. A group of Dutch runners have already completed a climb of Kilimanjaro for the Cold Ember project. Their mission is to combine adventure travel with positive impact, providing gear and support for the porters who often climb with sub-par equipment. After summitting with the 25kg weight the porters take on each climb, the team are here for a second challenge, mimicking the relentless physical challenge of ‘those who never stop’. Mees completes the 75km and when I catch up with him after he’s limping and on his way to speak to the medic – he’s close to the limits he’s been looking for but seems elated. Another runner in his party, Belin, is still sprightly after winning the Sunday half marathon and breaking the course record in a jaw-dropping 2:08. A triathlete, she’s impressed with the smooth organisation and the awesome setting for what is her first ‘proper’ trail race.
We reluctantly pack up to leave colourful grounds of Simba farm, full of plants we can only grow indoors in the UK. Our tented accommodation was extremely comfortable (we figured it’s worth paying the extra for camp beds as getting off the floor might have been a challenge!) and we had use of the bathrooms and showers in the lodge. There are other local accommodation options, though most runners stay at Simba farm, some pitching their own tents on the campsite next door. As I make the post-ultra stumble to the car, I’m grateful for a rare racing experience; meeting the people who make this event unique and running alone beneath the roof of Africa was an incredible privilege. From what I’ve seen so far, trail and ultrarunning in Tanzania has a wildly exciting future.
Photo credit: Ignas Lyimo
The Races
50k – 2225m, highest point 3510m
65k – 2565m, highest point 3850m
75k – 3050m, highest point 4170m
Terrain: montane forest, alpine heather and moorland, arctic desert
Getting there: 1.5 hours from Kilimanjaro International Airport, 1.5 hour drive from Arusha, 5 hour drive from Nairobi, 8 hour drive or short flight from Dar Es Salaam. The 2026 dates haven’t been announced yet but watch this space!
