Knysna Forest Marathon Knysna, South Africa   Jul 4, 2026

The Knysna Forest Marathon features many unique highlights that cannot be found in any other trail run in the world. True to its name, most of the route runs deep into the Knysna Forest with breathtaking views over the estuary and even the iconic Knysna Heads, a great distraction to get you through those last few kilometers.

The race offers several unique highlights found in no other race anywhere in the world. Much of the run takes place deep in the forest with a breath-taking view over the Knysna lagoon into The Heads, for inspiration towards the finish. One race tip is to start slow.

Although no one taking part has ever seen the elusive Knysna elephants, little piles of dung sometimes seen on the route are a reminder that they do inhabit the forest, somewhere. Keeping this pristine environment in mind and the potential impact of the race on it, all runners share rides into the forest provided by local taxis to the race start in a clearing in the forest, where runners arriving early are also treated to hot drinks and snacks next to warming fires.