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The Official Kilimanjaro Marathon 2009
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The 7th Kilimanjaro Marathon, Sunday 1 March 2009
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Situated south of the equator - in Tanzania - at 5 895 metres, this is Africa's highest
mountain and the highest "free standing" mountain in the world. Huge permanent glaciers flow down from
the summit, and the sheer presence of this huge mountain dominates the entire area. An icon in Africa, "Kili
" as she is affectionately known, is one of the sights every person should see at least once in his or her
life.
On 01 March 2009, a standard 42.2 km marathon and a 21.1 km half marathon will be run from the town of Moshi, Tanzania.
This race has been set up to promote the sport in Tanzania, and has the official backing of the Tanzania Tourist
Board, the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association, the IAAF, and is registered with AIMS.
The marathon route leaves Moshi stadium and heads down towards the town, and then along the main road to Dar-Es-Salaam
for approximately 8-9km. This section of the route is relatively flat, and there are plenty of well-wishers along
the road. We turn around and head back to the town of Moshi, tracking down into the actual town itself before turning
toward the mountain and heading up a long, steady ascent towards Mweka. The uphill climb is gradual, but with Kilimanjaro
towering above and all the local villagers out to cheer you on, the time passes quickly. The turnaround point marks
approximately 32km and the last section is a fast downhill run back toward the stadium. Regular water tables as
well as 'sponging points' and the odd 'shower' keep the runners refreshed and cool along the entire route.
The route passes through many small holder farms, villages, parts of town, banana and coffee plantations and patches
of forest, providing great excitement to the residents who give ample vocal support.
For those running the half marathon, the route also starts at the Moshi stadium and after a short section on the
flat, it follows the gradual uphill route to Mweka as per the full marathon - before turning around at approx 10km
to return to the stadium again. The atmosphere in the stadium is electric with local bands playing, entertainment,
crowds of local enthusiasts to cheer the runners, and lots of food and drink for sale.
The logistics of the operation are run by the Kilimanjaro Marathon Club and the members of both the Tanzania Amateur
Athletics Association (TAAA) and the local Kilimanjaro Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA).
Travel arrangements and packages to access the race are being provided by Wild Frontiers, the official tour operator,
a South African, Tanzanian and Ugandan based tour operator, who are experienced in Tanzania travel and logistics
and who are members of the South African Tour Operators Association and ASATA, and who is the largest tour operator
into Tanzania from South Africa.
The race is completely backed up, with twelve water points being provided and manned by local organisations. Crowd
control and traffic control are provided for, as is medical assistance and communications. Official timekeeping
is arranged, as is an official prize giving and function attended by local dignitaries. |
| The Runners |
Interest in this race is extremely high, with both the Tanzanians and Kenyans being
keen to enter teams and individuals. The Athletics Associations of Ethiopia and Uganda are being approached to
enter this race, as well as other countries in the region. The competition to win this race is calling some of
Africas best marathon runners to Tanzania.
This does NOT preclude the social runners, and apart from the excitement of participating in a race in such an
amazing area, with Africa's highest mountain as a backdrop, this race is run in one of the best seasons of the
year for additional travel to Tanzania's famous game parks (the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater - timed to coincide
with the annual migration of over a million wildebeest into the Serengeti - the largest migration of these animals
on the planet!), and to the Spice Island of Zanzibar, famed for it's pristine beaches and scuba diving, or other
areas .
Packages to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro prior to the race, or after the race, will be available, and to visit the parks
etc as above, through Wild Frontiers. |
| The Prizes - 2009 Prizes to be advised. |
2008 Prizes to be advised.
| Place: |
Men & Woman: |
Total (in TSh): |
| 1st |
2,500,000 |
5,000,000 |
| 2nd |
800,000 |
1,600,000 |
| 3rd |
500,000 |
1,000,000 |
| 4th |
300,000 |
600,000 |
| 5th |
250,000 |
500,000 |
| 6th |
150,000 |
300,000 |
| 7th |
100,000 |
200,000 |
| 8th |
80,000 |
160,000 |
| 9th |
60,000 |
120,000 |
| 10th |
50,000 |
100,000 |
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Total in prize money: |
9,580,000 |
2008 Prizes to be advised.
| Place: |
Men & Women: |
Total (in TSh): |
| 1st |
650,000 |
1,300,000 |
| 2nd |
325,000 |
650,000 |
| 3rd |
150,000 |
300,000 |
| 4th |
75,000 |
150,000 |
| 5th |
50,000 |
100,000 |
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Total in prize money: |
2,500,000 |
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| The Media |
| Apart from local print and TV, this race will be covered extensively in South African
and possibly international TV and radio, and of course athletics magazines. The whole event is being filmed by
a contracted company for inclusion in TV channels after the event. SS1; 2 and CSN broadcasted the 2007 full and
half marathon at the beginning of March 2007. |
| The Sponsors |
The main sponsor has been secured as Tanzania Breweries Limited, and the official
sponsor is the Kilimanjaro brand of beer! Other sponsors, to be finally confirmed, will be contributing to the
medals, the watering points and also fully sponsoring their own teams.
Why not sponsor your own team ?? Contact us for more details on travel packages. |
| Community Involvement |
| Currently, projects
in the rural Moshi area are being looked at to develop with funds raised from this project, such as schools and
clinics which the community feels are needed - this is being done with the assistance of Mr Phil Ndesamburo and
local community leaders. The local hospital in Moshi has been selected for this years race, in particular thematernity
ward. |
| Charity Donation |
Wild Frontiers & Keys Hotel and a UK based tour operator are involved with building,
furnishing and where possible stocking a local Moshi school.
The Kiboroloni Primary School has approx 700 pupils, and recently a first phase of the senior wing was built. The
building of the second phase classes
are in the process of being funded this year.
There is a dire shortage of school places in Moshi Region, especially senior school .
In Tanzania, it is often difficult to get hold of good quality books and supplies for schools, and often shortages
mean that children have to share a book between many of them at a time, as such learning may be curbed because
of this.
We would like to suggest, that you may like to take up a reading book, or pens, pencils or crayons, stationery,
etc etc for donating to charity. These items may be new or used, and obviously should be in English (books) - for
any age group. We will have a central collecting point at the Keys Hotel in Moshi,
and they will ensure that all donations are passed directly to the Headmaster of the school - whether it be senior
or primary level. Any books - even National Geographic magazines - will be welcomed.
A small donation of this kind will be greatly appreciated by the pupils and teachers alike.
Please note that this is merely a suggestion - please don't feel compelled to buy books etc, but any donations
would be most welcome. If you would like to visit the school , please ask the reception at Keys to arrange for
you. |
| The Packages |
A "basic" package, consisting of flights Johannesburg / Kilimanjaro / Dar
es Salaam / Johannesburg on Air Tanzania, transfers to and from the airport, the race entry and the medals/T- shirts
etc, 3 nights hotel accommodation in Moshi and 1 night accommodation in Dar es Salaam, returning to Johannesburg
can be viewed in our Travel Packages section.
A package will also be available ex Nairobi for international guests entering East Africa here, and for runners
arriving in Kilimanjaro from Europe.
All packages can be viewed at Travel Packages. |
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Contact: Wild Frontiers (Pty) Ltd
Registered Member of SATOA (SA Tour Operators Association)
P.O. Box 844
Halfway House 1685
South Africa
Tel: (011) 702 2035
Fax: (011) 468 1655
Email : reservations@wildfrontiers.com
Websites: www.wildfrontiers.com
www.vicfallsmarathon.com
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