Kilimanjaro Trails Festival
About this race
Kili Trails Fest is a four-day celebration of the outdoors at Simba Farm, on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Join us for trail running, mountain biking, camping, food and live music.
In 2027, the Kilimanjaro Trail Run ultramarathons join the festival, bringing three high-altitude races into Kilimanjaro National Park.
You don’t have to race to join us. Bring your family and friends, cheer on the runners and riders, grab a bite from one of our food vendors and catch live music from local artists. Come for the day or pitch a tent and stay for the whole festival.
Simba Farm, West Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
(2°59'14.2"S 37°04'56.9"E | -2.987276, 37.082484)
Festival entry and camping
Buy a Full Festival Pass online in advance for Thursday through Sunday, or pay for Day Entry at the gate for each day you’d like to attend. Both options include camping.
Race registration and festival entry are purchased separately, except for the Kilimanjaro Ultras, which include a Full Festival Pass and camping.
See pass prices and camping details
Discounts and vouchersGroup discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. Tanzanian and Kenyan citizens and East African residents qualify for discounts on the Kilimanjaro Ultras. Tanzanian and Kenyan citizens can also receive a voucher at packet pickup for select festival races.
See eligibility and how to claim your discount or voucher
Payment optionsPay online through RunSignup by credit or debit card, or use Apple Pay when available at checkout.
If you prefer to pay by mobile money, follow our payment instructions before starting your registration. Mobile money payments incur a 5% processing surcharge plus 18% VAT.
See mobile money payment instructions
*Kilimanjaro Trails Festival is produced by Red Knot Racing Co.
Pick your distance
Running
Non-Racer Attending
Coming to the festival without entering a race? Select this option to buy a Full Festival Pass at checkout. The pass covers Thursday through Sunday and includes camping on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. If you’re coming for individual days, pay for Day Entry at the gate. Day Entry includes camping the night before and/or after your visit.
Forest Trails Run (10K)
Run or walk 10 kilometres, mostly through West Kilimanjaro Forest, with approximately 230 metres of climbing. Carry your own water, as there are no water or feed stations on the course.
Rafiki Run (1.5K)
A 1.5 kilometer loop run entirely within view of the race village -- for ages 12 & under (older children and parents / adults are welcome to join without registration or race numbers). Race numbers / finisher medals limited to ages 12 & under. There will be no podium prizes for this event, only finisher medals.
Swala Sprint (5K)
A 5-kilometer loop run entirely on Simba Farm property | 100 meters climbing | no feed zones | walkers welcome, suitable for most ages
Trail running
Kilimanjaro Ultra 75K
Climb from Simba Farm to Moir Camp at 4,170 metres before descending via the Shira rescue road. With approximately 3,050 metres of climbing, this is the highest and most demanding of the Kilimanjaro Ultras. For experienced mountain ultrarunners. Registration includes a Full Festival Pass and camping.
Kilimanjaro Ultra 65K
Run from Simba Farm to Cathedral Point at 3,850 metres and back, crossing farmland, rainforest and high-altitude moorland. The course gains approximately 2,565 metres and is suited to experienced runners prepared for sustained climbing and changing mountain weather. Registration includes a Full Festival Pass and camping.
Kilimanjaro Ultra 50K
Climb from Simba Farm to Shira 1 on Kilimanjaro’s Shira Plateau at 3,510 metres, then descend to the festival village. The course gains approximately 2,225 metres. Strong hikers are welcome if they can finish within the 13½-hour cutoff. Registration includes a Full Festival Pass and camping.
Kili Trails Half Marathon (21K)
Run a 21-kilometre singletrack loop through old-growth forest in West Kilimanjaro, with approximately 620 metres of climbing. The course has two basic feed zones and one water-only point.
Kili Trails 6-Hour Ultra
Complete as many full laps of a 5-kilometre course as you can in six hours. Enter solo or as a relay team. Results are based on completed laps, and a fully stocked feed zone is available after each lap. Relay rules: Standard teams have three runners. A fourth runner is allowed if at least one team member is under 15 or over 55. Five runners are allowed if every team member is under 15 or over 55. No runner may run two consecutive laps. Teams can otherwise choose their running order.
Mountain biking
Kili Trails XCM (70K)
A 70-kilometre cross-country marathon for experienced, self-sufficient mountain bikers and gravel riders. The route passes through Elerai village, climbs gravel roads into West Kilimanjaro Forest and descends on singletrack to Simba Farm. Expect approximately 1,400 metres of climbing, a Le Mans start, two feed zones and enforced course cutoffs. E-bikes are welcome.
West Kili Forest XC (40K MTB)
A 40-kilometre mountain bike race on gravel roads and forest singletrack, with approximately 880 metres of climbing and one feed zone. It’s designed for riders with good endurance who want a shorter race than the XCM. E-bikes are welcome. Part of the route uses a main road open to traffic.
Simba Farm XCC (4.5K)
The most exciting race of the weekend, our Cross-Country Short Course is 3 high speed laps on a 1.5 kilometer loop entirely within view of the race village | this crowd-pleasing 4.5-kilometer event is designed for children and beginners | this event will be run in heats
Masawanga Mini XCO (10K)
Ride one 10-kilometre lap of the Masawanga XCO course through Simba Farm and West Kilimanjaro Forest, with approximately 230 metres of climbing. It’s a good challenge for determined beginners. There are no feed zones on the course.
Masawanga XCO (20K)
Ride two 10-kilometre laps linking Simba Farm with singletrack in West Kilimanjaro Forest. Expect approximately 470 metres of climbing. You can access your personal bag after the first lap. There are no feed zones on the course. E-bikes are welcome.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Results — Kilimanjaro Trails Festival
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
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