Addo Elephant Trail Race (🏁 19th Mar '26) + Run the Garden Route

Experience Summary

Location:  Garden Route & Western Cape (Cape Town, Tsitsikamma, Wilderness & Stellenbosch)
Recommended Ages: 16+
Trip type: Self-guided road-trip (Sign-up for group tour dates)

This unforgettable road trip is built around the Addo Elephant Trail Race, South Africa’s only ultra run through a Big 5 national park. Warming up with scenic trail runs in Wilderness and Tsitsikamma, you’ll arrive race-ready and immersed in the rhythm of the Garden Route. After conquering Addo, your journey winds through Stellenbosch wine country and ends with a coastal run on the cliffs south of Camps Bay.

Trip Highlights

• Run inside a national park known for elephants, kudu, and spectacular cliffs.
• Warm-up runs in Tsitsikamma Forest and the beaches of Wilderness.
• Explore the Garden Route by campervan, blending trail adventure and wildlife encounters.
• Wind down post-race with boutique vineyards and Cape Town’s most scenic coastal route.

Why Run South Africa 'With-a-Camper'?

🚐 Run More, Pack Less
Travel across the country and run in a wider variety of places — from coastlines to mountain gorges — without the hassle of packing and unpacking at every stop.

🏃 A Basecamp for Every Run
Start and finish each run right at your van. You’ll always have your shower, fridge, gear, and recovery space ready, making it effortless to combine training with exploring.

🌿 Freedom & Adventure
Enjoy the simple joy of campervan life: waking up outdoors, cooking your meals with a view, and experiencing Greece in a more immersive, adventurous way than a hotel stay.

🐘 Wildlife from your lunch table & much more
View Big Five animals at the waterhole as you drive your campervan through Addo Elephant Park. Sleep under the African stars, wake to the sound of waves & stay under the mountains of the Winelands

Featured Trip Highlight

The Addo Elephant Trail Run is South Africa’s only ultra-trail race run through a Big 5 national park, offering distances from 25 miles to 100 miles across rugged, remote terrain. Set in the Eastern Cape’s Addo Elephant National Park, the race combines technical trails, river crossings, and wildlife-rich landscapes. With limited accommodation nearby, many runners opt for camping or campervans at the park’s rest camps or nearby lodges, making it a perfect event for van-based adventure.

Booking this Trip - Self Guided

• Book your campervan rental from Cape Town or Port Elizabeth, prices from €100/night. 
• Book your entry to the trail race choosing from 20k, 50k, 100k or 100 mile, from €48
• Once your campervan is booked, we’ll send you our suggestions on where to run and top tips for an awesome campervan running holiday to South Africa
• Option to add hotel nights in Cape Town to the beginning or end of your trip

See options for your dates here ⇾⇾⇾

Additional Booking Options

🏃 Guided Training Run
Start your trip with a local coach in Addo Elephant Park. Get trail-running tips, insider knowledge, and optional follow-up support during your journey.

👥 Join a Group
We're working on arranging special departures where multiple campervans travel together as a group. Travel in convoy with other campervans for a trip that’s as much about the people as the places. Share the runs, cook together, swap stories under the stars, and build new friendships along the way — all while exploring spectacular routes side by side.

🏆 Running Club Challenge
Multiple clubs take on the same itinerary, turning each run into a friendly competition. Times are tallied over the week for bragging rights and shared celebration at the finish.

✉️ To join the waitlist for these options, email hello@with-a-camper.com