When is the Knysna Forest Marathon 2027?

Saturday 3 July 2027. The start is at 07:00.

How do I enter the Knysna Forest Marathon?

The dates for entry for the 2027 race are out. It opens on 25 January 2027 and closes on 23 May. Entry fee: ZAR 350 (for the 2027 race).

What is the time limit at the Knysna Forest Marathon?

Runners have 6 hours to finish.

Knysna Forest Marathon

3 July 2027 Start 07:007:00 AM Knysna, South Africa Entry dates published

Knysna Heads. Photograph by Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Your race weekend

Fri 2 to Mon 5 Jul Knysna, three nights around race day

days
hours
min

To the start, 07:007:00 AM local time

Hotels in Knysna. If you book through this link we are paid a small referral fee; the price you pay is the same either way, and nothing here is ranked by what it pays.

Hotels in KnysnaRace weekend, Fri 2 Jul to Mon 5 Jul
Flights to KnysnaOut Fri 2 Jul, back Mon 5 Jul
Race fuel: 5 gels for your finish, plus a spare The gel we pick, on Amazon
Amazon partner link: we earn a small fee if you buy, the price is the same.

The flight search is filled in for Friday 2 July to Monday 5 July, which you can change there. Every link here opens another company’s site; nothing is booked here.

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Get an email when the date, the entry or the course of the Knysna Forest Marathon changes, and MARATHON NEWS with it.

At a glance

Race day: Sat 3 Jul; The 2027 race
Start: 07:007:00 AM
Distance: 42.2 km26.2 mi; Marathon · Half marathon
Entry: Entry dates published; ZAR 350. For the 2027 race
Time limit: 6 hours

The course

Most of the route runs deep into the Knysna Forest, with views over the estuary and the Knysna Heads in the last kilometres.

Deep in the forest, then the HeadsMostly deep forest, then the estuary and Knysna Heads near the end.
A Comrades qualifier with a 6-hour limitComrades qualifier; cut-off 6 hours (marathon), 3.5 hours (half).
The only way to the start is a taxiTaxis from Vigilance Drive, 04:30 to 06:00; tog bags go to the finish.

Course notes 3 short reads on the course

Whole courseLandmarkDeep in the forest, then the HeadsMostly deep forest, then the estuary and Knysna Heads near the end.

The organiser calls this a trail run like no other: most of the route runs deep into the Knysna Forest, with views over the estuary and even the iconic Knysna Heads, which it offers as a distraction through the last few kilometres.

Sourced

Whole courseTacticsA Comrades qualifier with a 6-hour limitComrades qualifier; cut-off 6 hours (marathon), 3.5 hours (half).

The organiser lists the race as a Comrades qualifier. The cut-off is 6 hours for the 42.2 km and 3.5 hours for the 21.1 km. Drinks and refreshments stand at about 3 km intervals and at the finish, and distance markers are on the right-hand side of the route at every kilometre.

Sourced

Whole courseConditionsThe only way to the start is a taxiTaxis from Vigilance Drive, 04:30 to 06:00; tog bags go to the finish.

No private vehicles are allowed on the route or near the start area in the Glebe, so the organiser’s taxis are the only way to the start. They leave Vigilance Drive from 04:30, the last one at 06:00, and the organiser warns that traffic backs up with runners trying to reach them. A vehicle carries tagged tog bags from the start to the finish venue, where they are available from 10:00.

Sourced

Race weekend

Friday 2 July Bib pickup

10:0010:00 AM–22:0010:00 PM

Registration and number collection Knysna High School Sport Field, Waterfront Drive (main entrance opposite Waterfront Drive). Race number confirmation and photo ID are required; there is no registration or number collection on Saturday morning.

Bib in hand?A number belt holds it without pins through your race top. Clip it on tonight.

Number belt on AmazonAmazon partner link

Saturday 3 July Race day

04:304:30 AM–06:006:00 AM

Taxis to the start leave From Vigilance Drive; the last taxi leaves at 06:00. Private vehicles are not allowed on the route or near the start area in the Glebe.
07:007:00 AM

Marathon start Timing is mat to mat. Free tea, coffee and biscuits for all athletes at the start.
10:0010:00 AM

Tog bags available at the finish A vehicle takes tagged tog bags from the start to the finish venue; collect them in the main registration area.
Time not published

Marathon overall time limit 6 hours. 6:00 limit: 8:31/km for 42.195 km6:00 limit: 13:43/mi for 26.2 mi

Other races (3)

08:008:00 AM

Half marathon start
12:3012:30 PM

Prize giving and lucky draws, 21 km
13:001:00 PM

Prize giving and lucky draws, 42 km Lucky draw winners must be present.

Times as published by the organiser, in Knysna time, checked 15 October 2026. Confirm on their site before you travel.

Add to calendar .ics file, times in Knysna time

Entry

Entry dates published for the 2027 race

As read 15 October 2026. Next: entry opens, 2027 race, 25 January 2027.

Every way in, year by year Entry details on the organiser’s site →

The organiser, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.

Race fuel

Energy gel

5 gels for Knysna, plus 1 spare

Finish

One every 40 minutes, by the clock:

km 7mile 4.4
km 14.1mile 8.7
km 21.1mile 13.1
km 28.1mile 17.5
km 35.2mile 21.8

Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side.

Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.

Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.

Anti-chafe

A small balm stick — Illustration · drag to turn

Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml

An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.

Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.

Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Number belt

Compressport Race Belt

Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.

Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.

Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Electrolytes

A tube of electrolyte tablets — Illustration · drag to turn

SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20

One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.

One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.

Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Blister plasters

Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6

One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.

Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.

Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Questions about the Knysna Forest Marathon

When is the Knysna Forest Marathon 2027?: Saturday 3 July 2027. The start is at 07:00.
How do I enter the Knysna Forest Marathon?: The dates for entry for the 2027 race are out. It opens on 25 January 2027 and closes on 23 May. Entry fee: ZAR 350 (for the 2027 race). Entry details on the organiser’s site
What is the time limit at the Knysna Forest Marathon?: Runners have 6 hours to finish.