Mnweni Mountain Marathon

Mnweni, the place of fingers, is located between the Royal Natal National Park and the Cathedral range in the heart of the Drakensberg escarpment. In years past, this stretch of the Drakensberg was affectionately seen by hardy mountaineers as remote and treacherous as the paths are long and steep. The terrain is mountainous and the weather unpredictable. The Mnweni Marathon was born in the midwinter of 2000 when trail-running legend Bruce Arnett and friend Mark Tannian pioneered the original route of this race. Starting their hike in clear sunny weather from Isandhlwana Police Station and ending about 50km and a raging blizzard later, at Club Maluti. Today's full marathon route is popularly termed the Mnweni Circuit and ascends the magnificent Mnweni Pass, crosses over the short Mnweni Cutback on the escarpment and then descends the steep Rockeries Pass to finish back at the Cultural Centre. Shorter distances complete variations of this route.