THE SIERRA LEONE MARATHON AND CYCLE CHALLENGE

The Sierra Leone Marathon will take place in October 2026. 5-night packages run between Wednesday October 21– Monday October 26, 2026. Beach add-ons are available on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28.

Terms and conditions can be found here.

All distances (whether the marathon, half marathon, 10km or 5km or cycling challenge) will take place around a city called Makeni, the economic center of northern Sierra Leone and the capital of Bombali District. It lies about 120 miles east (a 2-3 hour drive) of Freetown.

Races will start early to avoid the worst of the sun, usually around 6am on Sunday October 25, 2026.

The Sierra Leone Marathon takes place on some seriously stunning routes, with a mixture of epic trails down hard-packed mud roads and gentle glides along the tarmac roads passing through the neighboring villages. You will explore parts of Sierra Leone that not many other people get to see, including the jungles surrounding Makeni and the vibrant backstreets leading to the finish line.

You can register for the Sierra Leone Marathon 2026 here.

An experienced team of Street Child’s UK and local staff will be organising the event along with other volunteers from UK and Sierra Leone.

We ask participants to check and understand any travel restrictions including COVID-19 requirements, risks associated with Mpox and requirements regarding leaving and re-entering your country of residence. Street Child can provide support on this. Please see the US government's advice on travelling to Sierra Leone here.

• Regular water stations (some with re-hydration sachets/food/drinks)

• Fixed and mobile medical support

• Sports marshals and Street child staff cheering you on

• Live music at certain points

Other than covering your costs to take part, we ask that you raise as much as you can! We ask every participant to commit to fundraising a minimum of $2,000 per person.  

Street Child's experienced fundraising team and mentors will work with each participant to ensure they reach and hopefully exceed this target. Part of your experience is to see where your money will go and meeting some of the children we have already helped. 

The cost of your package covers accommodations, transportation, food and race entry. Street Child does not profit from the cost of the package. Note that the money you spend on your package goes into supporting the local economy - we buy from local food vendors, hotels and many more local enterprises.

All in-country transportation is provided, including travel to and from the airport in Sierra Leone.

If you are interested in arranging a private transfer please request this on your booking form and a member of the team will be in touch.

Unless you have a West African (ECOWAS) passport you will need a visa to enter Sierra Leone. It is best to apply as early as possible. It is best to apply for a single-entry visa which costs $80. Please follow this link to apply Sierra Leone Immigration eVisa Website.

Please read the FAQs for full information about entering Sierra Leone https://www.evisa.sl/#/faq?redirect_uri=%2Fform%2F1025050813184438618

You will also need to purchase a security pass for airport transfers from https://securipass.sl/. This will cost $25 each way.

See a doctor about this at least 6-8 weeks before travel to obtain the appropriate advice.

Unless you traveled recently to a similar destination you will need a vaccination for yellow fever - THIS IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY - and anti-malarial medication. Also consider updates to your measles and polio vaccinations.

Check out the CDC's site for more advice about vaccinations and precautions before travelling at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/sierra-leone

Please bring your yellow fever certificate with you to Sierra Leone. 

This is the responsibility of every individual participant. Make sure you are covered for sporting events of this nature and that it covers Sierra Leone. We ask that you make sure you are personally covered for your trip and will not allow you to take part in the event without travel insurance. 

Bring cash, with a debit or credit card as a back-up; access to ATMs and use of cards are extremely limited and ATMs are unreliable. Dollars are easily changed and often accepted.

Big denominations of cash get better rates but avoid pre-2006 series USD as they are rejected by many businesses and some banks.

We offer a range of travel packages from local guesthouses to hotels depending on your preferences. Packages (non-inclusive of flights and visa) include all meals, in-country travel, race entry and medical support. 

• Flashlight and spare batteries

• Umbrella and a rain coat

• Mosquito repellent with 50% DEET

• Favorite snacks

• Anti bacterial hand sanitizer 

• Face coverings

• Printed proof of all required vaccinations and other essential documentation

• Mosquito net (a double one is recommended as there are few single beds) and a sleeping bag liner

• Swim clothes - cover up as much as possible for cultural reasons and mosquitos!

• Towel

• Consider bringing a phone whose SIM you can switch out - this will be cheaper than using your US phone even if you have a travel plan

• Rehydration salts (Pedialyte)

• Imodium - your digestive system is likely to be a bit unsettled so prepare in advance!

• Insect bite cream

• Antiseptic cream and band-aids

• Cards, games and other activities for the evenings (electricity is not guaranteed)

• Money belt (not essential but a good idea)