Three marathons. Three nations. One week. Run Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in a fully guided group expedition across the Sahel. 30 October – 7 November 2026.

FULL EVENT DESCRIPTION:

THE TRIPLE SAHEL CHALLENGE
Mali → Burkina Faso → Niger
30 October – 7 November 2026

There are marathons, and then there are journeys that redefine what running means to you. The Triple Sahel Challenge belongs to the second category.

This is a fully escorted, group-based expedition through three of West Africa’s most captivating nations. You will run a full marathon in Bamako, Mali; a full marathon in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; and a full marathon in Niamey, Niger all within a single week. Between races, you’ll explore ancient empires, bustling markets, and the stark, unforgettable beauty of the Sahel.

The group stays together. The group travels together. The group crosses the finish line together, three times.

THE THREE MARATHONS

Each race has been designed for safety and intimacy, with courses chosen to immerse you in the spirit of the city while keeping the group together.

🇲🇱 1 November – The Joliba Marathon | Bamako, Mali

Joliba. The great river. The lifeblood of Mali.

Your first marathon unfolds on an enclosed street running parallel to the legendary Niger River. This is an out-and-back course, flat and fast, with the river glinting close by and the Bamako skyline rising beyond. The route lets you find your rhythm without traffic or crossings, just the cadence of your feet and the knowledge that you are running beside the same waters that carried the empires of Ghana and Mali into history.

The Joliba Marathon is not just a race. This is  a conversation with the river that shaped a civilisation.

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🇧🇫 3 November – The Bangr-Weoogo Marathon | Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Bangr-Weoogo. Forest of knowledge. The green heart of Ouagadougou.

Deep inside Ouagadougou’s beloved urban park, you’ll run an out-and-back course shaded by neem and eucalyptus. This protected natural reserve is a sanctuary within the city. A place where birdsong replaces traffic noise and the trail unrolls through one of West Africa’s most cherished green spaces.

The Bangr-Weoogo Marathon offers something rare: a marathon that feels like a retreat. You’ll share the path with the quiet of the forest, the occasional glimpse of wildlife, and the steady presence of your fellow challengers. This is a run of stillness and strength in the centre of a vibrant capital.

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🇳🇪 6 November – The Boubou Hama Marathon | Niamey, Niger

Boubou Hama. The museum at the crossroads of the Sahel.

Your final marathon is unlike any you’ve ever run. Set entirely within the grounds of Niger’s National Museum, named after the philosopher and writer Boubou Hama. This is a loop course that winds past traditional pavilions, craft workshops, and open-air exhibits celebrating the cultures of Niger. Each lap is a journey through history, art and Sahelian identity.

The loop format creates a festival atmosphere where your fellow runners are never far away, encouragement is constant and the finish line feels like it arrives just as the museum reveals its last secret. This is the Boubou Hama Marathon, the closing chapter of your Triple Sahel story.

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A NOTE ON THE COURSES

All three races are run on enclosed, traffic-free courses. The races are not about speed, they are about presence. You’ll have the time, the space and the safety to absorb every kilometre. The Triple Sahel Challenge is designed so you can focus fully on the experience, knowing the logistics and security have been carefully handled.

WHY A GROUP TOUR?

Because the region demands a group tour and because shared adventure is better. This challenge is designed as a single, unified tour group:

· The entire group stays in the same accommodations.
· The group moves together between countries via private ground transport and scheduled flights. 
· You’ll never navigate a border crossing, an airport transfer or a race morning alone.

Safety, camaraderie and simplicity are built into every day.

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WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR  RACE REGISTRATION FEE

· Entry to all three marathons
· Official finisher medals for each country
· Race timing and on-course support

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR $3700 ADVENTURE  PACKAGE FEE

· All ground transportation as per the itinerary (airport transfers, city tours, race-day transport)
· Domestic flights: Bamako → Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou → Niamey
· Services of local guides
· 8 Nights accomodation and Breakfasts in Bamako, Ouagadougou and Niamey 

A complete logistical guide, visa support, and packing advice will be provided to every registered participant.

WHAT’S EXCLUDED IN YOUR $3700 ADVENTURE  PACKAGE FEE

International flights to Bamako and from Niamey, visas,  lunch and dinner are additional. 

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WHO THIS IS FOR

This challenge is for the runner who wants more than a medal. This is for country collectors chasing every nation on earth. This is  for adventurers who understand that the best stories come from the road less travelled. And this is  for anyone who believes that running can be a bridge to understanding a place and its people.

You don’t need to be fast. You need to be ready.

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REGISTRATION

Registration opens on the 5th of July 2026.
Spaces are strictly limited to maintain the group experience and ensure seamless logistics across all three countries. Once the group is full, registration closes. This  is not an event with unlimited slots.

Non Refundable Race Registration Fee

Secure your place early. This is the kind of challenge that fills through word of mouth before it ever hits a search engine.

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A FINAL WORD

Marathons in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are not offered every year. The opportunity to run all three, together, in one seamless week, may never come again. If you feel the pull of the Sahel, answer it.

Join the Triple Sahel Challenge, Run the story no one else has.

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