1 · The short answer
The Comrades Marathon 2027 is on Sunday 13 June, the 100th edition. According to the organiser it is a down run, starting in Pietermaritzburg and finishing in Durban, over approximately 90 km. The distance may change and will be confirmed in the Final Race Instructions. Runners have 12 hours from their gun start to finish.
Entries are officially closed for 2027, so this page is for supporters, substitutes and anyone travelling to watch. Supporters spend the day moving between viewing spots along the route and meeting runners at the finish.
Ringo Light's South Africa plan covers the whole country with unlimited data at full speed. It arrives by email and installs in one scan.
Dates: Sunday 13 June 2027, the 100th Comrades Marathon, a down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban of approximately 90 km. Organiser's page
Ringo Light's South Africa plan covers the whole of South Africa: unlimited data at full speed, 2 weeks for $37.99 or 30 days for $66.99, nothing renews. The plan is at ringoesim.com/south-africa, and every brand's price for Cape Town is compared on one day in Best eSIM for Cape Town.
Get Ringo Light for Durban and Pietermaritzburg, from $37.99.
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2 · What happens on race day
The race begins in Pietermaritzburg and ends in Durban. The organiser lists a 12 hour cut-off, timed from the gun, with intermediate cut-offs to be published in the Final Race Instructions. For entries, qualification and any substitution process, use the organiser's site, as these details change.
3 · Getting around
- ✓Flights: King Shaka International Airport serves Durban. Pietermaritzburg is inland, roughly an hour and a half by road from Durban, so many visitors base themselves in Durban.
- ✓Race day roads: Parts of the route are closed to traffic. We did not find road closure details; check the organiser's race information and the local authorities before you drive.
- ✓Ride apps: Uber and Bolt work in Durban. They are harder to find at the finish and on rural stretches, so set a meeting point and agree your pick up in advance.
- ✓Rental car: If you drive the route to watch, leave early, expect closures and keep a map saved offline.
4 · What your phone has to do
- ✓Tracking: Use the organiser's official results and tracking pages to follow a runner; check its site for the current method.
- ✓Maps: Save the route and viewing spots offline. Coverage along the rural stretches between the two cities can be patchy.
- ✓Cashless: Cards and phone payments are widely accepted in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, but small roadside vendors may prefer cash.
- ✓Signal in a crowd: At the finish, thousands of phones share the cells and messages and uploads can lag. Agree a meeting point in advance.
- ✓Load shedding: South Africa has had scheduled power cuts, and some towers lose signal when their batteries run out. Start the day fully charged and carry a power bank.
5 · Keeping your phone safe
Keep your phone out of sight in crowds and in town. Use a car, not the pavement, to check directions, and keep a power bank and a copy of your plans with a friend.
6 · Which plan covers the trip
Ringo Light's South Africa plan covers KwaZulu-Natal, Johannesburg, Cape Town and the rest of the country on one eSIM with unlimited data at full speed. If your trip takes in Eswatini or Mozambique, the Global plan covers the countries on your route.
7 · Frequently asked questions
8 · Sources
- Comrades Marathon (official): comrades.com/race-information
- Durban Tourism: www.durbanexperience.co.za/
- King Shaka International Airport: www.airports.co.za/airports/king-shaka-international-airport
- Ringo Light: prices from the catalogue our checkout charges, on the day you read this.
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