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PAINANI

PAINANI · RUN / LOCAL

69 · Western Cape, South Africa

Ultra-Trail Cape Town

99.1 km from a rugby club in Cape Town: two climbs on Table Mountain and Karbonkelberg in the first 50 km, nine aid stations, 26 hours.

Trail runningLoop
99.1 kmDistance5,000 mElevation gainEpicSite gradeCape TownNearest base

Site grade

EpicFeatured

99.1 km with about 5,000 m of climbing, front-loaded: both big ascents fall inside the first 50 km. The race starts at 04h00 in the dark, the cut-off is 26 hours, and the organiser warns of single-digit temperatures on top of Table Mountain in the early morning and over 30°C later in the day.

The experience

About 5,000 metres of climbing over 99.1 km, with both major ascents inside the first 50 km, a 04h00 start in the dark and 26 hours to finish. The organiser's own warning is the temperature span: single digits on top of Table Mountain at dawn, over 30°C later in the day.

Fourteen people finished the first UT100 in 2014, under a 15-hour cut-off. The cut-off is now 26 hours, and the race keeps a medal — the Originals — for anyone who still breaks fifteen.

The race did not invent running on this mountain. Every Tuesday the Tuesday Trails group meets and runs on Table Mountain; in race week the meeting point is Kloof Corner at 17h45 and the organiser expects more than 300 runners, locals and visitors together. The park itself is a working city park: 22 mammal species, 250 birds, and commuters' dogs on the same paths.

Where the sources disagreeThe organiser publishes two different climbing figures for this course on the same page, 5,000 m and 4,972 m, and two for the 100 miler, 7,187 m and 7,516 m. Read them as approximate. Race day is also not a normal day on this mountain: SANParks opens its own safe-hiking guide with attacks and muggings, advises never hiking alone, and keeps a security hut at the bottom of Platteklip Gorge. Cut-off times exist partly to meet the event's permit conditions, so a marshal turning you back is not negotiable.

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Trail path

The line
you follow.

StartGardens Rugby Club, Cape TownFinishGardens Rugby Club, Cape TownDirectionOut to Hout Bay over Table Mountain and Karbonkelberg, then back around the mountain through the greenbelts
  1. 01Gardens Rugby Club
  2. 02Table Mountain
  3. 03Karbonkelberg
  4. 04Hout Bay
  5. 05Constantia greenbelts
  6. 06University of Cape Town
  7. 07King's Blockhouse
  8. 08Gardens Rugby Club

Route sections

01 · The Front LoadGardens Rugby Club to Hout Bay
The organiser calls the route front-loaded and technical: two significant climbs, Table Mountain and Karbonkelberg, inside the first 50 km. Leaving at 04h00 means climbing the first of them by headtorch.02 · Around the BackHout Bay to the Constantia greenbelts
The course turns away from the Atlantic side and works around the mountain into the greenbelts. Views over Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles are what the terrain pays back.03 · Fast-Flowing ForestGreenbelts to the University of Cape Town
Forest trail, the fastest running of the day, into the aid station at the University of Cape Town. Nine aid stations serve the UT100 and the race is cupless: you carry your own.04 · The Blockhouse TaxUniversity of Cape Town to Gardens Rugby Club
One last climb to the King's Blockhouse puts you back on the contour path. The organiser's own line is that the race village is heard before it is seen.

Weather profile

What the sky
is likely to do.

Late November is southern-hemisphere summer, but the organiser states conditions vary drastically on the same day: single-digit temperatures early on top of Table Mountain, over 30°C in the afternoon. SANParks describes the tablecloth of cloud that pours off the mountain when the south-easter blows, and warns that the mountain is cold and windy above the city even when the city is not.

Season & timing

Managed seasonNone. Table Mountain National Park trails are open year-round. The race runs under an event permit whose conditions govern the cut-off times.Best windowRace weekend is 20 to 22 November 2026. If you are running these trails on your own instead, start at dawn as the races do: the organiser notes that Sunday, the TM35 day, has historically been the hottest of the weekend.Race timing20, 21 and 22 November 2026. PT55 from Llandudno at 07h00 and KS16 from Beau Constantia at 08h30 on Friday, UTCT 100 miler at 17h00 on Friday, UT100 at 04h00 and EX23 at 09h00 on Saturday, TM35 at 06h00 on Sunday, prize giving 13h00 Sunday.SurfaceTechnical mountain single-track, stone-stepped gorge climbs, contour paths, greenbelt and forest trailDirectionOut to Hout Bay over Table Mountain and Karbonkelberg, then back around the mountain through the greenbelts

Signature moments

What you will
remember afterwards.

01

The 04h00 headtorch start at Gardens Rugby Club

02

Table Mountain climbed before sunrise

03

Karbonkelberg above Hout Bay

04

The climb from the University of Cape Town to the King's Blockhouse

05

Tuesday Trails meeting at Kloof Corner in race week

FIRST EDITION

14

Fourteen people finished the first UT100, in 2014

The inaugural 100 km had a 15-hour cut-off and fourteen finishers. The cut-off is now 26 hours and the field is one of the event's most competitive, but the race still gives an Originals medal to anyone who comes home inside fifteen.

Access & logistics

AccessThe race village, registration and the UT100 start and finish are at Gardens Rugby Club in Cape Town; registration runs 10h00 to 19h00 on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 November. Other distances start elsewhere and finish at the club: PT55 at Llandudno, KS16 at Beau Constantia, EX23 at the Alphen Trail. Outside race weekend, a one-way ride down the Table Mountain cableway costs R300 online or R330 at the ticket office on the price list valid 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.PermitsNo SANParks activity permit is needed to run or hike. The permitted activities list covers dog walking, hang gliding, paragliding and sport climbing, horse riding, cycling, line fishing and transport. The race itself runs under an event permit.BookingsEntry required; entries opened 26 February 2026. The UT100 entry fee is R5 495. Entrants to the 100 miler must submit a 50 km-or-longer trail race finish from the previous 24 months by midday on 28 October or forfeit their place.WaterNine aid stations on the UT100. Runners must carry a 300 ml reserve of water at all times and their own cup; the race is cupless and nothing may be carried away from an aid station.FoodTake as much food and drink as you need at each aid station, but no bottles, cans or cups leave with you. Support crews may only help within 100 metres of an aid station.Mobile coverageUnreliable. SANParks states that some parts of the park have no cellphone reception and advises carrying a fully charged phone anyway.DurationNo official duration. The organiser's schedule expects the UT100 winners at 13h30 on Saturday and the last finishers at 05h55 on Sunday.

Key hazards

  • ▲Technical terrain with steep ascents and descents on every distance
  • ▲A temperature swing from single digits to over 30°C inside one race
  • ▲Wildfire: the indemnity lists it, and SANParks began cutting the Circum-Peninsula fire break network in September 2026 ahead of the high-risk season
  • ▲Personal safety — SANParks' safe-hiking guide is written around attacks and muggings in the park
  • ▲Patchy mobile reception; SANParks states some parts of the park have none
  • ▲A cupless race: no cups, bottles or cans leave an aid station
  • ▲Compulsory gear checks with 15 to 30 minute penalties per missing item

SafetyOrientation only. Always use current official maps, alerts and safety guidance. SANParks' own advice for this park is not to walk alone, to tell someone your route and expected return, and to programme the park emergency number 086 110 6417 into your phone before you start.

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Official sources

Last verified 2026-09-16 · Record CETC-RUN-069 · Orientation only. Always use current official maps, alerts and safety guidance.

Photograph: Lovemedead · CC BY-SA 4.0