Cancelled this Saturday
Saturday 31 October · Reason: Course unsafe or blocked
- Also cancelled Saturday 7 November: Course unsafe or blocked
- Also cancelled Saturday 14 November: Course unsafe or blocked
Parkrun
Cannibals Cave parkrun
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you!
-
South Africa
-
KwaZulu-Natal
- 5 kilometres
- Royal Natal National Park
Meeting point: -28.68292, 28.97678. The interactive map loads with JavaScript. Open the same point in OpenStreetMap.
Coordinates -28.68292, 28.97678.
The course
Course description
Set at the foot of the Mighty Drakensberg Mountains, the wide sweep of the Amphitheatre, flanked by the Sentinel and the Eastern Buttress, towers over 3000 metres into the sky. Considered Africa’s finest mountainscape, this is the backbone of southern Africa. It is fascinating but true that if a raindrop falls on a specific spot on this mountain, one part of it will eventually end up in the Indian Ocean and the other thousands of kilometres away in the Atlantic.
The event takes its name from a local tourist attraction Cannibal Cave. During the Mfakane, Shaka Zulu displaced the local tribe, the Amazizi. They forced to vacate their lands and hide in the mountains. With their crops and livestock taken, the starving survivors resorted cannibalism to survive.
The event commences outside Lizzy’s Store and proceeds towards the Tugela River. Use is made of a footpath adjacent to the cattle grid encountered after having crossed the river and participants then, turn right into ‘Rugged Glen Nature Reserve’, towards the Monte-Aux-Sauces Orion Hotel. This is the location where “Zulu” was filmed (with David Niven), to the turnaround point. Finish the event by following the route back the same way to the starting point.
On the course
The course is 5k long. The course is at Lizzy’s Store, Royal Natal National Park Road, Royal Natal National Park. The course is run entirely on firm ground. Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or signs will be in place.
Please remember that the parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to enjoy the event.
Please, wherever possible walk, jog, cycle or use public transport when attending the event. If you do have to drive, please consider car-sharing to reduce our impact on both the environment and other park users. Please also watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. Parking may be limited so try to arrive early.
Facilities
Please note there are NO toilet facilities available.
More details
Public transport
N/A
On foot
N/A
By road
From Johannesburg or Durban, exit the N3 at Ladysmith / Bergville (R616) offramp, turn south towards Bergville (R616), after 34 kms, turn right on R74 to Harrismith, after 28 kms turn left onto tar road (sign indicates Drakensberg World Heritage Site - Northern), travel for 17 kilometres, Lizzy’s store is on your right, just before the Thukela River Bridge.
Coffee
Every week we grab a post-parkrun coffee: Lizzy's Store. Please come and join us!
We're friendly
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in Lizzy's Store - please come and join us!
Course safety
Cannibals Cave parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the event as safe as possible, so participants, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:
- Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
- Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied (within arm's reach) throughout the event by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent's choice.
- Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
- We invite everyone to consider volunteering at parkrun. Your support helps your parkrun events remain sustainable and free for all in your community, and it’s also a wonderful way to improve your own health and happiness. Please visit the volunteer page for more information.
- Take care near roads and car parks – some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the event, please drive carefully.
- Take care on uneven surfaces – whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other participants, pedestrians, children, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
- Please ensure that you are fit enough to walk, jog, run 5k (3.1 miles) with us.
- If you see someone with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
- If you’re watching, keep clear of participants on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
- It is not permitted to run with a pushchair and a dog at the same time.
- You are welcome to take part with one dog by your side, within reach at all times, on a short, handheld, non-extendable lead. The use of waist harnesses is prohibited. Please also see this Support Site entry for further details about parkrunning with dogs.
- parkrunners pushing buggies are welcome, but please take care of others around you and do your best to start at an appropriate place in the field for your pace.
We hope these tips help to ensure that Cannibals Cave parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.
Age grading
All parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners compare results.
parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners see progress and compare results.
For more information, please see our Support page.
Volunteering
All parkrun events are organised by volunteers - email cannibalscave@parkrun.com to help.
Safeguarding
parkrun is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For our full safeguarding processes and policies please see our Safeguarding Hub.
To report a safeguarding concern please email safeguarding@parkrun.com.
Event stats
- 522
- Events
- 3,575
- Finishers
- 18,856
- Finishes
- 297
- Volunteers
- 1,253
- Personal bests
- 202
- Groups
- 00:35:32
- Average finish time
Nearby parkruns
- Seotlong Agriculture School parkrun Seotlong Agriculture and Hotel School · 28 km
- Harrismith parkrun Platberg Nature Reserve · 48 km
- Clarens parkrun Market Street · 58 km
- Winterton parkrun Winterton · 60 km
- Bethlehem parkrun Bethlehem Christian Centre and Caritas C · 79 km
- Ladysmith parkrun Ladysmith · 79 km
- Ficksburg parkrun Ficksburg Golf & Country Club · 109 km
- Pine Forest parkrun Pine Forest · 109 km
Challenges this parkrun helps with
- Alphabeteer Challenge Starts with C
- Pirates! Starts with C (needed for Pirates!)
- Periodic Table Matches symbols: C, Cl, Ca, Cr, Cu, Cs, …
Parkrun Planner
Line up your Saturdays. Add the parkruns you want to visit, then turn on the challenges you want help finishing.
Suggestions update from your plan and lean towards events near home. Save the weekends on this device, or to your account when you are logged in.
Plan your weekends
Bushy parkrun
High quality prints
Get your parkrun achievements in stunning detail. Choose from digital downloads to print yourself, or opt for our premium professional printing service featuring high-quality glossy paper with deep, vibrant inks for exceptional color depth and clarity.
Available in both A4 and A3 sizes, perfect for framing and displaying your running accomplishments. Every print is crafted with precision to showcase your milestones, challenges, and legends in the finest quality.
Check out our awardsPark5K is not affiliated with parkrun. - last updated 26 October 2026