The Race
| Next Race Date | 1 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Course Type | To be Confirmed |
| Registration | Open |
| Ballot Opens | Not applicable |
| Total Finishers | To be Confirmed |
| Average Race Day Temperature | To be Confirmed |
| Cutoff Time | To be Confirmed |
| Free Race Day Transport | To be Confirmed |
| Course Certification | To be Confirmed |
Plan the river crossing
The start is at Bonassama, across the Wouri from Akwa and Bonanjo. Book a driver for race morning, and ask the organiser for the gun time, the finish location and the kit-collection hours.
History
The Marathon International de Douala is organised by Tara Sports & Entertainment. The first race was in 2017, when Shadrack Kipkogey won the marathon in 2:18:56 and Too Mercy won the women’s race in 2:50:18. The 2025 festival was postponed and the full marathon ran on 30 November 2025. Justilin Foimi won in 2:35:40 and Claire Prudence Mambeke won the women’s race in 2:56:57. About 200 full-marathon competitors were reported in 2025, with larger numbers in the shorter events. That is a reported field and not a finisher count.
The organiser calls the 2026 event the ninth festival.
The course
The organiser’s route list starts at Bonassama, on the north-west bank of the Wouri, and crosses the river towards the Deido roundabout. It runs into central Akwa past the Akwa Palace hotel, the cathedral, Pont Joss and the Poste Centrale. It then loops through New Bell and Mboppi, heads north-east through Bépenda and Bonamoussadi and returns through Akwa Nord and Deido. A second pass through central Akwa leads to a loop through Bonanjo, Bali, Bonapriso and Manga Bell. The list ends with the Salle des fêtes d’Akwa and MRS Beach and gives the finish as Place de la Bessèkè. The map has no date, scale or kilometre markers, so distances, surfaces, gradients and road closures are not known. Check with the organiser before you plan.
Start, Bonassama and the Wouri crossing. The start is on the Bonassama side, at the northern end of the Wouri crossing. The list names the Wouri bridge and the Deido roundabout next.
Central Akwa, first pass.Akwa Palace, the cathedral, Pont Joss, Kenyan Airways, the Poste Centrale, the Governor’s office, the French consulate, the Hôtel Sawa and the Marché des fleurs.
New Bell and Mboppi.Avenue de l’Indépendance, Shell New Bell, Carrefour Nkoulouloun, the Marché des planches and Marché Mboppi.
North-east loop. Carrefour AGIP, Bépenda, the Axe lourd Bépenda and Bonamoussadi, where the list names Sable Bonamoussadi.
Return through Akwa Nord and Deido. Terminus Akwa Nord, the Nouvelle Route Bonabassem, the Rive Deido pharmacy, Boulevard de la Réunification and Boulevard de la Liberté.
Central Akwa, second pass. The list repeats the Kristal hotel, the cathedral, Pont Joss and the Poste Centrale.
Southern loop. Lycée Joss, the Ecole Américaine, Bali, Bonapriso, Montagne Manga Bell and the Nouvelle Route Bonadibong.
Finish approach.The Salle des fêtes d’Akwa, the former Sonel building in Akwa and MRS Beach, then the finish at Place de la Bessèkè. Distances, surfaces and closures are not published.
Map
No route line is drawn, because no course file has been published. The map marks the start area on the Bonassama side of the Wouri and the Salle des fêtes d’Akwa, where kit collection is announced, so the river crossing between them is visible. Tap a marker for details.
What to wear
November is hot and humid in Douala. Monthly climate averages for 1992 to 2021 give a mean low of 24 and a mean high of 31 degrees, humidity around 88 per cent and about 160 mm of rain. Those are monthly averages and not a start-time figure. Plan for heat, very high humidity and a chance of rain.
Entry
Tickets are sold through Orange Cameroun, using Max it or Orange Money. One listing for Saturday’s festival events gave 5,000 FCFA for local entrants and 10,000 FCFA for international ones, about £6.38 and £12.75 at XAF 784.151 to the pound (29 October 2026). That listing was for the shorter races, so confirm the marathon fee before paying. The currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which is a different currency from the West African franc used in Benin and Côte d’Ivoire.
A doctor’s certificate is required. Kit collection is announced at the Salle des fêtes d’Akwa from 29 October 2026, and no hours were published. No ballot, qualifying time, age limit, refund, transfer or deferral terms were found.
For UK passport holders, FCDO says a visa is required before travel and is not available on arrival. The passport must be valid for six months and proof of yellow-fever vaccination is needed. TravelHealthPro lists malaria risk. FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Limbé and the N3 corridor and against most of the South-West, including Buea, so do not add those places to a race trip.
Fast Runner / GFA Standards
No ballot, qualifying time or guaranteed-entry route has been found.
Race Weekend
Expo
Kit collection is announced at the Salle des fêtes d’Akwa from 29 October. No opening hours have been published, and the day before the race is a busy time to find out. Bring your ticket or confirmation, photo identification and your doctor’s certificate, and ask the staff for the start time, the bag arrangements and the finish location.
Getting to the Start
The start is at Bonassama, on the far side of the Wouri from Akwa and Bonanjo. The gun time has not been confirmed. Ask the organiser, then arrange a driver the night before, because the river crossing makes the start the one part of the day you cannot walk to from a central hotel. Ask your hotel when breakfast starts. Leave valuables at the hotel.
Nutrition on Course
No aid-station table has been published for the marathon, so the positions of water and food are not known. Carry the fuel you have trained with.
Spectating
No spectator zones have been published, and the route map has no markers to plan from. Agree a meeting point near your hotel and a backup time, and ask the organiser where the finish is.
Post-Race Food
No finish-area meal has been confirmed. Le Bistro at Hôtel Akwa Palace and Kotcha at K Hotel in Bonanjo are on-site options. Check Sunday hours and book a flexible table.
Where to Stay
The start is across the Wouri at Bonassama, so a central address does not mean a short walk to the start. Choose a hotel for its facilities and book a transfer for race morning.
Bonanjo
Bonanjo has the best-checked hotel shortlist, ibis, ONOMO and K Hotel, and the Maritime Museum.
Akwa
Akwa has the Akwa Palace and the Krystal Palace and is where kit collection is announced.
Recommended hotels
Bonanjo address confirmed on the operator’s page.
Bonanjo address confirmed.
Kotcha restaurant on site.
Le Bistro on site. Near the kit-collection hall.
Akwa base. Return transfer needed for the start.
Booking timeline
The race is two days away, so check your hotel’s cancellation terms and your visa first. After that, arrange a driver for the start, confirm early food and agree late checkout. Check kit collection hours with the organiser.
See & Do
Three places in Bonanjo, all close to the central hotels.
Musée Maritime de Douala, Bonanjo
On rue de l’Hôpital. Published hours are Tuesday to Friday 09:00 to 17:30 and weekends 12:00 to 17:30, and adults pay 3,500 XAF. Monday is not listed, so do not plan a Monday visit.
Palais des Rois Bell (La Pagode), Bonanjo
The historic Bell residence. Treat it as an exterior visit unless you confirm access.
Espace doual’art, Place du Gouvernement, Bonanjo
A contemporary art centre that offers visits by appointment. Current exhibitions and hours were not confirmed.
Read Before you Run
Public Art in Africa: Art et transformations urbaines à Douala
edited by Iolanda Pensa
A 2017 MētisPresses book on contemporary art and urban change in Douala. It is a city companion and not a guide to the race.
After the Race
The race is on a Sunday, so the excursions start on Monday. Kribi is the leisure option on the coast, and Yaoundé is the inland choice. Limbé, Buea and Mount Cameroon are not recommended under current FCDO advice.
Museum, a historic house and a quiet afternoon.
A coastal lodge and a rest day.
A rest day and a short falls visit.
The capital’s national museum, with a buffer before you fly.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Douala Marathon start and finish?
The organiser’s route list starts at Bonassama and gives the finish as Place de la Bessèkè. The map is undated, so confirm both.
How far in advance should I book a hotel?
No sell-out pattern was found. Check cancellation terms and book a flexible room.
Is public transport free on race day?
No runner transport entitlement was found.
What is the best neighbourhood to stay in?
Bonanjo for the best-checked hotels and the Maritime Museum, Akwa for kit collection. The start is across the river in Bonassama, so book a transfer.
When does the expo open?
Kit collection is announced at the Salle des fêtes d’Akwa from 29 October. No hours have been published.
What is the weather typically like?
A November average gives 24 to 31 degrees, humidity near 88 per cent and about 160 mm of rain. That is not a start-time figure.
How do I get from the airport?
Book a hotel transfer. Douala International Airport is the arrival point for most visitors.
Is there a bag drop?
No storage service has been confirmed. Leave larger items at the hotel.
Should I bring a throwaway layer?
The weather is hot and humid, and no clothing collection scheme was found.
Can I visit Limbé or Mount Cameroon after the race?
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Limbé and the N3 corridor, and against most of the South-West including Buea, so they are not recommended.