Spectator Guide: How to soak up the scenes and celebrate the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon as a spectator.

Running 42.2km is challenging. Supporting 42.2km can also be a challenge if you don’t know where to go and what to expect. So, supporters, this one is for you. Below is your cheat sheet to make supporting the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon easy and leave the hard part to the runners.

Quick Tips for Supporting Successfully

1. Pick one or two select spots and spectate from early on rather than trying to catch all the action from everywhere. It’s not easy to drive around the course, and it’s better to have a fun day supporting than a frustrating one trying to find a parking bay.
2. Park a little OFF the course and walk to your spot. Parked cars along the route will be towed.
3. Bring water, sunblock, and snacks for you and any runner who looks like they need it (an orange slice can make a person’s marathon!)
4. If you’re supporting particular runners, wear something outstanding so it’s easy for them to spot you.
5. Get your Cape Town Marathon tracking app set up ahead of race day. “Favourite” the favourites and get ready to shout for them when they’re close.
6. Soak in the vibe and be a vibe! Make friends with those around you and celebrate together. 

The Best Support Spots 

📍0km | the Start / Fritz Sonnenberg Road / Beach Road Green Point
🦽Wheelchair friendly 

For the first time, the 2025 Edition of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will have two different starting locations. This is designed to reduce batch congestion and give a better experience to runners. 

ℹ️ Read about it here.

The starting areas will be heavily controlled, and the forecourt is restricted to participants only. If you would like to support the start, the starting waves on Beach Road are the only option.

Runner’s possible mood: Start nerves and marathon-day excitement is a real combination. Be kind and uplifting. They’ve got this, and reminding them of that can go a long way!

📍6.5km | the N2 Off-ramp
ℹ️ How to access the pedestrian bridge off Hyde Road

ℹ️ How to access the pedestrian bridge at the Searle Street off-ramp

🦽Both bridges are wheelchair friendly, but a little steep. Going with a friend is recommended. 

This is a great spot to not only spectate but also soak up the views. The second hydration point is just before the off-ramp out of town. There’s a pedestrian bridge that you can access from Hyde Road, where you can stand above the highway and watch runners beneath you. 

• Expected first runner – 06h25
• Expected last runner – 08h10
• Cut-off at 7km – 08h15

Important note: Please do NOT drive onto the highway. Stay either on the pedestrian bridge or on Searle Street.

Runner’s possible mood: It’s early days in the race, and they know they still have a long way to go. Proceed with caution in telling them they’re nearly there. (They aren’t, and they know it!) Now is a safe time for humour. Paint those signs and get the jokes flowing.

📍15.3km | Outside the Palmyra Woolworths
🎉 Woolworths Activation Zone

🦽Wheelchair friendly

At this point in the day, runners might be looking for their next gel or fuel, and you might be looking for your next coffee fix. Woolworths has got your back here. Grab a coffee and watch the runners come past as they head deeper into Rondebosch.

This spot is also the third elite table zone. It can be an exciting thing to watch a podium contender grab a bottle as they pace past, and these elite tables give you the chance to watch it unfold closely!

• Expected first runner – 06h45
• Expected last runner – 09h28

📍17.2km | Michael’s Restaurant & Rondebosch Park
🎉 adidas Activation Zone
ℹ️ How to get here

🦽Wheelchair friendly

Here, adidas will be bringing noise and vibes as one of the official Sponsor Activation zones. To soak up the scenes of the midpack coming past, this is an ideal place to grab a coffee and watch the marathon action from the sidewalk.

• Expected first runner  – 06h50
• Expected last runner – 09h46

Runner’s possible mood: Runners are almost halfway in the distance, but mentally, there is more than 50% left of the race to come.

📍20km – 22km | Rondebosch Common
🎉 Sanlam Activation Zone

🦽Wheelchair friendly

The Rondebosch Common lap can be draining to run, but fulfilling to receive support from! Your runners will be hitting the halfway mark here, and they’ll know they’ve got to do double what they’ve already done. 

This area also offers different vantage points, watch from one side of the Common and move across to the other side.

At 20km, just after the Park Rd/Milner Rd intersection, is an Elite table. At 21.1km, just after the left turn from Klipfontein into Sawkins Rd, which leads into the Sanlam Activation Zone and Hydration Station. The Pedestrian walkway along Campground Road is shady, which can be a welcome reprieve on a Cape Town summer’s day, even earlier in the day.

• Expected first runner at 20km – 06h57
• Cut-off at 20km – 10h20
• Expected last runner at 22km – 10h32

Runner’s possible mood: On a good day, this feels great! On a bad day, this can be tough to note. High energy and enthusiasm can carry them far into the next stretch. Shout loud, shout proud!

📍26.7km | Salt River Circle

🦽Wheelchair friendly, gets busy

This area gets festive! Expect high-energy support to cheer runners on as they get towards the harder yards in their race. There will be a Gatsby float with music and gees (South African slang for vibes).

• Expected first runner – 07h12
• Expected last runner – 11h14

📍27km – 29km, Albert Road / Newmarket Street, Salt River 

🎉 PRASA Activation Zone
ℹ️ How to get here
🦽Wheelchair friendly

This part of the route is straight and fast, but that doesn’t make it easy. Salt River into Woodstock is a beautiful cultural blend that highlights Cape Town and South Africa’s diverse spirit. 

The Bridges for Music DJ Performance will be based just before the turn into Russel Street, and PRASA will have a train on tracks hooting its support as runners run past the station.

You can visit The Old Biscuit Mill or the Woodstock Exchange for a coffee, a snack, and a light browse of the local boutique stores between cheering. Woodstock Brewery will be open and pumping with live music and entertainment – good food, good tunes!

At this point, the gaps between the first and the last runners will have spread over a few hours. 

• Expected first runner – 07h13
• Expected last runner at 29km – 11h37

Runner’s possible mood: With 30% of their race to go, many will be doing mental maths and calculating how their energy and reserves might be looking. 

📍29.9km | Darling Street 

🎉 City of Cape Town Activation Zone

🦽Wheelchair friendly

A stretch of history is run, as runners pass the Castle of Good Hope, the Grand Parade and the City Hall, where Nelson Mandela delivered his first speech as a free man in 1990 (keep an eye out for Madiba’s statue on the balcony!) The City of Cape Town team will be set up, so expect an energetic atmosphere!

With iconic and historic scenes for both participants and runners to soak up, this area is exciting and buzzing with activity.

• Expected first runner – 07h21
• Cut-off at 30.5km – 11h55
• Expected last runner – 11h47

📍30.7km – 32.1km | Government Avenue onto Orange & Long Street
ℹ️ How to get there 

🦽Wheelchair friendly

The Company Gardens are beautiful and shaded, featuring an African Enchanted Garden theme set-up, with acts that are spread throughout the Gardens. The section between the Artillery Memorial to Orange Street will be open for spectators.

Historically, this stretch was built as a refreshment station for the trade route that rounded the tip of Africa between Europe and the east.

Around the area is the Iziko Museum and Planetarium, worthwhile visiting outside of race day. 

Runner’s possible mood: Many say a marathon starts at 30km, and for many, it starts to get tough here. The Company Gardens is a shady area filled with beauty and atmosphere, but the small gradient uphill can feel enormous. Big cheers and a lot of encouragement can be helpful!

• Expected first runner – 07h22
• Expected last runner at 32.1km – 12h05

📍32.1km – 33.3km | Long St

🎉 adidas Activation Zone on Wale Street
ℹ️How to get here

🦽Wheelchair friendly

Long Street is known for the buzz and the electric energy. Things come alive as the adidas cheer zone and many local clubs and crews set up to cheer. adidas will have a coffee tuktuk set-up as well as an LED screen so you can watch the race unfold while you support. It’s a long, straight downhill, so the pace will pick up here, watch fast and cheer loud!

Join in, grab a sign, and bring your loudest supporting voice. With many coffee shops and local eateries, you’re set!

• Expected first runner at 32.1km – 07h25
• Cut-off at 32.6km – 12h15
• Expected last runner at 33.3km – 12h19

Runner’s possible mood: There will likely be a wide range of runners digging deep and battling emotions, and others riding high. 

📍33.7km – 36.2km | Green Point Main Road
🎉 KFM Activation Zone
🦽Wheelchair friendly

The KFM cheer zone at 34.2km delivers high energy. With the on-air atmosphere broadcast live from the streets of Cape Town to listeners, you know it’s an all-out party here. 

For good coffee and supporting snacks, you’ve got Woolworths, Giovanni’s and Jason’s. 

Top tip for seeing more: Head from Main Road through the parking areas to sneak to the final stretch along Helen Suzman Blvd. 

• Expected first runner at 33.7km – 07h29
• Expected last runner at 36.2km – 12h42
• Cut-off at 36km – 12h50.

📍36.3km – 41.4km | Beach Road / the Sea Point ‘Loop of Death’ 

🎉 Red Bull Activation Zone at Queen’s Circle
🦽 Wheelchair friendly

Along the Sea Point promenade is a beautiful coastal stretch with a pleasant coastal breeze cooling down the temperature from the summer sun. 

Known as “The Loop of Death”, this is a stretch where runners head out on the prom, away from the finish line, to wrap back again. The format allows you two chances to see runners without moving.

Runner’s possible mood: Running 3km out while knowing they need to run those 3km back is a mental battle, and at 36km, each step can feel unrelenting. Send positive energy and boost their spirit as much as possible. After 37km, shouting “less than one more Parkrun!” might help. “You’re almost there!” might not.

• Expected first runner at 36.3km – 07h36
• Cut-off at 38.7km – 13h15
• Expected last runner at 41.4km – 13h33

📍42.2km | The Finish / Vlei Road, Green Point
🦽 Wheelchair friendly 

The blue carpet that welcomes runners back can be an emotional event, as runners revel in (or are relieved by) what they’ve just done. Public seating is available at the finish line on a first-come, first-served basis. At the fast end of the race, it’s a great point to watch any possible finish line sprints home for victory. For the mid to back, it’s a great place to celebrate runners as they come home. Connect with your loved ones (supporters and runners) in the Chill Zone on the shared fields and grab a beer and a bite after a big day for all!

• Expected first runner – 07h49
• Cut-off is at 13h37.