23-25 May 2025
1Zambia routes vary from year to year, but generally follow the same format: 65-80kms on Days 1-2, and 105-110kms for Day 3. Keeping the final route secret has been a 1Zambia tradition since its inception.
Below, you can see the 2024 routes and elevations, which will be similar for 2025.
2025 finalised routes are only sent to participants in the week before the race.
THE ROUTE
DAY 1 - THE WAKEUP CALL
Friday, 23 May
• Start/finish at Lilayi Lodge, Lusaka
• ~ 85kms, 1300m ascent
• x3 water points
The Wakeup Call is the day you’ve been waiting and training for; the day when your preparation is put to the test. This route is defined by three long climbs, with fun and flowy descents in between. Trails wind through the hilly and lush escarpment, passing through traditional villages along the way. Keep something extra in the legs for Day 2-- you’re 1/3 of the way through!
DAY 2 - Hidden Forests
Saturday, 25 May
• Start/finish at Lilayi Lodge, Lusaka
• ~ 65kms, 1000m ascent
• x3 water points
Day 2 feels easy compared to day 1, with opportunities to spin the legs at the flat start and finish. Riders will see even more stunning valley views, with the chance of seeing wildlife such as rhino and elephant in Lusaka National Park.
DAY 3 - The Valley
Sunday, 25 May
• Start at Lilayi Lodge, finish at Kiambi Safari Lodge on the Zambezi river.
• ~ 105kms, 1260m ascent
• x4 water points
Riders drop almost 1400m into the Zambezi Valley, with the landmark climb, “The Mother,” and a very steep descent, which some choose to walk. The last 30kms are fast and flat, following the banks of the Kafue River which flows into the Zambezi. Riders are greeted with delicious food, drinks, and prizegiving on an exclusive beach island.
