Enter here: 2026 Brandberg Backyard Ultra

ENTER HERE: 2026 Brandberg Backyard Ultra

When: Saturday 18 July 2026. Where: Race village at Brandberg Rest Camp, Uis.

• Brandberg Backyard Ultra – the main event (unlimited loops of 6.706 km each) N$ 950. Limited entries. Enter HERE.
• Brandberg Challenge (1 to 6 consecutive loops of 6.706 km) N$ 650. Limited entries. Enter HERE.
• Brandberg Fun Run (only 1 loop of 6.706 km) N$ 200. Enter HERE.

The 5th annual Brandberg Backyard Ultra will take place on Saturday, 18 July 2026, in Uis, with the start/finish area at Brandberg Rest Camp. It will take the form of the standard Backyard Ultra, where runners have to complete a loop of 6,706 km within every hour for consecutive hours, starting on the top of the hour, for as long as they can. Once a runner can’t complete the loop within an hour or misses the start of the next loop, their race ends. The last single runner to complete an entire loop in the given hour wins the race, and the race will end. The event has no predetermined cut-off or end time. As long as there are runners on the course, the race continues.

Three events, same Backyard Ultra format.

Runners have a choice between three event categories. Please note that no upgrades will be allowed during the event. If you entered the Challenge, you will not be allowed to complete more than 6 loops, and similarly, the Fun Runners will only be allowed to complete a single loop.

Entry fees include:

• a chance to be crowned last person standing (Ultra only) – no prize money
• goody bag (Ultra entries only)
• an event shirt (included in the Ultra and Challenge entries, Fun Run optional extra) or the option to forgo the shirt and donate towards our REWILD campaign
• an event memento (Ultra, Challenge and Fun runners)
• the most memorable running weekend you are likely to experience with family and friends this year
• access to the aid station with drinks at start/finish area
• a marked and manned standard backyard ultra course with different loops for day and night
• emergency first aid response on standby
• professional race photographs distributed on social media
• access to Brandberg Rest Camp’s swimming pool and restroom facilities for the duration of your race
• unique Damaraland backcountry running 
• the warmest Namibian hospitality
• unrivalled race village ‘Gees’
• and lots more!

Runners will be responsible for:

• ULTRA RUNNERS ONLY: Reflective clothing and headlamps with sufficient batteries for night loops. These are the required gear items for all ultra runners and will be checked during registration and again before the first night loop. No runner will be allowed out on the course without these safety requirements during night loops.
• carrying own water on the course if needed – there are no waterpoints on the trail.
• own race food sufficient to sustain them for the duration of their race
• own cups for use at the aid station (no disposable cups will be available at the aid station)
• own gazebo, chairs/tables and crew for race village setup for the duration of the race (this is not where runners/crew sleep)
• own accommodation (campsite and tent)
• meal tickets are not included in the entry fee. Friday evening pre-race meal tickets and Saturday braai tickets will become available for purchase two weeks before race day.

For accommodation options in Uis, click HERE.

Rules and Safety

The rules for the Brandberg Backyard Ultra are listed below and are compatible with the standard rules for any official Backyard Ultra as published by Lazarus Lake. Violation of any rule (as determined by the race director) may subject a participant to removal. Please note: Runners must be 20 years or older to participate in the Ultra.

Starts
• Each loop starts precisely at the top of the hour with the ringing of a cowbell
• Warning whistles will be given 3, 2, and 1 minutes before the start
• Any runner not in the starting corral at the bell is eliminated
• All runners must start (leave the corral onto the course) at the bell. No late starts.

On the course
• No dogs are allowed on the course or at the race venue (not even leashed, well-behaved tiny ones!) 
• Once a loop starts, no runner can leave the course (except for nature calls)
• No non-competitors are allowed on any part of the course, including bicycles or vehicles of any kind, without prior permission from the race director
• No personal aid can be given during a loop (specifically, runners must not receive or give anything to non-competitors during a loop. Runners can eat and drink what they are carrying and share things with other runners)
• No artificial aids are allowed (including trekking poles)
• Each loop must be completed within an hour to be counted
• Slower runners must allow passes

Participants in the race are responsible for their own safety. Here are a few things to keep in
mind:
• The race course starts and ends in the town of Uis, but the largest part of the course will be on a public jeep track on the outskirts of the town within the communal land of the Tsiseb Conservancy. It is possible to encounter pedestrians, bicyclists, tourist vehicles, some goats and their very protective herding dogs. Stay alert and aware of your surroundings.
• Headphones may be used while running, but it is the runner’s responsibility to ensure they don’t interfere with awareness of hazards.
• At night, all runners must wear appropriate gear and clothing both to see and to be seen. This includes a functioning light source and some reflective material. Plan ahead with spare batteries.

Winner
• The race concludes immediately after the first loop that is completed successfully by only one runner or by no runners at all
• The winner is the person who completes a loop that no other runner completes
• All others are technically DNF
• If no runner completes a solo, final loop, there is no winner

Race officials
• All participants must follow directions given by race officials
• The race director has final authority in case of any matters left unclear by these rules