By Our Reporter
Tanzania is seeking to use sporting events to unlock tourism-related economic opportunities while strengthening environmental conservation, with the ninth Serengeti Safari Marathon bringing together local and international runners at Serengeti National Park.
The event, held at Ndabaka Gate in Bunda District, Mara Region, featured 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km races, providing a platform to promote the country's natural attractions and encourage healthier lifestyles.
Bunda District Commissioner Khalfan Boniface Haule said every participant was a winner because taking part in the marathon contributed to environmental and natural resource conservation, regardless of their finishing position.
"All participants in the Serengeti Safari Marathon are winners. Each has contributed to efforts to conserve the environment and natural resources, as well as promote good health through sport, regardless of the position they finish," he said on November 14, 2026.
The ninth edition of the marathon also highlighted the potential of tourism attractions around the Lake Victoria zone to generate economic opportunities under the blue and green economy.
For the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), sporting events have become an additional platform for marketing the country's tourism attractions and drawing attention to the economic value of protected natural areas.
The marathon brings together three important areas: tourism promotion, environmental conservation and public health.
However, its wider economic significance lies in the potential to use increased tourism interest to create opportunities for communities and businesses in areas surrounding the national park.
By linking sports with conservation and tourism, the event seeks to demonstrate how natural attractions can contribute to economic activities while encouraging greater responsibility for protecting the country's wildlife and environment.