The Slave Route Challenge is unlike any other race because of its profound historical and cultural significance. Every step along the route tells a story of survival, struggle, and liberation.

Starting at City Hall, where Nelson Mandela gave his first public speech after his release in 1990, the route winds through:

• District Six, where forced removals under apartheid devastated families and communities.
• Company’s Garden, originally cultivated by the Dutch using enslaved labor.
• Wale Street and the Bo-Kaap, home to descendants of enslaved people and rich in Cape Malay culture.
• Green Point and Fort Wynyard, where enslaved people once toiled under harsh conditions.
• The Castle of Good Hope, where many enslaved individuals were imprisoned, tortured, and sold.

Along the way, participants will pass significant heritage landmarks, including:

• The Whipping Post, where enslaved people were publicly punished.
• The Hurling Swing Pump, where they were forced to pump water for their masters.
• The Company Bell, which rang to summon enslaved workers.
• Gallows Hill, where executions were carried out.
• The Slave Tree Plaque, marking the site where enslaved individuals were auctioned.

The race finishes on the Grand Parade, a historic gathering place for protests and celebrations, where we honor the past while embracing the future.