The Midmar Mile is an open water swimming race held each February at Midmar Dam near Howick and Pietermaritzburg. Founded in 1974, it was recognised by Guinness World Records in 2009 as the world's largest open water swimming event after 13,755 competitors finished that year.
The Midmar Mile began in 1974 as a swimming race at Midmar Dam, a reservoir on the uMngeni River near Howick and Pietermaritzburg in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The race draws everyone from Olympic medallists to first-time recreational swimmers into the same dam on the same weekend, run across eight separate mile races over two days to handle the volume of entrants
Because the distance is fixed at roughly one mile while dam water levels vary with rainfall, the actual swim length changes year to year, and in dry years swimmers face the notorious Midmar sprint start, a scramble across muddy shallows before the water is deep enough to swim
Swimmers are seeded into five start groups at three-minute intervals based on qualifying times from previous events, with the fastest group starting first
Alongside the Comrades Marathon and the Cape Town Cycle Tour, it is cited as one of South Africa's three largest mass-participation sporting events
The event is closely tied to South African open water swimming culture
having produced notable competitors such as Olympic open water swimmer Chad Ho
and it remains a rite of passage for KwaZulu-Natal swimmers
with at least one participant recorded as having swum every edition since the event began
Dates TBA · Usually February
Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Open water swimwear appropriate for a KwaZulu-Natal Midlands dam in February, when water temperatures are typically warm enough for standard swimsuits rather than wetsuits, though conditions...
At Midmar Mile, respect barriers, moving equipment and marshal guidance; photos are never worth stepping into active areas.
Choose lodging by the part of Howick you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.
Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.
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Midmar Mile is listed for February · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Howick, South Africa. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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