The Vision Trip

This is one of the most incredible vision trips Team World Vision leads each year as it includes an epic 56-mile race in South Africa, a vision trip to countries in East Africa where we will meet sponsor kids and see World Vision’s work, followed by a safari! We’re planning on taking the largest team in TWV history with goals to have the largest kingdom impact from one trip in TWV history!

We will spend four days in South Africa experiencing the Comrades Marathon as runners and spectathletes. Next, we will split up into smaller groups for four to five days in various communities, learning about World Vision’s work in East Africa, seeing incredible water projects and development plans, and spending time with sponsored children and their families. This incredible vision trip ends with us joining back together as a large team to debrief in one of the most beautiful places on earth—Maasai Mara, Kenya.

The Race

The Comrades Marathon is the world’s oldest and largest ultramarathon race. The race is famous for its culture, its historic Green Bib (earned by completing the race ten times in your life), the harsh 12-hour time cutoff, and the 87-kilometer course that unfolds through the foothills of South Africa. It is described as the world’s greatest footrace as it tests the human spirit and embodies the Team World Vision motto—go farther together.

The race begins at 5:30 AM in the coastal city of Durban in the KwaZulu-Natal Province and heads uphill to Pietermaritzburg (an inland town up from the southeast coast of South Africa) to where it all ends in an electrifying and packed stadium. Between the start line in the city of Durban and the final gun in Pietermaritzburg, runners need to cover 56 miles and five major hills and cross six major time cut-off points to finish the race, including the final cut-off, a human barrier at the finish line before the clock strikes 12 hours. We hope you will join us for this trip of a lifetime and take on the epic Comrades Marathon with Team World Vision as we go farther. 

Race Registration + Training

The Comrades Marathon Association has not yet announced the registration date for 2024, but we will let you know when the announcement is made! Be prepared to register at the beginning of October. For additional questions regarding the race, check out the official Comrades race website at www.comrades.com.

2024 Training Playbook

Tentative Trip Itinerary + Fees

Team World Vision will secure all the booking for flights, hotels, and travel, and will cover all meals. Registration for the trip requires a $650 initial non-refundable deposit. The estimated total cost of the trip is between $6,000 - $7,500 (cost estimates based on flights out of Chicago). Final registration and deposits must be completed by Sunday, December 31st, 2023.

June 5th —June 18th Itinerary

Wednesday, June 5th - Thursday, June 6th: Depart from U.S. and Travel Day 
Thursday, June 6th: Arrive in Durban, Dinner and Overnight 
Friday, June 7th: Visit Comrades Expo
Saturday, June 8th: Drive to Pietermaritzburg and Team Dinner
Sunday, June 9th: Comrades Marathon Race Day! 
Monday, June 10th: Rest & Recover Day 
Tuesday, June 11th through Friday, June 14th: 3-4 days of World Vision ADP Visits to see World Vision’s work in East Africa 
Saturday, June 15th through Monday, June 17th: Fly to Nairobi & Overnight, Fly to Masai Mara for 2-day / One-night safari in Kenya
Tuesday, June 18th: Arrive back in the U.S.

Packing List

DOWNLOAD THE PACKING LIST

Child Sponsorship

World Vision works alongside community members and leaders to address their unique needs and to help their community thrive. Our goal is for each team member to get 56 children sponsored by their friends, family, and network, bringing a huge impact to kids and their communities. By sponsoring a child, you’re providing them with:

Clean Water & Sanitation This means access to safe water, training community members to maintain wells and water pumps, building latrines, and training community members to improve hygiene practices.

Education World Vision’s education projects include school fees, books, uniforms, classroom repairs, restored schools and training for teachers and parents provide a child with opportunities for the future.

Nutritious Food World Vision goes beyond food distribution by focusing on creating sustainable food supplies through agricultural programs and improved nutrition and training.

Health Care Your child sponsorship provides access to things like medical clinics, vaccinations, training in disease prevention and other health care programs.

Economic Development Microloans and business training enable families to build a better future for children.

Child Protection World Vision advocates for child rights and encourages children to speak up against abuse and injustice.

Sponsorship Goals

56 New Child Sponsorships Goal for every team member

100 New Child Sponsorships Big dream-goal for every team member