LT Benin Multistage

The LT Benin Multistage is the ideal race for people who think a 250k race will be a little bit too much, who don’t like running at night, or just need the sleep in between tiresome days.

You will have the opportunity to run 3 consecutive days of approximately 50k of breathtaking views, small villages, enthousiastic locals cheering you on.

Day 1 will start at 7am at the base of the Tanoungou waterfalls, together with the start of the LT non-stop 250k and take you to the small local primary school of Tchakalakou (which also serves as CP 1 for the non-stop race). There you will be able to relax, get some food and freshen up. You will will then be transported to Toukountouna (a 15 min ride) where an installed tent will await you to get a good night rest. 

Day 2 will also start at 7am in Toukountouna and take you to the northern outskirts of Natitingou and the beautiful hideaway Chez Noël where you can relax, shower and eat a delicious meal. A new tent awaits you on the south side of Natitingou at Le Jardin de l’Atacora.

The last day takes you from Natitingou to the finish line in Boukombé where newfound glory can be shared with other participants and crew.

For information on before and after the race: see information on the entire trip

During the race:

  • Race number
  • GPS tracker during the race
  • Finishers trophy
  • A fully equipped tent to spend the night after day 1 (at Toukountouna) and day 2 (at Le Jardin de l’Atacora in Natitingou)
  • A hot meal and beverages at the finish of each stage
  • Ample water supply (every 10km)
  • Halfway through each stage, a checkpoint with cola, cookies, snacks and fruit will be available for each participant
  • Support from Medical and Safety Teams
  • Showers and Toilets at the Finish Location

Checkpoints with drinkable water will be foreseen every 10k.

Halfway each stage a checkpoint with cola, cookies, snacks and fruits will be available for every participant

90% of the course is on trail. Trail shoes are advised.

The weather in February in Benin is hot. Daytime temperatures range from 30 to 35 degrees and during the night this drops to 18 to 23 degrees. Watch out for a heat stroke, so cover your head at all times and apply ample sunscreen.

There will be kit checks prior, during and after the race. Runners must carry the following mandatory equipment at all times. A time penalty of minimum one hour will be imposed for any item found to be missing at any point on course.

  • Race number (worn visibly and easy to read at all times)
  • GPS Tracker provided by the organisation
  • Mobile phone with a battery charged and operable for the duration of the race (with Organizers’ numbers (given at registration)
  • Survival Bag. A simple survival blanket is NOT acceptable.
  • Whistle
  • Running pack or belt able to store obligatory equipment
  • Bottle or hydration pack of at least 1,5 litre capacity and at least 1,5 litre of water or liquid (checked on leaving aid stations)
  • Enough food to last to the next checkpoint
  • Waterproof and windproof jacket (regardless of expected weather conditions)
  • Shoes appropriate for the surface
  • Elastic bandage
  • ID or passport
  • Headlamp with spare batteries (in case you get in after dark)
  • First aid kit including any regular medication that you take in enough quantities to last 4 days
  • Some money (you can use shops, bars or restaurants along the course, but please pay your bills)

Strongly Recommended

  • Clothes appropriate for the weather conditions
  • Anti-chafing ointment (e.g. Vaseline, sudocream)
  • Sunblock
  • Anti-musquito spray
  • Trekking poles
  • Change of clothes
  • GPS device with the route downloaded. Please ensure that your GPS is able to provide you with an UTM coordinate in case of emergency

There will be a dedicated team of race medics available throughout the duration of the race. If you suffer an injury or accident that warrants direct medical attention, the medics will be on hand to provide you with exactly that. Contact numbers and full details of what to do in an emergency will be given to you at race registration. Due to the nature of the course,  ie. mostly off road, the medics may take some time to reach you, or potentially be out of contact tending to other runners.

If you are injured but able to walk, please make your way to the nearest aid station where there will either be a medic, or an aid station captain will immediately get in touch with medical care should you require it/ arrange for transport out.

If you suffer a severe injury or encounter someone in serious difficulty please call the medical emergency number.

The course will be entirely marked, as detailed maps with paths on them are not available for Benin.

The gpx of the course will be made available approximately one week before the start of the race.

Each competitor in the race will be equipped with a GPS Tracking device with satellite reception to ensure proper coverage.

Each tracker has an SOS button which sends a one way signal to the Race Controller. The SOS button is for emergency use only!

On receiving an SOS notice, we will endeavor to establish verbal / text communications to your mobile phone and will simultaneously be deploying a Legendary Safety Team to your location. We may also decide to request assistance from the Police, Ambulance and other emergency services.

Racers who activate their tracker are considered to be in a level of distress or peril that we, or the emergency services, will extract them from the course to a location of safety. They will not be permitted to re-join the race. For this reason, if you have mobile signal, it is best to contact Race HQ so we can assess and provide the most effective assistance.

If you are with another racer who is the casualty, activate their SOS button and stay with them. If they have lost their tracker, activate your SOS button, stay with the individual in distress, make your location as visible as possible and use your bivy/emergency bag to keep you warm until help arrives.

You will not be penalized for ‘good Samaritan’ actions.

As mentioned before, the tracker will be attached to your pack by a race official. Once this has been attached do not remove this device. They cannot, and must not be placed within your rucksack under any circumstances, as this severely affects tracker performance. After a small amount of time you will not notice the tracker, so don’t try to negotiate with the team as they will be working hard to ensure your device is working correctly prior to the race start.

After finishing the race, or when you retire, you have to return the tracker to a race official. We have often seen trackers disappear in all directions after a race, and will charge 150€ for any non-returned tracker.

Legends Trails International and all its volunteers are fully insured during the complete period of the race.

As a participant you need to buy a mandatory travel & cancellation insurance (€150). This allows the organization to be sure all participants are properly insured and they also know who to contact. The insurance will be covered by VAB NV.

If something happens during your trip with medical implications this insurance will cover (most of) your costs.

If you are unable to take part in the trip for a medical reason this insurance will cover your cancellation cost.

See the general terms & conditions for the insurance.

After stage 1 and stage 2 you will be able to sleep in a fully equipped tent, where you will also find your dropbag, for a change of clothes, toothbrush, …

You will be able to enjoy a hot meal either at the finish of the stage, or at the sleeping site (which is the departure location of the next stage).


The rules

The race headquarter is located in Boukombé, Benin, which also serves as the finish location of the Legends Trail Benin 250K

Back to The Race