Cotlands Run to Play at Johannesburg Zoo: A Fun Family Race For an Amazing Cause

The Cotlands organisation invites corporates, individuals and running communities alike to take part in a fun race on Saturday, 14 March 2026 at the Johannesburg Zoo. The run is staged in support of early childhood development for thousands of young, vulnerable children who don’t have access to any early learning programme and need a strong start to their learning journeys. Here’s what you need to know.

Cotlands run to play fun race | What's on in Joburg

A run with a purpose

The fun race brings people together with a shared purpose: to invest in the early years of a child’s life, where the foundation for future learning, confidence and success is built.

With the support of avid walkers and runners and purpose-driven partners, Cotlands aims to change the lives of vulnerable children by giving them access to quality, play-based early learning and a brighter future through education.

This call to action comes at a critical moment in South Africa’s education system as President Cyril Ramaphosa recently reaffirmed that South Africa can achieve improved matric results by strengthening the early learning sector, highlighting that investment in early childhood development (ECD) is essential to giving children a solid foundation to excel in later schooling years and beyond.

Funds raised through the race will support Cotlands’ Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Hubs. These hubs bring together centre-based playgroups, a learning-materials library that supports under- resourced ECD centres in surrounding communities, and a training centre offering skills-based and accredited training for ECD practitioners.

Cotlands’ ECCE hubs serve as centres of excellence, delivering quality early learning services that help reduce inequality, ignite potential and ensure young children are ready to learn when they enter formal schooling.

Activities, food stalls and a pop-up toy library

Participants can choose between a 2 km, 5 km and 8 km race.

Enjoy a pop-up toy library, children’s entertainment, music, and delicious food stalls at the finish line. The event is open to all ages, so bring your running shoes and your whole crew for a fun-filled day out in the park.

How to enter

Cotlands is calling on all corporates seeking meaningful CSI partnerships, individuals passionate about children’s development and running clubs eager to run with purpose, to enter the race on cotlands.org or for group entries, send an email to [email protected].

Cost: R80pp (2 km); R150pp (5 km); R250pp (8 km, includes running t-shirt). 2 km and 5 km runners can purchase a t-shirt for an added R100 | Enter online. Race pack collection takes place at the Johannesburg Zoo on 12 and 13 March between 10am and 4.30pm.