For many women, going for a run, walk or hike has never been as simple as putting on a pair of trainers and heading out the door. There is often an extra mental checklist involved: What time is it? Is the route busy? Who knows where I am? Should I rather wait until someone can come with me?
Those concerns feel particularly difficult to ignore right now. The recent deaths of seven women whose bodies were found in and around Ekurhuleni have once again brought conversations around women's safety in South Africa to the forefront. One of the women, Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, had reportedly gone missing while out jogging. Police have not established that the cases are linked.
Exercising in a group can bring comfort in knowing you're much safer moving with other people, especially when you're running after work, heading onto a trail or exploring an unfamiliar route.
Whether you're a beginner looking for a social 5km or someone who would much rather spend Saturday morning on a mountain, these are some of the running, walking and hiking clubs to know across the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Before joining a club further afield, though, it is worth finding out whether your immediate neighbourhood or community already has a running, walking or hiking group. Many smaller clubs operate through local WhatsApp groups, Facebook community pages, gyms, schools or neighbourhood associations rather than formal websites or Instagram pages.
These groups can be especially convenient because they often meet close to home, know the most popular routes in the area and make it easier to exercise regularly without travelling far. Ask around, check your local community groups or speak to nearby gyms and running stores to see what is already happening in your area.
Western Cape
Running Late Club
If you're looking for a running club that doesn't feel overly serious, Running Late Club is one of Cape Town's most accessible options. The community describes its members as “Everyday Athletes”, with the emphasis placed as much on connection and consistency as it is on pace.
The club hosts a Wednesday evening social run from Saunders' Rocks in Sea Point, with 5km and 7km options, as well as Friday morning sessions that have previously started from TwoFortyTwo in Green Point. The exact details can change, so it is worth checking the club's Instagram or WhatsApp community before heading out.
Location: Sea Point and Green Point, Cape Town
Cost: Free
Best for: Social runners, beginners and anyone who isn't interested in keeping up with an intimidating pace group.
Adidas Runners
If you like the idea of a running club with a more social, community-driven feel, Adidas Runners is another option to have on your radar. The global running community has a Cape Town chapter and is built around group training, shared runs and helping runners improve without making every session feel competitive. adidas describes the community as one where members “run with each other, not against each other”, which makes it a good fit for anyone looking for both accountability and company.
Runners can use the Adidas Running app to track workouts and access related benefits. Upcoming Adidas Runners sessions and events are shared through the brand's running platform, so it is worth checking the latest schedule before heading out.
Location: Cape Town, Durban and Joburg
Cost: Free
Best for: Social runners, beginners and anyone looking for organised group runs with a larger running community behind them.
Peninsula Ramblers
Peninsula Ramblers is another long-running Cape Town hiking option, particularly if you'd like to build your confidence on the mountains without heading out alone.
The volunteer-run club organises day hikes around the Cape Peninsula throughout the year, with occasional trips further afield. Visitors are welcome, which makes it easier to try the club before committing to membership. In fact, you need to complete two hikes as a visitor before applying to join.
Annual membership is currently R130 for an individual or R160 for a family, while visitors pay R50 per hike. Some routes may also have SANParks conservation or permit fees.
Location: Cape Peninsula and surrounding areas
Cost: R50 per visitor hike; R130 annual individual membership; R160 family membership
Best for: Walkers and hikers who want organised weekend outings without immediately committing to a club.
Gauteng
The Pack Running
The Pack Running is a community that was created specifically to provide a safer and more empowering running environment for women.
Based in Rosebank, the group hosts mixed runs during the week and a women-only Saturday morning run, which makes it particularly appealing if your main reason for finding a club is not wanting to run alone. Sessions have been held from the Nike Store at The Zone @ Rosebank, with weekday runs at 17:30 and the women's Saturday run at 07:00 a.m.
Location: The Zone @ Rosebank, Johannesburg
Cost: No fixed membership fee publicly listed; check the club's current event information
Best for: Women specifically looking for a female running community and organised group sessions.
Benchwarmers Runners Club
This one is for anyone who wants their workout with a strong side of socialising.
Benchwarmers meets every Wednesday in Rosebank, attracting hundreds of runners for a 5km run or 3km walk/run through the surrounding neighbourhood. It starts and finishes at Benchwarmers Sports Bar at 2 Bolton Road, so the evening naturally turns into a social afterwards.
Location: Benchwarmers Sports Bar, 2 Bolton Road, Rosebank
When: Wednesdays, gathering from around 17:30
Cost: Free
Best for: Beginners, walkers, social runners and anyone wanting to meet people while getting their kilometres in.
Sunday Run Club
Pretoria's Sunday Run Club was established in 2025 with the aim of making running more social and accessible. The community now has more than 200 active members and hosts runs on Wednesdays and Sundays, with distances generally ranging from 5km to 15km and multiple pace groups.
Sunday sessions usually begin at around 07:00 a.m., while Wednesday sessions typically start at 17:30. The meeting point and route are subject to change and are shared through the club's Instagram and WhatsApp community.
Location: Pretoria, with changing weekly meeting points
When: Wednesdays and Sundays
Cost: Free
Best for: Pretoria runners who want a modern, social running community with different pace options.
Love Running
Love Running is an established road-running and walking club based in Pretoria that operates in partnership with the Hatfield Christian Church.
It welcomes everyone from occasional 10km runners and walkers to more serious ultra-distance athletes. Group sessions take place on Wednesday evenings from 17:30, with an additional Saturday session on the second Saturday of each month.
New members who want to compete officially need to register through Athletics South Africa and purchase the club vest, currently listed at R300.
Location: Pretoria (Hatfield Christian Church)
Cost: R450 annual membership for adults and R180 for 18 years and younger.
Best for: Runners and walkers who want a formal athletics club, regular training and the option of entering races under a club.
KwaZulu-Natal
Social Runners Club
Born on the Durban promenade in 2023, Social Runners Club has grown from a handful of friends jogging together into a community of more than 500 active members.
The group organises weekly social runs, training sessions, races and community events across Durban and the Umhlanga coast, and it welcomes everyone from first-time 5km runners to marathoners. Saturday morning runs along the Golden Mile are among the club's regular social sessions.
Location: Durban beachfront, Umhlanga and surrounding areas
Cost: R450 annual membership fee
Best for: Durban runners wanting a large social community with a variety of distances and experience levels.
Oldies Running Club
DHS Old Boys Athletic Club, better known as Oldies, has evolved into a wider running community and celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026.
The club meets at Northwood Crusaders Sports Club in Durban North, with Wednesday club runs starting at 17:20. Those sessions typically cover between 7km and 11km. Saturday long runs begin at 05:00 and range from around 15km to 34km depending on the training season.
Location: Northwood Crusaders Sports Club, Durban North
When: Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings
Cost: Contact the club for current membership rates
Best for: Runners who want consistent training partners, longer weekend runs and a more established club structure.
Durban Ramblers Hiking Club
If your version of cardio involves hiking boots rather than running shoes, Durban Ramblers has been bringing hikers together for decades.
Their programme includes Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday hikes, ranging from easy local walks to strenuous routes involving steep inclines and scrambling. Hikes are graded from one to five, which is especially useful if you're new and don't quite know what you're signing yourself up for yet.
Location: Durban and hiking destinations across KZN
When: Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Cost: Contact the club for current membership fees
Best for: Everyone from casual walkers to experienced hikers looking for organised group outings.
At a moment when many South African women are thinking differently about where and how they exercise, finding your running, walking or hiking crew isn't only about accountability or chasing a personal best. Sometimes it's simply about being able to keep doing something you love, with a few more people around you.
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