Kenya’s Most Famous Off-road Car Rally Raises KSH 4.6 Million For Nannapa Community Conservancy

It’s a challenge that pits man’s mechanics against Africa’s toughest bush terrain – and judging by the broken steering, flat tyres, burnt out clutch, and overturned Land Cruiser, nature held no punches in this year’s Rhino Charge competition.

In early June, 56 teams in as many 4x4 vehicles gathered in Nannapa Community Conservancy in Isiolo for one of the most anticipated sports events in the Kenyan calendar. Only 20 cars would cross the finish line.

Held in a different location each year, the Rhino Charge is an annual off-road 4×4 competition in which entrants are required to visit 13 points scattered over approximately 100 km² of rough terrain within a 10-hour period. Each competitor must plot their own route and the winner is the team who visits the most checkpoints in the shortest distance (measured by GPS).

Nannapa (formerly a unit of Oldonyiro Conservancy) is the 9th NRT member community conservancy to host the Charge, which not only pays the host community Land Access Fees, but also raises money to support the activities of the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust, an NGO which works towards the conservation and protections of Kenya’s mountain range ecosystems.

Nannapa Conservancy earned Ksh. 4.6 million from the Rhino Charge this year through Land Access Fees – revenue that will be split between conservancy operational costs (to cover ranger salaries and patrol vehicle fuel for example) and community projects.

The 2019 winner was car 48, who secured their fifth Rhino Charge victory and held on to the 2018 title. Peter Kinyua’s team, car 23, were the winners of the Highest Fundraiser Award, raising an incredible Ksh. 19 million for the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust.

Overall, the 2019 Rhino Charge raised Ksh. 156.5 million for conservation.