Samburu County has officially been announced as the host of the 37th edition of the Rhino Charge, Kenya’s premier off-road motorsport event that raises funds for forest and wildlife conservation.

The announcement was made by Clerk of Course Don White during the Drivers’ Briefing at Braeburn School in Nairobi.

The briefing was attended by competitors, sponsors, officials, checkpoint crews, camp operators, and members of the media ahead of the annual conservation-driven competition.

As is tradition, the exact competition location will remain undisclosed until just days before the event.

However, route notes are expected to begin at Archers Post on the Isiolo-Samburu border, maintaining the event’s long-standing culture of secrecy and competitive integrity.

White highlighted several key developments ahead of this year’s event, including the addition of seven new entrants.

“We have seven new entrants to the Rhino Charge this year, which signifies growing relevance to a new generation. This not only makes the event more sustainable but also helps us operate at full capacity and secure additional funding for Rhino Ark projects,” he said.

He also noted improvements in the use of GPS technology following a comprehensive review process.

“We went through an extensive process of reviewing how to achieve more accurate results in response to increased competitiveness at the event,” White explained.

On aviation safety, White issued a critical reminder to participants arriving by air.

“We need to ensure that everyone coming by air gets pre-authorisation. No aircraft should be parked at the airstrips to enable safe operations during the event,” he said.

White further introduced new members of the Rhino Charge team, including Philip Watson, formerly navigator of car number five, who now heads the Rhino Charge results committee.

Watson outlined improvements in results management, noting that results will now be shared with each team shortly after the event, with any disputes handled or arbitrated by the committee of event stewards before the prize-giving ceremony.

Organised by Rhino Ark Charitable Trust, the Rhino Charge remains one of Kenya’s most unique conservation fundraising initiatives.

Since its inception in 1989, the event has raised over Ksh2.7 billion to support the protection of critical ecosystems, including the Aberdare Range, Mount Kenya, Mau Forest Complex and Kakamega Forest.

This year’s event has attracted a full entry list of 65 competition vehicles, underscoring its enduring appeal and competitive prestige.

Speaking at the briefing, Rhino Ark Charitable Trust CEO Christian Lambrechts highlighted major conservation milestones achieved over the past year, particularly in the Southern Mau Forest.

“Over the past year, we have invested considerable resources in the southern part of the Mau, a 158,000-hectare indigenous forest that forms critical catchments for the Mara, Sondu and Ewaso Nyiro South rivers,” he said.

He added that the landscape has faced immense pressure from excisions and settlements but together with partners, they are working to transform it into a tourism-centred conservation area.

Lambrechts revealed that Rhino Ark has established a new field office in Olenguruone to coordinate implementation of a major EU-supported conservation programme, alongside partnerships with private sector players focused on landscape restoration and protection.

He added that through partnerships with organisations including IDH/ISLA, KTDA Browns Plantation Kenya and East Africa partners, Rhino Ark recently completed a 32-kilometre fence along the northern boundary of South Western Mau.

He also reported steady progress in Rhino Ark’s flagship electric fencing programme.

“Fencing on Mount Kenya is progressing well, with 318 kilometres completed to date, while in Kakamega, 50 kilometres of the planned 117-kilometre perimeter fence have been constructed. These interventions are critical in protecting ecosystems from illegal resource extraction and reducing human-wildlife conflict,” he said.

Lambrechts emphasised that while fencing remains a cornerstone of Rhino Ark’s conservation strategy, it also comes with long-term maintenance demands.

“Every kilometre of fence we build is a step toward safeguarding our ecosystems and communities, but it also increases our maintenance responsibility. To address this, we have established an endowment fund to secure sustainable financing for the future of our conservation work,” he added.

Beyond fencing, he highlighted broader progress across Rhino Ark’s programmes, including community livelihoods, environmental education, forest restoration and endangered species recovery.

Set against Samburu’s rugged semi-arid terrain, the 2026 Rhino Charge promises a compelling blend of adventure, innovation, and environmental conservation. The region’s dramatic landscapes and rich cultural heritage are expected to provide a spectacular backdrop for this year’s event.

According to the organisers, the dates will run from May 29-30, 2026, in Samburu County with the theme: Adventure, Community and Conservation.

The first day will be Scrutineering which is mandatory vehicle inspections, second day will be the main competition while the third day will be prize giving ceremony and official closing. For those who wish to attend, they must purchase tickets in advance www.rhino-charge.org

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Wangari Ndirangu