By KPC Sports Reporter
Rhino Charge 2026 roars into Samburu County this weekend with organisers insisting the iconic off-road competition is, above all else, a conservation mission aimed at protecting Kenya’s fragile ecosystems.
Ahead of Saturday’s main event, all 65 competing vehicles are set to undergo rigorous technical, safety and environmental compliance inspections during scrutineering on Friday.
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In a statement released ahead of the competition, organisers said the event continues to evolve beyond motorsport into a platform for environmental stewardship, sustainable land use and community conservation.
“Rhino Charge is far more than a motorsport event,” said Rhino Ark Executive Director Christian Lambrechts.
“Every aspect – from venue selection and environmental planning to waste management and post-event cleaning – is designed around minimising impact while supporting long-term conservation outcomes,” he added.
This year’s edition comes as the world marks the United Nations-declared International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, placing renewed focus on the protection of landscapes that support wildlife and pastoralist communities.
Organisers said Samburu’s Ngilai Conservancy was carefully selected after meeting strict environmental and conservation criteria.
“Adventure and environmental stewardship are not opposites; they are partners,” the statement noted.
The organisers explained that Rhino Charge intentionally rotates venues annually to prevent environmental degradation caused by repeated use of the same location.
Since its inception, the event has been hosted in nine counties including Samburu, Turkana, Narok, Marsabit and Kajiado.
According to Rhino Ark, Samburu offers a unique ecosystem that supports wildlife corridors linking Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves. The area is also home to the famous Samburu “Special Five” — the Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Somali ostrich and Beisa oryx.
Beyond the competition itself, organisers highlighted the event’s long-running environmental initiatives, including a waste sorting and recycling programme introduced in 2013.
“All waste generated within the entire event area is segregated on site into plastics, aluminum cans, glass, tetrapak and organic waste,” the statement said.
The organisers added that the event has also pursued climate neutrality since 2017 by calculating emissions generated through travel, competing vehicles, generators, campfires and aircraft operations.
In a major sustainability push, the pioneering electric vehicle introduced in last year’s competition will return for Rhino Charge 2026 as organisers gather data on lower-impact technologies in extreme off-road conditions.
“The funds raised continue to protect Kenya’s critical water towers, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and strengthen community livelihoods,” Lambrechts said.
The main competition will take place on Saturday, May 30, followed by the prize-giving ceremony on Sunday.
