| A total of 52 Rhino Charge cars are expected to undergo scrutineering (vehicle inspection to ensure compliance with rules of the event) today in the morning till dusk ahead of the competition scheduled for Saturday at Nkoteyia Community Conservancy in Samburu County.
Since morning today, competing cars are being registered to take part in Kenya’s unique off-road competition that raises funds for environmental conservation work.
This year’s venue lies about 50km from Maralal Town on the Kirisia-Laikipia wildlife migratory corridor in the vast and picturesque Samburu County, ‘the gateway to the Magical North’.
At the same time, about 3,300 people had been registered on an online ticketing portal by the end of the Friday, May 26, 2023 deadline to attend the event that’s one of the few to run with a national conservation purpose.
Every year, the Rhino Charge Organising Committee receives requests from various communities interested in hosting the world renowned 4×4 off-road competition.
Factors considered in selecting a host conservancy include willingness of the host community, terrain diversity, low human settlement density and appropriate landscape. This year, Nkoteyia Community Conservancy, which lies in a wildlife migratory corridor, was selected for ticking most boxes on the set criteria.
The conservancy, with stunning views of Ewaso Nyiro River and undulating hills, hosts the Nkoteyia Ecolodge, now Three Stones Safari Lodge (Soito Okuni – three stones in Samburu language), with the stones representing the environment, the wildlife and the people. The lodge was established five years ago with support from USAID and DANIDA to create an income to pay for the much-needed infrastructure in the conservancy. The lodge was meant to tap into the tourism market while conserving wildlife and supporting local community livelihoods, whose mainstay is pastoralism.
The ecolodge has a conferencing facility and prides itself on being close to nature, wildlife, and cultural experience through activities such as guided bush walks, hiking, and nature trails.
The ecolodge has positioned itself on the market as a sustainable tourism attraction characterised by low-density ecotourism and away from mass tourism model and with a clear focus on excellent visitor experience.
This year’s Rhino Charge main events are as follows:
• Friday, 2nd June – Scrutineering (inspection of the Competing Cars)
• Saturday, 3rd June – Rhino Charge
• Sunday, 4th June – Prize-giving
Kindly note that general information about the Rhino Charge is available online on the Rhino Charge website www.rhinocharge.co.ke. Digital contents about the Charge and Rhino Ark can be accessed at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17zpkaom5x6WlMP7nDbIN2a86u3Sub1_l?usp=sharing
The digital channels of the Rhino Charge and Rhino Ark are:
|
