(Posted 30th May 2025)
Final preparations are well underway for the 36th edition of the Rhino Charge, with scrutineering having officially kicked off this morning in the spectacular, fossil-strewn wilderness of Saimo Soi, Baringo North. This year’s edition marks a historic return to Baringo County—renowned for its rugged landscapes and rich cultural tapestry—as the event’s host for the fifth time, after previous charges in Mogoswok (2009), Kinyach (2007), Yatya (2011), and Sabon (2021).
Nestled deep within Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, Baringo County offers a dramatic and diverse natural stage for the Rhino Charge’s extreme 4×4 challenge. Spanning over 11,000 km², the county is famed for its flamingo-fringed lakes, geysers, fossil-rich escarpments, and towering hills. Among these natural wonders are Lake Bogoria—a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its geothermal activity and flamingo colonies—Lake Baringo, known for its crocodile and hippo populations, and the Tugen Hills, which have yielded some of the world’s most important human ancestor fossils, including the six-million-year-old Orrorin tugenensis found in nearby Kapsomin.
Saimo Soi itself is steeped in trade, culture, myth and natural history. Once a major trade route linking the interior to the coast, the area still bears the legacy of Swahili and Arab traders who planted tamarind trees along their paths—markers that still stand centuries later. The local name “Kurket” alludes to the area’s unique ecological blend—where highland and lowland vegetation mix harmoniously. Local myths speak of ancient petrified trees and thunder gods that lived in the caves, but also of a “love trail” that winds romantically through the escarpment—a cherished cultural site whispered about by elders.
SCRUTINEERING – SAFETY FIRST IN CHALLENGING TERRAIN
Today’s scrutineering process, running from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, involves meticulous inspection of all 64 participating vehicles to ensure they comply with the event’s strict technical and safety regulations. These checks include:
- Mandatory safety gear: helmets, harnesses, and fire extinguishers;
- Navigation equipment: GPS units to track cars in the rugged 100 km² race terrain;
- Vehicle classification: verifying modifications based on which cars will be competing in different classes.
“This process is non-negotiable—it ensures both fair competition and participant safety in one of Africa’s most grueling off-road challenges,” emphasized Don White, Rhino Charge Chairman.
This year’s field showcases the evolving face of the Rhino Charge community:
- Women trailblazers: Teams such as Car 47 Girls in Pearls and Car 19 Bush Babes continue to inspire more women into motorsport and conservation;
- Intergenerational teams: Car 6 Team Ole Choda brings together grandfather, father and grandson in a testament to family legacy;
- Global representation: Team 63 Aussie Rules marks a decade of participation, reinforcing the event’s international appeal.
More than just a motorsport spectacle, Rhino Charge is a powerful conservation fundraiser. It supports the work of the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust, which funds the protection of vital ecosystems such as the Aberdares, Mount Kenya, Mau, and Kakamega forests. In Baringo, the event has left a lasting legacy through community-led initiatives, including:
- Construction of classrooms at Sabor Secondary School;
- Provision of water tanks at Kamungei Primary School;
- Kipcherere Water Project;
- Construction of a guest house in Kinyach to promote eco-tourism;
- Erection of a gate and toilet block at Mangar Conservancy.
In keeping with its eco-conscious ethos, the event upholds a zero-tolerance litter policy and offsets its carbon footprint through the purchase of verified carbon credits from the Chyullu Hills REDD + Project, which helps reduce deforestation and land degradation in the Chyullu–Tsavo landscape.
EVENT SCHEDULE
- 30th May – Scrutineering in Saimo Soi;
- 31st May – Race Day: 64 teams attempt to navigate 13 control points within 10 hours;
- 1st June – Prize-giving at Kosile Village, a historical hub for 18th-century barter trade.
Kosile, the event village, holds cultural and historical significance. Known as a traditional trading centre between Tugen, Pokot, and Ilchamus communities, it once served as a junction for goods such as beads, livestock, and tobacco brought from Turkana. Tamarind trees scattered around Kosile offer a living history of the ancient trade routes once traversed by Swahili and Arab caravans in search of ivory.
Baringo County has emerged as a national leader in community-led conservation. Home to 16 registered conservancies—including Ruko, Irong, Kiborgoch, and Chuine—the county plays a pivotal role in safeguarding rare species such as the Rothschild’s giraffe, Greater Kudu, Giant Ground Pangolin and Patas monkey. These conservancies double as wildlife corridors and economic engines, driving eco-tourism and local enterprise.
The county also boasts 14 geo-heritage sites, including Lake Bogoria, the Tugen Hills, and the Kerio Valley Escarpment. Through the Baringo Great Rift Valley Geopark initiative, the region is leveraging these assets to foster geo-tourism, research, and sustainable community development.
“Baringo’s landscapes test drivers, but its communities remind us why we race—to conserve Kenya’s wild spaces.”
— Christian Lambrechts, Executive Director, Rhino Ark
“The Charge brings together people, culture, and conservation. It’s a celebration of Kenya’s wild heritage and the communities that protect it.”
— Don White, Clerk of Course, Rhino Charge
