Going global: Virtual Lewa Marathon spawns a new virtual event – The Wildlife Ranger Challenge.

The viral nature of the Tusk Lewa Safari Virtual Marathon, East Africa’s first virtual marathon, has led to the announcement of an even larger initiative, The Wildlife Ranger Challenge.

On October 3, thirty ranger teams from around Africa will take part in a challenge to help thousands of their colleagues continue in their jobs to protect iconic African wildlife such as elephants, pangolins, rhinos, and lions – and reverse the increase in wildlife poaching since the pandemic caused the loss of ranger jobs on the ground.

The challenge consists of a half marathon run plus a ‘ranger quiz’ where the participating rangers will have to test their tracking ability, identification skills and wildlife knowledge. The virtual nature of the event will allow participation from around the world in a 5 km, 10km or 21 km run or walk, as well as taking part in the ranger quiz and contributing to the fund.

The event follows the enormous success of this year’s Lewa Safari Marathon, one of the most important fund-raising projects of the British-based registered charity, Tusk, which supports wildlife conservation in Africa. 

Lewa, under the shadow of Mount Kenya, is an important wildlife conservancy in northern Kenya, responsible for a thriving population of the endangered black rhino, as well as many other species, including the endangered Grevy’s zebra, elephant, lion, cheetah and giraffe. The conservancy also contributes significantly to the welfare of surrounding communities through education and health programmes.

Faced with significant economic and conservation COVID-related losses, elite Kenyan distance athletes, Eliud Kipchoge, the world’s only sub-2 hour marathoner and a Lewa Ambassador, and Geoffrey Kamworwor stepped up to lend their support to the virtual marathon. Kipchoge’s run with the conservancy rangers on the traditional Lewa marathon course some weeks prior to the late June race date and the related publicity ensured the virtual marathon went viral and contributions flowed in from around the globe.

Both Kipchoge and Kamworwor were unstinting in their praise for the exceptional work done by the park rangers and regarded the opportunity to run with the rangers as their privilege, rather than the other way around.

Tusk CEO Charlie Mayhew explained how the virtual nature of this year’s marathon, combined with the support from Kipchoge and Kamworwor took the event global.

“We normally have 1400 participants in our annual event at Lewa, each raising at least £1500,” explained “But we had no idea what the virtual marathon would bring in.  Fortunately, we were able to get the support of high-profile personalities, including of course the Kenyan athletes, and we’re delighted to have reached $300 000. With no overheads normally associated with the staging of the actual event in Kenya, that has gone a long way towards meeting the needs of Lewa,” Mayhew explained.

“Although no-one would have wished for COVID, we have been able to learn some valuable lessons which benefit us in the long term.  We are very eager to return to Lewa next year for the marathon, but we will likely offer a virtual option from now on for those who are unable to travel to Kenya but wish to support us.  And perhaps the most important lesson for all of us has been to understand more fully the important link between nature, our wellbeing and that of the planet.”

Despite the impressive contribution from the Tusk Lewa Virtual Marathon, African wildlife has still been severely impacted with many jobs lost and salaries cut through the absence of international tourism. The “Wildlife Ranger Challenge” is a new ambitious project, aiming to turn around the crisis.

“We’re delighted that philanthropist Mark Scheinberg has agreed to contribute matching funding to any funds raised to a maximum of $ 5 million,” continued Mayhew. “Hence our target for the Wildlife Ranger Challenge is $10 million.  People entering can run on any day, although the ranger teams will compete on 3 October.

“Tusk has reached out to many other organisations throughout Africa to spread the benefits of the Challenge as far as possible.  We’ve been able to send off an initial cheque for $4 million to meet urgent conservation needs and will be sending another in October / November after the event.

“It’s not too late to sign up and I urge everyone to contribute to this vitally important project which will benefit 45 to 50 protected areas in Africa.”

Anyone interested should enter via the event website on https://www.tusk.org/events/wildlife-ranger-challenge