GET READY TO RUN WILD, FOR THE WILD. Running a marathon on an African wildlife conservancy presents some unique challenges. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya is home to the annual Lewa Safari Marathon, organised by Tusk in partnership with Lewa and Safaricom. Each year participants share the reserve …
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GET READY TO RUN WILD, FOR THE WILD. Running a marathon on an African wildlife conservancy presents some unique challenges. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya is home to the annual Lewa Safari Marathon, organised by Tusk in partnership with Lewa and Safaricom. Each year participants share the reserve with several large African predators including the big five.
This marathon is notoriously one of the world’s most challenging and rewarding. Set on the conservancy’s dirt roads the route takes runners across savannah plains, along river banks and through acacia woodland.
The Lewa Safari Marathon is not just a personal challenge. This unique event has supported conservation projects across Kenya for over 25 years. By taking part, every single participant plays a huge role in helping local communities and raising awareness of the threats facing Africa’s incredible wildlife.
The Lewa Safari Marathon takes place at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya. What began as a comparatively tiny event in 2000 has now grown from 180 runners raising US$50,000 to over 1,400 runners. To date the marathon has raised over US$7 million for conservation and community development across Kenya. This unique marathon is exceptional in many ways – it combines an unusual fundraising initiative with one of Kenya’s greatest sporting passions, running.
The course is set on dirt roads that take the runners on a 13 mile route through the conservancy — across savannah plains, along river banks and through acacia woodland. Half Marathon runners complete one loop of the course, Full Marathon runners, two.
The Lewa Safari Marathon is not just a personal challenge. This unique event has supported conservation projects across Kenya for over 20 years. By taking part, every single participant plays a huge role in helping local communities and raising awareness of the threats facing Africa’s incredible wildlife.
To save our country’s precious wildlife from extinction, we must act now. We cannot stand by and let endangered species fade from existence into mere memories. Join in securing the future of our wildlife.
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A race to run before you die!
Running through one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife conservancies was a joy. Everything about the race was difficult and spectacular. I raised money for TUSK to be able to run … MORE
Running through one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife conservancies was a joy. Everything about the race was difficult and spectacular. I raised money for TUSK to be able to run in the race. The course was two 1/2 marathons– so a double loop. I ran slow due to the heat, I got lapped by an African man. Humbling…
It was incredible as they literals had to use helicopters to keep the dangerous animals away to keep runners safe and there was park rangers out on the race course with guns to protect the runners.
The race packet contained hand-made things, that years later I am still using. The accommodations available where over the top (and expensive). What a joy!