By Andries Marais
Kenya Rhino Charge

I have attended two of these.  It must rate as the most well organised event on the continent.  And the most challenging too.  Just to get to the event the spectators probably employ more off-road ability than what is ever required anywhere in SA.

The winner is judged on the shortest distance covered between the 13 waypoints within a given, limited time frame.  The routes between these waypoints may be covered with even a 4x2 in many instances but obviously the shortest distance is as close as possible to the straight lines between the waypoints - I have seen virtual vertical winchings as well as 60 degrees downhill into sheer and scaringly deep dongas,  as well as rock climbing over hills that many a baboon mother would warn the young ones to be careful of.  Often three consecutive waypoints are within sighting distance from one another but frustratingly difficult to get to unless wayward detours are undertaken.

It is a huge team effort - each driver has a marshaller (who is in total control) and two pushers / wheel repairers / winch operators / sand ladder fetchers-operators.  Normally there are three to four girls' teams participating and many, many outsiders regularly do not even come close to the ladies' positions.

The type of vehicle that has the most wins are modified older model Range Rovers - weight reduction and approach/departure angle modification.  The best tyres to use are general Super All Grip 7.50x16 - forget about any 15" wide tackies!  There is NO standard vehicle that shall make it anywhere near the first 10 places.

Normal TDI Landies often shear their rearwheel drive shafts when too much engine torque is applied by unskilled drivers, and the Land Cruisers are simply too heavy.

The standard vehicle that came closest so far was a MB Gelandewagen although the front mudgards were removed for better vision of the wheels on the scary narrows and through the sharp rocks.

It is a must attend and I may very well go there just to be with the crowd. Absolutely entertaining.  On my last visit 23 spectator vehicles got stuck on the way to the area, about 20 Km from the start and finish site, and were still there when we fought our way back home through the black cotton soil three days later with my lightly laden old model Pajero.

Do not miss it.
Andries