Rhino Charge 2011 held yesterday (June 3) in the rugged Tugen Hills at Yatya raised ksh  77,311,364.

This beats last year’s figure of ksh 72,540,232 adding 5 million to secure another all time record.

Winner of the event was the Mark Glen/ Bryn Llewellyn team, winners in 2009 with a distance of 42.2 more than the straight line distance of just under 30km.

This was an “outstanding achievement” considering the extremely rugged rock strewn steep hill sided course, said Clerk of the Course, Anton Levitan.

Winner of the most prestigious Victor Ludorum – highest fund raise and best placed by formula was Car 5 of Alan McKittrick who was placed 5th overall in the event. Car 5’s total was ksh 11.5 million.

Of the 65 registered entrants, 58 were flagged off. 22 completed all 13 guard posts. Two entrants were forced to withdraw as their vehicles were held up due to severe shipping delays in Durban port.

The exciting event lived up to all expectations for the entrants who were flagged off at 7.30 am from the spread of guard posts scattered through the rugged rock strewn hills of Yatya.

In a tough contest at the gauntlet, Car 22 of Gray Cullen took the first position with a distance of 1.91km. 2nd position went to Manee Choda of Car 6 with a distance of 1.97km. 3rd place was Mark Glen of car 48 with a distance of 2.04km.

The modified vehicles category was won by Mark Glen in Car 48 who covered 14 posts with a distance of 42.2km. Car 28 of Torben Rune won the unmodified category coming 9th overall with a distance of 67.3km.

Best-placed overseas entrant was Peter Castle of Car 14 with a distance of 46.6km and placed 20th overall in the event. Castle’s team was awarded the Spirit of the Charge trophy for bringing their car from Zambia to compete in the event. Castle is the founder of Zambia’s Elephant Charge modeled on the Rhino Charge.

Tiger Line 2 was won by Sean Avery in Car 38 covering a distance of 2.5km.

The three all ladies teams delivered strong performances with Caroline Armstrong of Car 18 winning the Chris Nicklin Coupe des Dames award for finishing all 13 guard posts with a distance of 61.4km.

Rhino Ark Patron, Charles Njonjo, and the Director of KWS Julius Kipng’etich joined the MP for Baringo North Hon William Cheptumo and Assistant Minister for Justice, Constitutional Affairs and National Cohesion at the event and for the Prize Giving.

The British High Commissioner Rob Macaire was a first time entrant competing with David Bromham and Michael Turner in Car 15 a Toyota FJ 15.

Conservationists William Kimosop of Baringo and Dr Paula Kahumbu of Wildlife Direct and the Kenya Land Conservation Trust spoke of Baringo’s successful efforts to develop conservancies in the area to create an accelerating new source of income for communities living in the arid North Rift.

Speaking during the function, the Director of KWS, Julius Kipng'etich said the Rhino Charge was ‘Kenya’s own world unique’ fund raising event. It has raised over ksh 800 million for conservation over the years.  He challenged more people and organizations to “accelerate support” for the new initiatives in Mt Kenya and Mau Eburu in which Rhino Ark and KWS are spearheading. He announced that the Kenya Government was fully committed to playing its part financially in these two major projects and in the urgent funds needed for the Aberdare Trust Maintenance Fund. Substantial specific support for both maintenance and new initiatives in Mt Kenya and Mau Eburu are to be announced in the budget this week.

The Rhino Charge raffle to assist the fundraise with over 150 prizes was extremely successful. The main prize two business class tickets of Kenya Airways to Rome was drawn by Car 3.

The camping fees totaling ksh 2.4 million was raised from entry fees into the venue by all entrants. The funds will go to local development projects under a local committee and Rhino Ark.

Said Colin Church, Chairman of the Rhino Ark Management Committee “From now onwards a major portion of the money raised by the Rhino Charge will go towards two new projects - fencing Mt.Kenya and Mau Mt. Eburu- one of Mau’s 22 forest blocks”.

Mr. Church said Mt. Kenya and Mau Eburu “are now Rhino Ark’s prime forward conservation thrusts from 2011 onwards. The two projects will be undertaken in full collaboration with local communities living adjacent to these valuable mountain ecosystems”

The Mt. Kenya fence will be at least 400kms long - equal or possibly longer than the now completed Aberdare fence - encircling over 2000sq kms and will require Kshs.1 billion to build and will be completed within five years subject to a regular flow of funds.

Mau Eburu will be 50 kms long and will cost Kshs. 100 million encircling about 80sq km of a pristine forest- greatly endangered by illegal loggers.

Already, the Kenya Forest Working Group and the Bill Woodley Wildlife Trust are undertaking significant conservation work in the Mt.Kenya area with whom Rhino Ark also works together on aspects of Bongo Surveillance Project.  Mt. Kenya and Mau Eburu are strongholds of the critically endangered Eastern Mountain Bongo antelope.

Meanwhile the Rhino Ark remains committed to the Aberdares and will be completely involved in an overall ecosystem integrity master plan for the long-term management of the Rhino Ark Aberdare fence.

The Aberdare Trust is currently in formation.  It will be a public/private partnership in which Rhino Ark and the forest edge communities will be working with the Government agencies responsible for the conservation of the Aberdares and the management of the Rhino Ark fence.

Detailed results can be found on the results page of this website.