From 2015 onwards, anyone who wants to come to the Rhino Charge has to purchase a ticket. This has become necessary due to the growing popularity of the event which has put the host communities and their land under increasing environmental pressure. By introducing a ticketing system, the organisers aim to make the Spectator Camp more attractive to responsible spectators by improving the spectators’ experience as well as improve the administration of the event.
What is the Rhino Charge?
The Rhino Charge is an annual off-road 4×4 competition held in Kenya in which the entrants are required to visit 13 points (Guard Posts) while travelling the shortest possible distance across difficult, trackless terrain, where speed is not a necessity. The event is organised in order to raise funds to support the activities of the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust.
The event was conceived in 1989 to raise funds for the construction of the Aberdare Electric Fence. Rhino Ark founder Ken Kuhle, Rally Enthusiasts Rob Combes and Brian Haworth mooted the idea of an off-road motorsport event to support the fencing project carried out by the then recently established Rhino Ark Charitable Trust. The Trust was committed to saving the dwindling Rhino population in the Aberdare National Park, as well as mitigating human-wildlife conflicts around the National Park. On 4 February 1989, 31 competing vehicles entered the first event which was won by Travers Allison in a Suzuki jeep. Whilst the first Rhino Charge raised only KES 250,000, this amount has increased tremendously over the years.
Accommodation
The following camp operators are the accredited camp operators for this years Rhino Charge:
These accredited camp operators have gone through a tendering process and were selected as the Rhino Charge accredited camp operators out of all the applications which were received within the given deadline.
Please note that SELF-CAMPERS must also register and book their accommodation (Bunduz Self-Camping options) via the Rhino Charge ticketing portal. The self-camping options include communal showers, toilets, security and garbage collection.
All options listed above are rates per person, full board (excluding self-camping option), for a 2 night package. The accommodation rates are payable as follows:
0 – 5 years = free of charge
6 – 11 years = pay 75% of adult price
12 years and above = pay full price
Services included for the self-camping option are toilet (1 per 5 people) and shower facilities (1 per 5 people), garbage collection and communal security. For more information on the full board accommodation packages, please download the camp operator’s flyers by clicking below:
Any cancellations or refunds are done directly through the camp operator of your choice and yourself with the following refund policy applying to ALL accommodation bookings;
- 100% refund if booking cancelled before or on the 31st March 2018;
- 75% refund if booking cancelled on or after 1st April but before or on 15th April 2018;
- 50% refund if booking cancelled on or after 16th April but before or on 30th April 2018;
- 25% refund if booking cancelled on or after 1st May but before or on 15th May 2018;
- No refund if booking cancelled on or after 16th May 2018.
Buy Tickets
From 2015 onwards, anyone who wants to come to the Rhino Charge has to purchase a ticket. This has become necessary due to the growing popularity of the event which has put the host communities and their land under increasing environmental pressure. By introducing a ticketing system, the organisers aim to make the Spectator Camp more attractive to responsible spectators by improving the spectators’ experience, their comfort and security as well as improve the administration of the event. The new measures have also been put in place to ensure the environmental friendliness and sustainability of the event.
The Rhino Charge Ticketing Portal will open again in 2018.
Please do NOT attempt to come to the venue if you have not purchased the said items in advance, as you will not be granted access to the venue.
Strictly no exceptions!
Can I come to the Rhino Charge if I have not bought a ticket in advance? Are tickets on sale at the venue?
No.
Tickets, accommodation packages and vehicle passes for the 2018 Rhino Charge are ONLY available for purchase through the Rhino Charge Ticketing Portal.
Please do NOT attempt to come to the venue if you have not purchased the said items in advance, as you will not be granted access to the venue. Strictly no exceptions!
Camping Do’s & Don’ts
This year we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Rhino Charge!
You’ve all come here for a fun weekend so we have tried to keep all the rules to the minimum. However, this is a beautiful Rhino Charge venue on private land and our own personal ideas of fun must not, in any circumstance, interfere with that beauty. If you are in any doubt about what is or what is not acceptable, please ask one of the officials. In order to guide you on what is expected throughout this weekend, please read through:
CAMPING
This is to be done in designated areas only. Kindly comply with the instructions given to you by the officials and respective camp managers.
All visitors are expected to be self-sufficient in food and camping equipment or to have made prior arrangements with a camp operator. Bottled drinking water will be available from Highland Mineral Water near HQ. Ice will be available from The Iceman near HQ. Some toilets are provided at certain areas. Please use them and leave them in a clean state.
Please ensure you check in at the relevant information tent before entering the camp!
LITTER
Litter is unsightly and dangerous to both livestock and wild animals. Please observe the following rules:
- Burn all flammable litter on your camp fire.
- Use the ORANGE bags provided by Highlands Mineral Water for all plastic bottles.
- Use the GREEN bags provided by BINS for other rubbish such as tins, bottle tops, foil etc. PLEASE take these bags to the collection site which will be sign posted. DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN YOUR CAMP
- Do not BURY litter.
- Take particular care not to leave any sharp objects on the ground.
- Any litter not disposed of through the above methods should be taken home with you.
- Please leave your campsite as you found it. Failure to do so will lead to hefty fines and possible exclusion from future events. No exceptions.
FIRE
Fires may be lit only in the camping area, with the following strict conditions:
- Clear a space around your camp fire, removing all potentially flammable grass and foliage.
- Do not leave your fire unattended, even for a short time. Cover fire with soil or sand when leaving.
- DO NOT THROW CIGARETTES OUT OF YOUR CAR WINDOW.
- STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Bring at least 2 fire extinguishers to your campsite, and ensure that these are put in strategic areas (i.e. camp kitchen).
NOISE
The Rhino Charge takes this form of pollution as seriously as any other. We would be grateful if you could maintain sociable quiet behaviour and adhere to the following rules:
- Loud music is strongly discouraged. If music is played, keep the volume turned low so as not to disturb neighbouring camps. Only authorised entertainment systems (DJ’s setups) will be tolerated.
- Power generators are discouraged. If they must be used then they should be placed well away from other camps and, ideally, placed in a pit to muffle their noise.
- No noise disturbance after or before 06:30am.
- The maximum speed limit on the Rhino Charge venue is 40kph. Anyone found speeding or driving recklessly in the opinion of the officials will be asked to leave the venue. Competitors speeding will be penalised following the competition rules and regulations. Speeding is not only dangerous for you, your passengers and other cars on the road, but it also violates the rules of community conservancies in which the Rhino Charge usually takes place. For your own safety, please obey this rule strictly.
- Joy-riding is forbidden in all areas.
- Night driving is not permitted.
- Please bring your own fuel (petrol / diesel etc.) – NONE IS AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE. The last available fuel station will be marked in the route notes.
- All camping, catering and merchandising provided for your convenience at the event are being totally organised and run by individuals or companies on their own behalf. They are totally independent from Rhino Ark and Rhino Ark cannot be held responsible for any services or products.
- Only accredited retailers are allowed to sell their products on the venue in their designated areas.
- Firewood: Self Campers are advised to bring their own firewood and cooking fuel.
- Washing water can be bought at the venue from a designated spot at Ksh. 1 per litre.
- Kshs 10,000 per vehicle (less than 6 seats)
- Kshs 20,000 per vehicle (between 6 – 12 seats)
- Kshs 30,000 per vehicle (13 or more seats)
DRIVING
Only competitors and officials are permitted to drive off-road and only during the event. For all other vehicles the following stipulations apply:
CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT COMES FIRST IN ALL INSTANCES
Important Notices:
Vehicle Pass – Landowner Access Fee (LAF)
The Vehicle Pass, known as the Landowner Access Fee (LAF) was implemented to benefit the local host community of the Rhino Charge and the fee goes directly to the community. The money is then used for community projects, such as the construction of a school classrooms or the installation of a borehole.
All Vehicles entering the Rhino Charge venue are required to purchase a Vehicle Pass – Landowner Access Fee (LAF) sticker at a rate of:
Please note that the Vehicle Pass (LAF) sticker MUST be displayed on the windscreen of any car that enters the Rhino Charge venue. If any vehicle is discovered not displaying a sticker, they will be fined twice the normal LAF. The LAF can be purchased only through the online ticketing system. The voucher which you will receive will allow you to collect your LAF sticker at the entrance to the Rhino Charge venue. Please note that the LAF is not refundable.