The Rhino Charge is an annual off-road competition held in Kenya in which the entrants are required to visit 13 points (Checkpoints) 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 for the conservation 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 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. 

Rhino Ark is a charitable trust registered as a Charity in Kenya, UK (Charity No. 1047083) and the USA (with IRC 501 (c) 3 Status). Founded in 1988, the trust responded to the grave crisis facing Kenya’s Black Rhino population in the Aberdare ecosystem. The Rhino was under severe threat from rampant poaching for its highly valued horn. Rhino Ark’s initial aim was to build a fence along sections of the Aberdare National Park on its Eastern Salient, where the rhino was being mercilessly poached. The Salient borders directly onto farming land. Wildlife was able to maraud at night into the farms bordering the park, destroying crops, creating fear and loss of both revenue and, on occasions, lives. This situation fuelled an already volatile community, which saw no value in protecting either the wildlife or the forest habitat. Poachers had easy access. 

Rhino Ark’s formation was specifically to assist the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to finance a protective fence around the Salient area, which has the highest concentration of wildlife in the Aberdares. The initial project idea subsequently evolved into a much more ambitious task of encircling the entire Aberdare Conservation Area with a game-proof fence. The fence, strong enough to resist elephant pressure, is powered by electricity to keep wildlife within and curb illegal log extraction, snaring, and poaching of wildlife (especially rhino and the rare and elusive bongo) from without. The fence construction work started in 1989 and was completed on 28 August 2009. On 12 March 2010, the fence was formally commissioned by the former President of the Republic of Kenya, Hon. Mwai Kibaki. 

Construction of the fence has brought harmony between wildlife and farmers around the Aberdare Conservation Area. The farmers now enjoy a peaceful sleep at night without fear of land, crop and house destruction. Over the years, Rhino Ark’s work has evolved towards seeking sustainable, long-term solutions to the conservation challenges facing mountain forest ecosystems, and other areas of important biodiversity under threat. 

In December 2010, Rhino Ark announced its formal commitment to supporting the conservation of other mountain forest ecosystems. The initial areas of focus are Mount Kenya and Mount Mau Eburu. 

For more information on the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust, please visit: www.rhinoark.org

Each competition car raises money and then donates that money to Rhino Ark. They have to raise a minimum amount in order to take part in the event – this money goes to Rhino Ark. If you would like to support one of the teams entering the event, please DONATE NOW.

A Memorandum of Understanding is signed between the rightful landowners/management with landowner agreement and Rhino Charge officials, a copy of which can be availed on request. It is also necessary to attach to this MoU a copy of the conservancy/community minutes of a meeting confirming the agreement to hold the event, which must be attended and recorded by all interested parties.

The conservancy/community board, along with the local community members, will need to agree on what the funds raised will be used for and declare this to Rhino Ark before the monies are disbursed. Rhino Ark / Charge ensures that these funds be used for activities which benefit the area or community at large rather than individuals.

The funds which are raised for the community come through what we call the Vehicle Entry Donation (VED). Every vehicle which enters the event must have purchased a Vehicle Entry Donation (VED) voucher, and they are given a sticker as proof of payment. Payment is made through the online booking system using either MPESA or VISA. The visitors are given the sticker at the venue, which they must display on the windscreen of the vehicle. The administration and management of this system are coordinated and run by Rhino Charge volunteers. 

The rates per vehicle are KES 12,000/- for vehicles with 6 seats or less, KES 15,000/- for vehicles with 7 seats or more, and KES 15,000/- for Trucks. The total amount raised will depend on the number of vehicles that come to the event, so the amounts cannot be known for sure, but this is usually between KES 4,000,000/- and KES 4,500,000/-.

The Rhino Charge is a nationally recognised event and receives wide local and international press coverage and exposure, this exposure helps with exposure and awareness for the area and helps to promote tourism and recreational activities. In addition, we promote the sale of traditional beadwork and local crafts and encourage the women’s groups to sell their products at the entry gate. Furthermore, the visitors purchase sheep and goats from the local community for nyama choma.

The venue for the Rhino Charge is kept secret until a few days before the event. Only email addresses that have registered through the online ticketing portal will receive the details of this year’s venue.

No, the idea is that the competition cars drive as little as possible on any roads and tracks.

There is a competition speed limit of 40kph for the competing cars, and they are penalised if they exceed this.

The Rhino Charge Ticketing Portal is the official and only website through which spectators, competitors, volunteers and camp operators who want to come to the Rhino Charge must book and pay for: 

1. An Entry Ticket Voucher donation (one ticket per adult) 
2. Vehicle Entry Donation (VED) 
3. Accommodation from accredited camp operators 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE: 

• Entry Ticket Voucher donations are sold on a first–come, first–served basis  
• A maximum of 750 persons will be admitted into the spectator camp 
• No sale of Entry Ticket Voucher donation at the venue (only online) 
• Once purchased, Entry Ticket Voucher donations are not transferable or refundable 
• Accommodation bookings for the spectator camp can only be made through the Rhino Charge ticketing portal. If you buy accommodation from any other place / third party, you do so at your own risk and will be denied entry. Be cautious of scammers.  

Please note that there are strictly no exceptions, and until you have paid for your Entry Ticket Donation, your Vehicle Entry

If you are a Camp Operator, Competitor, Checkpoint Officer & Checkpoint Sponsor, you can access the Rhino Charge venue between 08:00hrs and 18:00hrs on Wednesday 27^th May 2026. 

Spectators who have purchased a 3-night package are allowed to enter the venue between 08:00hrs and 18:00hrs on Thursday, 28th May 2026 ONLY. Spectators who have purchased a 2-night package are allowed to enter the venue between 08:00hrs and 18:00hrs on Friday, 29^th May 2026 ONLY. Please refer to the dates and times indicated on your accommodation booking (including self-camping options). 

If you don’t fit into either of the above categories, please contact info@rhinocharge.or.ke for clarity on when you can gain access to the venue. 

Please note that NOBODY will be allowed to enter the venue after 18:00hrs (6 pm) on any given day, and there is no admission on Charge Day (30 May 2026). This is for your safety.

For the event, Rhino Charge comes with a medical facility and doctors to assist with any medical emergencies that may arise during the course of the event.

Anyone who wants to come to the Rhino Charge has to purchase an Entry Ticket Voucher, which donates to the community project fund. 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 improving the administration of the event.

Entry Ticket Donations for the Rhino Charge are available at the following rates: 

0 – 5 years = free entry
6 – 11 years = KES 2,000
12 years and above = KES 4,000 

Please note that Entry Ticket Donations are not transferable or refundable.

The Vehicle Entry Donation (VED) was implemented to benefit the local host community of the Rhino Charge, and the donation goes directly to the community project fund. The money is then used for community projects, such as the construction of school classrooms or the installation of a borehole.

All Vehicles entering the Rhino Charge venue are required to purchase a VED sticker through the Rhino Charge Ticketing Portal at a rate of: 

• KES 12,000/- for vehicles with 6 or less seats 
• KES 15,000/- for vehicles with 7 or more seats, as well as any trucks 

Please note that the VED 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, it will be fined twice the normal standard rate. The VED can be purchased only through the online ticketing system. The voucher that you will receive will allow you to collect your VED sticker at the entrance to the Rhino Charge venue. Please note that the VED is not refundable.

If an ADDITIONAL vehicle pass is required after the ticketing portal has closed, it can be purchased at the venue at 150% of the cost of the standard vehicle passes purchased through the ticketing portal. Purchases can ONLY be made by MPESA.

Payments on the Rhino Charge ticketing portal can be made through: 

1. M-PESA 
2. Visa 
3. Mastercard

No. Each adult must create their own Rhino Charge Account. Only a dependant, i.e. a child under 18 years old can be added to an individual/adult booking. Please note that a maximum of 3 children can be added per individual/adult spectator booking. To make an individual/adult booking you must be over 18 years. The burden of proof for the age of a child (anyone under 18 years) is the responsibility of the adult who made the booking to provide (i.e. copy of birth certificate/passport).

Yes, this is designed to limit the further growth of the event – not just in regard to spectators, but across the board – to allow for better administration and principally to ensure that the event remains environmentally friendly, safe, and sustainable. 

Please note that the limited tickets are reserved for SPECTATORS only.

Yes, you MUST bring your I.D. to the Rhino Charge venue, the same one you used to make the booking; otherwise, you will not be allowed to enter the venue. This is necessary to make sure that: 

1. Your Entry Ticket Donation belongs to you 
2. Your Vehicle Entry Donation (VED) belongs to you 
3. Your accommodation booking belongs to you 

Please note that all children must also bring their I.D./Passport to the venue.

The Rhino Charge ticketing system works like an airline ticketing system. This means that Entry Tickets are personalised and linked to your I.D. and only the person who has booked and paid for their Entry Ticket Donation will be allowed to enter the venue. For this reason, Entry Ticket Donations are not transferable or refundable.

No. Entry access and accommodation packages for the Rhino Charge are ONLY available for purchase through the Rhino Charge Ticketing Portal once it opens. 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!

Yes. Children under 18 years of age can be added to an individual/adult booking. Please note that a maximum of 3 children can be added per individual/adult booking. The burden of proof for the age of a child (anyone under 18 years) is the responsibility of the adult who made the booking to provide (i.e., a copy of the birth certificate/passport). 

Please note that all children coming to the event need to be registered under their parent/guardian’s profile in the ticketing system and must bring their I.D./Passport to the venue.

No, it is not linked to a specific car/number plate but can only be used once to access the venue. Please, however, make sure that the person who made the Vehicle Entry Donation booking comes to the Rhino Charge with their ID and the voucher to redeem the Vehicle Entry Donation voucher at the entrance. Please note that the Vehicle Entry Donation is not refundable.

Yes, the venue and access to it tends to be on harsh terrain. Some 4WD experience would be ideal.

The Rhino Charge competition car does not need a Vehicle Pass (VED) to access the venue. If the competition car is being carried on the back of a lorry/truck, the lorry/truck will still require a Vehicle Pass to access the venue.

Yes. The General Rules of the event can be found at the Camping Do’s & Don’ts section

In the aim to reduce the use of paper, we would like to discourage you from printing out your vouchers, but rather suggest that you save it to your phone before leaving for the venue. Note, we can’t 100% guarantee mobile phone signal at check-in, so it is important that you download it and save it to your phone before you leave an area with phone signal.

In case you are facing any difficulties with the Ticketing System, please send an email to: tickets@rhinocharge.or.ke

The following camp operators are the accredited camp operators for the 2026 Rhino Charge: 

1. Bunduz 

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. 

Yes. You will not be allowed to enter the Rhino Charge venue if you have not booked your accommodation through the ticketing portal once it is open, with one of the accredited camp operators.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td><strong>RHINO CHARGE<br />
			2-night packages</strong></td>
			<td><strong>Bunduz</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Budget</strong></td>
			<td><strong>Bunduz</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Economy</strong></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A tent for 2 people &ndash; self-drive</td>
			<td>22,500</td>
			<td>32,500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A tent for 1 person &ndash; self-drive</td>
			<td>26,500</td>
			<td>39,500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A tent for 2 people &ndash; transport included</td>
			<td>29,700</td>
			<td>42,500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A tent for 1 person &ndash; transport included</td>
			<td>36,500</td>
			<td>48,500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Self Camping</td>
			<td colspan="2">15,000</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<p>All options listed above are rates per person, full board, for a 2-night package.</p>


<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td><strong>RHINO CHARGE<br />
			3-night packages</strong></td>
			<td><strong>Bunduz</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Budget</strong></td>
			<td><strong>Bunduz</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Economy</strong></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A tent for 2 people &ndash; self-drive</td>
			<td>29,800</td>
			<td>39,500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A tent for 1 person &ndash; self-drive</td>
			<td>36,500</td>
			<td>48,500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A tent for 2 people &ndash; transport included</td>
			<td>38,700</td>
			<td>51,500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A tent for 1 person &ndash; transport included</td>
			<td>42,000</td>
			<td>56,000</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<p>All options listed above are rates per person, full board, for a 3-night package. The accommodation rates are payable as follows:</p>

<p>0 &ndash; 5 years = free of charge<br />
6 &ndash; 11 years = pay 75% of the adult price<br />
12 years and above = pay full price</p>


<p>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;</p>


<p>&bull; 75% refund if booking cancelled on or after 1st April but before or on 15th April 2026;<br />
&bull; 50% refund if booking cancelled on or after 16th April but before or on 30th April 2026;<br />
&bull; 25% refund if booking cancelled on or after 1st May but before or on 15th May 2026;<br />
&bull; No refund if the booking is cancelled on or after 16th May 2026.</p>


<p><strong>Disclaimer:&nbsp;</strong>Please note that the Rhino Charge does not assume any liability for the timeliness, correctness, completeness or quality of the information provided by the accredited camp operators. Furthermore, the Rhino Charge is not responsible for the content of the external websites of the accredited camp operators. The Rhino Charge is not responsible for the quality of the tents, the food quality, or other services provided by the accredited camp operator. Further, the Rhino Charge does not accept any liability for failure to provide the services contracted or any of them due to circumstances beyond our control.</p>

Yes, there are 2-night self-camping options for the 2026 Rhino Charge.

Yes. As you have booked your accommodation through an accredited camp operator, you will be provided with both toilet and shower facilities. For more details, please check with the camp operator of your choice.

Camping is only allowed in the areas designated for the accredited camp operator through whom you have booked your camping spot. You may not camp outside these designated areas. Should you be caught camping in any other place, this can result in immediate removal from the venue. These measures have been put into place for your safety and to reduce the environmental pressure put on the Rhino Charge venue and the host community.

The tendering process for the Rhino Charge is closed. To be added to the list for consideration as a camp operator in future events, interested companies must express their interest to the Rhino Charge Committee via email: info@rhinocharge.or.ke

More information will then be sent to you via email. Please note that the tender will be sent out annually, and camp operators can apply to become accredited camp operators each year.