Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2026
Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2026
RACE DAY – Saturday 19 September
Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2026 Race Day
On Saturday 19th September, the 2026 Wildlife Ranger Challenge brought together more than a thousand rangers from across 20 countries in Africa. They ran in a coordinated 21km race from their respective protected areas. Public supporters from around the globe joined them in solidarity – running, or walking, wherever they were in the world, to show they are #ForWildlifeRangers
Race Day Galleries
Follow the action from across Africa via our ranger team galleries below. View the excitement from our official regional hubs, along with highlights from ranger teams who ran outside of hub events, via our Race Day Gallery. Don’t miss our Ranger Team gallery – a showcase of each of our amazing registered four-person ranger teams who all came together on race day, to show they are #ForWildlifeRangers
EXPLORE THE 2026 NATIONAL HUBS
The 2026 Race Day Ranger Team Winners are…
After months of preparation and training, all participating ranger teams made a tremendous effort in completing the challenge on race day! The teams finishing in the quickest time and therefore our winners for 2026 are…
MEN
🥇 1st Tashinga Initiative – Dande-Mbire Rangers
Zimbabwe
Official Time: 2:08:03
Rangers: Fungai Sibanda, Motion Murarakwa, Kezari Madhikwe, Caution Makura
WOMEN
🥇 1st Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association – Crane C
Rwanda
Official Time: 2:41:03
Rangers: Annuarithe Byukusenge, Violette Uwineza, Leontine Nyiramahirwe, Alpha Muyizere
MIXED
🥇 1st Gorongosa Restauration Project – Gorongosa NP – Coexistencia
Mozambique
Official Time: 2:09:04
Rangers: Elisabete Mariano Saene, Marissane Mineses Alberto, José Jorge DomLuis, José Zacarias José
Wildlife Ranger Challenge Regional Hubs
This year, select ranger teams gathered at locations in Kenya, Zambia, South Africa and Uganda, for Wildlife Ranger Challenge Hub Events. These events give ranger teams the opportunity to compete directly with their regional counterpart, facilitate knowledge sharing and enable partnerships to be forged. Alongside the regional events, thousands of rangers take part virtually in teams from their respective protected areas across the African continent. They compete for the Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2026 title.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy – Kenya
26 registered ranger teams gathered at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya for the 21km Race Day Challenge. The course crosses Lewa’s open savannah before following the Lewa River towards the finish, with heat and an altitude of approximately 5,500ft adding to the challenge.
Kafue National Park – Zambia
11 registered ranger teams gathered at Kafue National Park for Zambia’s Wildlife Ranger Challenge National Hub. The 21km ranger race forms part of KafueWild, bringing rangers and conservation organisations together at Hook Bridge in one of Zambia’s great wilderness landscapes.
Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda
15 registered ranger teams gathered at Murchison Falls National Park for Uganda’s Wildlife Ranger Challenge National Hub. The 21km course begins at Pakuba Airstrip before following game tracks through one of Uganda’s most spectacular wildlife landscapes towards the Delta.
Kruger National Park – South Africa
7 registered ranger teams gathered in the Greater Kruger landscape for the South Africa National Hub, hosted by the Southern African Wildlife College. The 21km route crosses rugged bushveld close to Kruger National Park’s Orpen region, with uneven tracks, sandy sections and challenging field conditions.
Run up to Race Day – Training Challenges
Throughout July, August and September, ranger teams spanning the African continent unite to compete in a series of mental and physical challenges in preparation for their 21km half marathon on September 19th. We are delighted to recap on our 2026 training challenge winners so far as follows:
2026 Ranger Team Quiz Results
The top 3 Teams for the Wildlife Ranger Challenge Quiz 2026 are:
1. GCT Rangers (Gonarezhou Conservation Trust – Zimbabwe) Score: 317044
2. GRAA-CI* (Game Rangers Association of Africa – Cote d’Ivoire) Score: 311374
3. North Luangwa Fence-Line Unit (Frankfurt Zoological Society – North Luangwa – Zambia) Score: 303956
2026 Ranger Team Pushup Results
The top 3 Teams for the Wildlife Ranger Challenge Pushup 2026 are:
🥇 1 – MALE: GCT Rangers – Team Ndlopfu (Gonarezhou Conservation Trust – Gonarezhou National Park – Zimbabwe) Score: 420
🥇 1 – FEMALE: Gonarezhou Conservation Trust – GCT Rangers – Team Mhelembe, Zimbabwe 182
🥇 1 – MIXED: Repu Mobile Unit (Frankfurt Zoological Society – North Luangwa Ecosystem – Zambia) Score: 239
2026 Ranger Team Situp Results
The top 3 Teams for the Wildlife Ranger Situp Challenge 2026 are:
🥇 1 – MALE: GCT Rangers – Team Ndlopfu (Gonarezhou Conservation Trust – Zimbabwe) Score: 491
🥇 1 – FEMALE: GCT Rangers – Team Mhelembe (Gonarezhou Conservation Trust – Zimbabwe) Score: 330
🥇 1 – MIXED: Team Lioness (Jamanda Community Conservancy – Zimbabwe) Score: 344
2026 Ranger Team Time Trial Results
The top 3 teams for the Wildlife Ranger Time Trial 2026 are:
🥇 1 – MALE: Sera Rhino Conservancy – Team A (Kenya) Time: 0:07:14 (Elite)
🥇 1 – FEMALE: Sera Rhino Conservancy – Team B (Kenya) Time: 0:09:32
🥇 1 – MIXED: Jamanda Community Conservancy – Ngululu (Zimbabwe) Time: 0:08:29
