The Rhino Charge 2025, held on May 31, 2025, in the rugged terrains of Saimo Soi, Baringo County, Kenya, marked the 36th edition of this iconic off-road 4×4 competition. Renowned for blending adrenaline-fueled motorsport with environmental conservation, the event attracted 65 teams, each navigating 13 checkpoints across approximately 100 km² within a 10-hour period. This year’s event raised significant funds for the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust, which focuses on protecting Kenya’s mountain ecosystems, known as the “Water Towers.” This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of the overall scores, standout performances, and the event’s impact on Kenya’s environmental landscape.
What is the Rhino Charge?
The Rhino Charge is an annual off-road competition that challenges teams to visit 13 checkpoints in the shortest possible distance while adhering to a maximum speed of 40 km/h, monitored by GPS. Organized by the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust, the event raises funds to support conservation efforts, including electric fencing and habitat protection in key ecosystems like Mt. Kenya, the Aberdares, and Kakamega Forest. In 2024, the event set a record by raising KES 375 million, and 2025 aimed to surpass this benchmark with sponsorships from major players like KCB Group, Safaricom, and Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL).
Key Features of Rhino Charge 2025
- Date and Location: May 31, 2025, Saimo Soi, Baringo County
- Participants: 65 teams, including notable entries like the first-ever electric vehicle, EV Explorers
- Objective: Navigate 13 checkpoints in the shortest distance within 10 hours
- Conservation Impact: Funds support Rhino Ark’s projects, including 650 km of electric fencing to reduce human-wildlife conflict
- Sponsorships: KCB Group (KES 11 million), Safaricom, KBL (KES 3 million), and others
Rhino Charge 2025 Overall Results
The 2025 Rhino Charge saw fierce competition, with teams judged on the number of sectors (checkpoints) visited, distance traveled, and penalties for road, speed, or zone violations. Below is the detailed ranking of the top performers, based on the official overall scores.
Top 10 Teams: Rhino Charge 2025
- Team Huzi (Car 33, Jeremy Holley)
- Sectors Visited: 13
- Distance: 27.33 km
- Penalties: None
- Position Change: Maintained 1st
- Highlights: Team Huzi clinched the top spot with an impressive 27.33 km, showcasing strategic navigation and precision.
- Smiling Shenzis (Car 22, Gray Cullen)
- Sectors Visited: 13
- Distance: 27.45 km
- Penalties: None
- Position Change: Maintained 2nd
- Highlights: A close contender, Smiling Shenzis trailed by just 0.12 km, demonstrating exceptional teamwork.
- Team 48 Mark Glen (Car 48, Mark Glen)
- Sectors Visited: 13
- Distance: 28.08 km
- Penalties: None
- Position Change: Maintained 3rd
- Highlights: Led by 2023 champion Mark Glen, this team continued its strong performance.
- Team 57 (Car 57, James Boorman)
- Sectors Visited: 13
- Distance: 29.42 km
- Penalties: None
- Position Change: +1 (from 5th)
- Highlights: A solid climb in rankings, reflecting improved navigation.
- The Hatarious Chargers (Car 3, Gurmeet Mehta)
- Sectors Visited: 13
- Distance: 29.81 km
- Penalties: None
- Position Change: +1 (from 6th)
- Highlights: Consistent performance with no penalties.
- Braeburn Seven Squared (Car 49, Patrick Garner)
- Sectors Visited: 13
- Distance: 30.2 km
- Penalties: None
- Position Change: +1 (from 7th)
- Highlights: Strong showing with efficient checkpoint navigation.
- Team 42 (Car 42, Anthony Havelock)
- Sectors Visited: 13
- Distance: 30.4 km
- Penalties: None
- Position Change: +1 (from 8th)
- Highlights: Steady performance with no violations.
- Team 64 (Car 64, Peter Bonde Nielsen)
- Sectors Visited: 13
- Distance: 31.34 km
- Penalties: None
- Position Change: +2 (from 10th)
- Highlights: Notable improvement, climbing two spots.
- Team 5 (Car 5, Graham Mckittrick)
- Sectors Visited: 13
- Distance: 31.64 km
- Penalties: Road penalty (2.29 km)
- Position Change: -5 (from 4th)
- Highlights: Despite visiting all 13 checkpoints, penalties impacted their ranking.
- Car 9 (Car 9, John Bowden)
- Sectors Visited: 13
- Distance: 31.83 km
- Penalties: None
- Position Change: +2 (from 12th)
- Highlights: A strong leap forward, showcasing resilience.
Notable Performers and Trends
- Top Fundraiser: Adil Khawaja’s AK44 (Car 44) raised KES 139.8 million, though the team ranked 23rd due to penalties and fewer checkpoints visited (12).
- EV Explorers (Car 29, Richard Kiplagat): The first electric vehicle entry, sponsored by M-PESA and KCB Foundation, visited 5 checkpoints and ranked 50th, marking a historic step toward sustainable motorsport.
- Bush Babes (Car 19, Petra Somen): The all-female team visited 10 checkpoints, finishing 32nd, continuing their 15-year legacy.
- Charging Hippos (Car 25, Alasdair Keith): Led by paraplegic driver Sam Jethwa, the team visited 12 checkpoints, finishing 19th, exemplifying determination.
Full Results Table
| Rank | Car | Entrant/Team | Sectors | Distance (km) | Road Distance (km) | Road Penalty | Speed Violations | Speed Penalty | Zone Violations | Zone Penalty | Total Penalty | New Sectors | New Distance (km) | New Position | Position Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | Jeremy Holley (Team Huzi) | 13 | 27.327 | 1.01 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 27.33 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 22 | Gray Cullen (Smiling Shenzis) | 13 | 27.451 | 0.78 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 27.45 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 48 | Mark Glen (Team 48 Mark Glen) | 13 | 28.075 | 1.34 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 28.08 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | 57 | James Boorman (Team 57) | 13 | 29.418 | 3.74 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 29.42 | 4 | +1 |
| 5 | 3 | Gurmeet Mehta (The Hatarious Chargers) | 13 | 29.813 | 4.68 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 29.81 | 5 | +1 |
| 6 | 49 | Patrick Garner (Braeburn Seven Squared) | 13 | 30.205 | 2.89 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 30.2 | 6 | +1 |
| 7 | 42 | Anthony Havelock (Team 42) | 13 | 30.403 | 4.24 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 30.4 | 7 | +1 |
| 8 | 64 | Peter Bonde Nielsen (Team 64) | 13 | 31.338 | 4.4 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 31.34 | 8 | +2 |
| 9 | 5 | Graham Mckittrick (Team 5) | 13 | 29.346 | 7.29 | 2.29 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 13 | 31.64 | 9 | -5 |
| 10 | 9 | John Bowden (Car 9) | 13 | 31.828 | 3.14 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 31.83 | 10 | +2 |
| 11 | 51 | Dominic Rebelo (DeRanged Rover) | 13 | 30.516 | 5.65 | 0.65 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | DIST | 13 | 32.16 | 11 | -2 |
| 12 | 2 | Ian Duncan (KTM Cruisers) | 13 | 32.885 | 3.99 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | DIST | 13 | 33.88 | 12 | +3 |
| 13 | 7 | Mahesh Bhatti (Low Rangers) | 13 | 32.133 | 7.76 | 2.76 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 13 | 34.89 | 13 | 0 |
| 14 | 60 | Ajitesh Kapoor (Team 60) | 13 | 31.629 | 8.27 | 3.27 | 26 | 1 | 0.1 | 1 | 1 | DIST | 13 | 36 | 14 |
| 15 | 24 | Jaspal Matharu (Fat Rhinos) | 13 | 32.381 | 9.03 | 4.03 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 13 | 36.41 | 15 | -1 |
| 16 | 21 | Jonathan Somen (King 21) | 13 | 45.755 | 5.53 | 0.53 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 13 | 46.29 | 16 | +7 |
| 17 | 38 | Sean Avery (Bundufundi) | 12 | 24.992 | 3.86 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 24.99 | 17 | +8 |
| 18 | 14 | Priten Patel (Team Chomz) | 12 | 29.361 | 7.65 | 2.65 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 12 | 32.01 | 18 | +9 |
| 19 | 25 | Alasdair Keith (Charging Hippos) | 12 | 34.508 | 7.45 | 2.45 | 22 | 4 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 12 | 37.36 | 19 |
| 20 | 15 | Anthony Stow (Kifaru Kwanza) | 13 | 36.239 | 11.66 | 6.66 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 12 | 42.9 | 20 | -3 |
| 21 | 4 | Paul Foley (Foley Hemingways Charger) | 13 | 37.499 | 11.78 | 6.78 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 12 | 44.28 | 21 | -3 |
| 22 | 32 | Nikhil Vishram (Cementers Racing Team) | 13 | 38.272 | 11.71 | 6.71 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 12 | 44.98 | 22 | -2 |
| 23 | 44 | Adil Khawaja (AK 44) | 13 | 38.552 | 14.89 | 9.89 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 12 | 48.45 | 23 | -2 |
| 24 | 45 | Ben-James Wade (The Crusaders) | 12 | 27.769 | 12.68 | 7.68 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 11 | 35.45 | 24 | +2 |
| 25 | 56 | Harveet Obhrai (Team Big Foot) | 12 | 31.762 | 11.21 | 6.21 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 11 | 37.97 | 25 | +3 |
| 26 | 35 | Mark Tilbury (HOG CHARGE TEAM) | 11 | 35.855 | 8.49 | 3.49 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 11 | 39.34 | 26 | +7 |
| 27 | 26 | Asit Patel (TEAM 26) | 13 | 36.231 | 15.05 | 10.05 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 11 | 46.28 | 27 | -11 |
| 28 | 12 | Simon de la Rey (Bushcats) | 13 | 37.533 | 15.48 | 10.48 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 11 | 48.01 | 28 | -9 |
| 29 | 46 | Mateus Finato (Geco Tribe Chargers) | 13 | 41.261 | 17.82 | 12.82 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 11 | 54.08 | 29 | -7 |
| 30 | 34 | Rajesh Maini (Moto Moto) | 11 | 28.399 | 12.2 | 7.2 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 10 | 35.6 | 30 | +2 |
| 31 | 54 | Eric Goss (Danish Kifarus) | 10 | 31.038 | 9.07 | 4.07 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | DIST | 10 | 36.11 | 31 |
| 32 | 19 | Petra Somen (Bush Babes) | 10 | 40.041 | 7.9 | 2.9 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 10 | 42.95 | 32 | +5 |
| 33 | 41 | Amit Sharma (Land Mawe) | 12 | 42.426 | 15.63 | 10.63 | 37 | 4 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 10 | 53.46 | 33 |
| 34 | 10 | Salim Wali Mohamed (Bush Rover) | 12 | 43.994 | 17.91 | 12.91 | 41 | 8 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 10 | 57.71 | 34 |
| 35 | 6 | Manee Choda (Team Ole Choda) | 9 | 20.872 | 2.47 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 20.87 | 35 | +6 |
| 36 | 16 | Richard Waugh (Phoenix Rising) | 9 | 20.393 | 8.49 | 3.49 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 9 | 23.88 | 36 | +4 |
| 37 | 63 | Tim Carstens (Aussie Rules) | 13 | 52.904 | 25.23 | 20.23 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | DIST AND CP | 9 | 74.13 | 37 |
| 38 | 55 | Ramesh Halai (Team Car Zone) | 8 | 21.84 | 3.26 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 21.84 | 38 | +6 |
| 39 | 8 | Aadil Vaiani (Team Good TImes!!) | 8 | 21.425 | 1.62 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | DIST | 8 | 22.42 | 39 |
| 40 | 28 | Torben Rune (Team 28 Team Taz) | 8 | 25.577 | 9.09 | 4.09 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 8 | 29.67 | 40 | +5 |
| 41 | 59 | Jason Varndell (BATUK 2) | 9 | 31.556 | 13.81 | 8.81 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 8 | 40.37 | 41 | 0 |
| 42 | 52 | Hemal Pindolia (Rhinoserious) | 10 | 35.14 | 17.37 | 12.37 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 8 | 47.51 | 42 | -8 |
| 43 | 11 | Ravi Patel (Frying Squad) | 10 | 35.99 | 17.76 | 12.76 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 8 | 48.75 | 43 | -8 |
| 44 | 27 | Richard Hooper (Jeepers Creepers) | 10 | 42.951 | 16.1 | 11.1 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 8 | 54.05 | 44 | -7 |
| 45 | 43 | Vishal Shah (Kurutu Chargers Team 43) | 6 | 15.224 | 5.4 | 0.4 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 6 | 15.63 | 45 | +2 |
| 46 | 36 | Adrian Wilcox (Aberdair Devils) | 6 | 19.073 | 3.17 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 19.07 | 46 | +2 |
| 47 | 47 | Teresa Sapieha (Wacus Girls in Pearls) | 10 | 46.029 | 27.16 | 22.16 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 6 | 68.19 | 47 | -11 |
| 48 | 1 | Eddy Verbeek (Car No 1) | 5 | 14.123 | 1.41 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 14.12 | 48 | +1 |
| 49 | 30 | Edward Johnstone (The Internationals) | 5 | 16.838 | 4.57 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 16.84 | 49 | +1 |
| 50 | 29 | Richard Kiplagat (EV Explorers) | 5 | 18.031 | 8.49 | 3.49 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | DIST | 5 | 22.52 | 50 |
| 51 | 50 | Agnes Mwangi (Zambarau Heels on Wheels) | 8 | 33.225 | 20.05 | 15.05 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 5 | 48.28 | 51 | -7 |
| 52 | 61 | Kier Head (Team Loafer) | 4 | 17.445 | 5.58 | 0.58 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 4 | 18.02 | 52 | 0 |
| 53 | 53 | Jonathan Jackson (Lordship Africa) | 3 | 6.931 | 0.44 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6.93 | 53 | +1 |
| 54 | 39 | Jaspal Singh (Team 39) | 3 | 8.089 | 0.28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8.09 | 54 | +1 |
| 55 | 13 | James Dutkowski (The Bucket List Battlers) | 2 | 3.227 | 0.6 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3.23 | 55 | +2 |
| 56 | 40 | Peter Francombe (Roving Rogues) | 2 | 5.542 | 0.78 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5.54 | 56 | +2 |
| 57 | 62 | Stanley Kinyanjui (Magnate Chargers) | 2 | 11.113 | 0.8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11.11 | 57 | +2 |
| 58 | 58 | Jason Varndell (BATUK 1) | 2 | 11.773 | 9.22 | 4.22 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DIST | 2 | 16 | 58 | +2 |
| 59 | 37 | John Janyali (Ole Nkrunett) | 1 | 1.286 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.29 | 59 | +2 |
| 60 | 23 | Peter Kinyua (Car 23 – Peter Kinyua) | 3 | 19.266 | 11.47 | 6.47 | 60 | 18 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 | DIST AND CP | 1 | 27.53 | 60 |
Note: Teams with “DIST” or “DIST AND CP” penalties faced deductions for road distance or checkpoint violations, impacting their final rankings.
Conservation Impact of Rhino Charge 2025
The Rhino Charge is more than a race; it’s a cornerstone of environmental conservation in Kenya. Funds raised support Rhino Ark’s initiatives, including:
- Electric Fencing: Over 650 km of fences protect ecosystems like Mt. Kenya, Aberdares, and Kakamega Forest, reducing human-wildlife conflict for over 80,000 families.
- Water Tower Protection: The event safeguards Kenya’s mountain forests, valued at KES 412 billion annually for their ecological services.
- Community Benefits: Funds support local communities through tolls paid by teams and infrastructure development in host regions like Baringo.
In 2024, the event raised KES 375 million, and 2025 aimed to exceed this, with Adil Khawaja’s AK44 alone contributing KES 139.8 million.
Sponsorship and Support
The 2025 Rhino Charge was bolstered by significant sponsorships, enhancing its reach and impact:
- KCB Group and NBK: Contributed KES 11 million, supporting Car 44 (AK44) and EV Explorers.
- Safaricom: Sponsored AK44 and EV Explorers, emphasizing sustainable motorsport.
- Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL): Provided KES 3 million to support teams like Charging Hippos, Bush Babes, and Geco Tribe Chargers.
- Other Sponsors: Checkpoints were sponsored by various partners, ensuring operational success.
Rules and Regulations: Ensuring Fair Competition
The Rhino Charge adheres to strict rules to maintain fairness and environmental responsibility:
- Vehicle Requirements: Vehicles must be registered, insured, and equipped with necessary consumables. Maximum tire size is 1041mm (41 inches).
- Penalties: Teams face penalties for road distance, speed violations (above 40 km/h), or zone infractions.
- Environmental Commitment: The event is carbon-neutral, with teams paying tolls to local communities.
- Entry Process: Teams raising over KES 2.75 million qualify for early venue access, incentivizing fundraising.
Highlights of Rhino Charge 2025
- Historic Electric Vehicle Entry: EV Explorers, driven by Richard Kiplagat, marked a milestone for sustainable motorsport, backed by M-PESA and KCB Foundation.
- Diverse Teams: From all-female teams like Bush Babes to inclusive teams like Charging Hippos, the event showcased diversity and resilience.
- Baringo’s Role: The challenging terrain of Saimo Soi highlighted Baringo’s natural beauty, boosting local tourism.
- Fundraising Success: Adil Khawaja’s AK44 led fundraising efforts, reinforcing the event’s conservation impact.
How to Get Involved in Future Rhino Charges
For those inspired to participate or spectate, here’s how to engage:
- Competitors: Register through the Rhino Charge website, raise at least KES 750,000, and prepare a 4×4 vehicle meeting event standards.
- Spectators: Purchase tickets via the official ticketing portal (www.rhino-charge.org). Entry dates vary based on package (2-night or 3-night).
- Sponsors: Contact Rhino Ark to support teams or checkpoints, contributing to conservation efforts.
- Volunteers: Reach out to info@rhinocharge.or.ke for opportunities to assist with event operations.
Why Rhino Charge Matters to Kenya
The Rhino Charge is a unique blend of motorsport, adventure, and environmental stewardship. By raising funds for Rhino Ark, it protects Kenya’s critical ecosystems, supports local communities, and promotes sustainable practices. The 2025 event, with its record-breaking aspirations and innovative entries like EV Explorers, underscores the evolving nature of conservation-driven motorsport. Whether you’re a motorsport enthusiast, a conservation advocate, or a business looking to make an impact, the Rhino Charge offers a platform to contribute to Kenya’s natural heritage.
For more details on results, team profiles, or how to participate in future events, visit rhinocharge.co.ke or contact info@rhinocharge.or.ke. Stay updated on social media platforms like X for real-time insights and team announcements.
The Rhino Charge 2025 solidified its status as Kenya’s premier off-road conservation event, with Team Huzi leading the pack and Adil Khawaja’s AK44 setting fundraising benchmarks. The event’s success in Baringo County highlights its dual role as a thrilling competition and a vital fundraising platform for Rhino Ark’s conservation efforts. With 65 teams, innovative entries, and robust sponsorships, Rhino Charge 2025 has set the stage for even greater impact in 2026. Whether you’re navigating rugged terrains or cheering from the sidelines, the Rhino Charge is a testament to Kenya’s commitment to preserving its natural treasures.
