The Lewa Marathon

The Lewa Marathon : The famous annual Lewa Marathon is held in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which is located in Samburu County, Kenya. In addition to being a competitive event, it raises funds for projects aimed at improving the neighbourhood and protecting animals. Lewa Marathon gives athletes the opportunity to run across the Kenyan countryside while supporting a worthy cause, the marathon attracts people from all over the world. The Lewa Safari Marathon is a yearly charitable event held at Lewa Downs, 140 miles (230 km) north of Nairobi, Kenya. The 42.195-kilometer (26.219-mile) marathon is sponsored by Safaricom, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and Tusk with the goal of raising funds for different community development and wildlife conservation efforts.

The Lewa Marathon is renowned for its unique settings and is ranked among the top 10 marathons to run in your lifetime by Runner’s World Magazine. The Lewa Marathon was founded and held for the first time in 2000 by the non-profit Tusk Trust, which is committed to conservation, education, and community development in Africa. In the restricted wildlife refuge of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya. The event’s goals are to raise funds and public awareness for regional conservation initiatives, especially those that promote the protection of threatened species like elephants and rhinos. The organisers wanted to use athletics to promote wildlife conservation while including locals, tourists, and athletes from all around the world.

 Lewa Marathon with time  has gained popularity and attracted various competitors, including top athletes, armature runners, and those who like the outdoors. Among the more well-known participants are 2004 Olympic silver medallist Catherine Ndereba and former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat. Pippa Middleton ran this marathon for the first time in its whole in 2015. The 2020 race had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, however it has since been rescheduled. The funds raised by the marathon have made a significant contribution to a number of community development initiatives, anti-poaching efforts, and conservation programs in the region. Lewa Marathon also raises awareness of the importance of conservation and sustainability. It has grown into a well-known yearly event that showcases Kenya’s commitment to protecting its plentiful wildlife while improving the well-being of the local residents.

Why is the marathon unique?

One of the more notable aspects of the Lewa Marathon is its surroundings. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, home to lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, and common cape buffalo, is the venue for the event. Among the park’s rare species are Grevy’s Zebras, Somali Ostrich Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, and Reticulated Giraffes. Samburu National Reserve is well known for being the best place to watch leopards and for having a large population of elephants. It is an excellent birding safari in kenya destination, with over 450 different birds species. There also other large African animals and because there are no boundaries between the athletes and the wildlife, Lewa is a Kenya safari experience.

The nature of the marathon?

The race is held on a dirt road that doubles as a four-wheel drive way for safari vehicles. It consists of two circuits measuring 20.0975 kilometres (12.4880 miles). The average elevation of the course is 5,500 feet (1,700 meters) above sea level. The sun can regularly raise midday temperatures in places that are less than 100 miles from the equator to as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes it difficult for even the most seasoned marathon runners. An African wildlife preserve has unique security challenges when hosting a marathon event. The Lewa Conservancy is home to large African predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, and cheetahs.

The Kenya Wildlife Service employs proficient, armed rangers to patrol the track and ensure the runners’ safety. As a backup to the ground operations, two helicopters and one spotter plane search the skies for potential threats. Beautiful scenery of Kenya’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is frequently traversed on the picturesque Lewa Marathon route. A unique Kenya wildlife safaris aspect of the marathon is offered by the conservancy’s astounding natural splendour and the diversify of animals. There are Wide-ranges of vistas of the African savannah, abundant flora, and well-known animals roaming freely in their native environment are all visible from the course.

A completely immersive and unforgettable experience can be had from the route’s potential for acacia trees, broad plains, and breathtaking hills. Participants in the Lewa Marathon get the opportunity to learn about the conservation efforts of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and to engage with nature in addition to testing their physical stamina. The stunning beauty of the route makes the marathon more appealing to spectators as well as competitors.

The impact of Lewa Marathon on the Community

The Lewa Marathon has an increasing impact on the local Kenyan populace each year. Over $500,000 USD was raised for community development, health, education, and wildlife protection by a number of Kenyan non-profit groups thanks to the 2009 event. In 2007, the school located in the area was given about sixty thousand US dollars to construct and furnish two new classrooms, a library, and a gate for the school property. Digital blood pressure monitors, mattresses, and stretchers were purchased for the local hospitals for more than $30,000. Each year, the marathon donates money to the Nanyuki Cottage Hospital specifically for the treatment of injured animals. Though it generously assists the local population in Northern Kenya, the Lewa Marathon’s main objective is to encourage wildlife conservation.

The more than 140 armed rangers who protect the animals of the Lewa Conservancy are paid for their salaries with proceeds from the marathon. Lewa is home to more than 80 black and white rhinoceroses, both of which are endangered. An important population of Grevy’s zebras, an endangered species, can also be found in the park.

Rhinos conservation efforts

The main objective of rhino conservation is the defence and maintenance of rhino populations across the globe. Rhinos are threatened by human-wildlife conflict, habitat degradation, and poaching of rhino horn for human consumption. The two main rhino species, the black rhino and the white rhino, are both listed as endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This has led to increasing law enforcement officers  deploying technology such as drones and surveillance tools, and establishing anti-poaching patrols in order to deter poachers. For rhinos, it is essential to provide and preserve safe habitats. This can only be accomplished by safeguarding already-existing natural areas and establishing reserves or conservancies where rhinos can thrive unhindered by poaching or human encroachment.

Certain conservation organisations relocate rhinos to safer areas or bring them back to areas where they were previously found. On October 19, 2010, Prince William of Wales proposed to Catherine Middleton at Lewa. The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy was home to 66 white rhinos and 72 black rhinos in the same year, making up 13% of Kenya’s rhino population.

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