MARGARET CHISANGA
Lusaka
Over 500 people participated in the 6th Wildlife Ranger Challenge, running 21kms over the expansive plains of the Kafue National Park, in a synchronised show of strength and solidarity.
Dupped the ‘Kafue Wild Run’, the Challenge took place on Saturday, 20th September, with over 500 runners drawn from 16 ranger teams and several Non-Governmental Organizations, with support from the government, community as well as Traditional leaders.
With some selected runners from the ranger’s teams hoisting 22kg backpacks on the course of their run, the experience was exceptional for both the participants and the supporting crews, who were on hand to provide encouragement, medical care as well as water and energy packs at different points of the running course.
The Kafue National Park was one of the with final competitions held in four locations across the continent.
In a statement made available by Kevin Mwanza, Senior Media Advisor, from Plantwood organisations, the Wildlife Ranger Challenge is organised by Tusk and the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA), with support from Mark Scheinberg.
“It has become the largest continent-wide celebration of rangers. Since 2020, it has raised over $21 million for ranger welfare, training, and equipment, and has connected more than 11,500 rangers with global supporters and donors across more than 90 countries,” the statement read.
He said the 2025 Wildlife Ranger Challenge brings together over 1,000 rangers from 24 African countries in a 21-kilometre/13-mile test of endurance, symbolising the resilience, courage, and purpose that define the ranger profession.
Across Africa, rangers patrol some of the planet’s most biodiverse and remote landscapes, working long hours often with limited equipment, minimal insurance, and life-threatening risks. A recent ranger survey revealed that 50% have no health insurance, 60% lack long-term disability cover, and most earn less than half the salary of local police officers.
The Challenge shines a light on the need to make the job of being a ranger more attractive to new recruits.
“Rangers often still patrol without life insurance, health coverage, or adequate training or gear. Rangering must become a profession that young people aspire to join and can sustain as a lifelong career. There are fewer than 300,000 rangers on active duty today, about 60,000 of them in Africa. But as many as 1.5 million are needed to meet global nature protection targets,” the statement read.
While rangers ran across Africa, thousands of supporters joined virtually, from London to Lagos, Cape Town to Copenhagen, running 21km in solidarity and raising funds for the cause.
In a video address to Challenge participants, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Tusk’s Royal Patron whose United For Wildlife initiative also supports African conservation, said: “Being a ranger extends far beyond conservation. You are educators, community leaders, researchers, mentors and protectors of cultural and historical heritage, yet this remains one of the most dangerous jobs on Earth. Every day you put your lives at risk to protect what is irreplaceable. Without you and your dedication, there is no path to protecting nature, no path to meeting our global goals, no future for the wildlife and natural world we all cherish and rely on. You are all central to the solution, and I stand with you today and always in ensuring that your efforts are recognised, valued and supported.”
For more than 30 years, Tusk has worked to accelerate the impact of African-driven conservation. These initiatives have not only increased vital protection for more than 40 different threatened species, but have also contributed to poverty reduction through sustainable development and education amongst rural communities living alongside wildlife.
The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA), founded in 1970, is a non-profit organisation and the oldest, largest and most representative ranger association in Africa.
As an organisational partner of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, the GRAA plays a critical role in building networks of wildlife rangers, advocating for their interests, and providing expert guidance on ranger-related issues.
With over $21 million raised to date, the Wildlife Ranger Challenge seeks to increase the support for the ranger workforce by widening access to essential equipment, enhanced training and protective measures.
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge is an initiative of UK-based African conservation charity Tusk and the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA). It brings together over 1,000 rangers in more than 170 ranger teams across 24 African countries to participate in a series of mental and physical challenges. The challenge brings rangers’ vital work to the fore and provides a platform for their organisations to generate crucial funding.
The ‘final’ event for the sixth Wildlife Ranger Challenge on September 20 saw the teams compete in a coordinated 21km half-marathon across their respective landscapes, carrying 22kg of kit. They were joined by supporters from around the globe, running in solidarity.
The events are designed to motivate rangers by connecting them to their peers across the continent, as well as to show people in their countries the value of the work they do and how it is changing. The Challenge also raises money for rangers and their organisations – since it launched just three years ago it has already raised $21 million.