The Lewa Safari Marathon is an annual fund raising event held at
Lewa Downs
The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (also known as Lewa Downs) is located in northern Kenya. It was formed in and is a wildlife sanctuary incorporating the Ngare Ndare Forest covering over . The Conservancy is home to a wide variety of wildlife inclu ...
, about north of
Nairobi
Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ha ...
,
Kenya
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. The endurance race is sponsored by
Safaricom
Safaricom PLC is a listed Kenyan mobile network operator headquartered at Safaricom House in Nairobi, Kenya. It is the largest telecommunications provider in Kenya, and one of the most profitable companies in the East and Central Africa region. Th ...
in partnership with the
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (also known as Lewa Downs) is located in northern Kenya. It was formed in and is a wildlife sanctuary incorporating the Ngare Ndare Forest covering over . The Conservancy is home to a wide variety of wildlife inclu ...
and
Tusk
Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth that protrude well beyond the mouth of certain mammal species. They are most commonly canine teeth, as with pigs and walruses, or, in the case of elephants, elongated incisors. Tusks share c ...
in order to raise funds for numerous community development and wildlife conservation efforts. Most well known for its unique setting Runner's World Magazine included the Lewa Marathon as being, 'One of the top ten races to run in your life'.
History
Since the first event was held in 2000, the Lewa Marathon has become widely known for its difficult terrain and harsh climate, drawing competitors and spectators from all over the world.
Some of the more notable competitors include 2004 Olympic silver medalist
Catherine Ndereba
Catherine Nyambura Ndereba (born 21 July 1972) is a Kenyan marathon runner. She has twice won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals at the Summer Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008. She is a ...
. and former marathon world record holder
Paul Tergat
Paul Kibii Tergat (born 17 June 1969) is a Kenyan former professional long distance runner. He became the first Kenyan man to set the world record in the marathon in 2003, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished l ...
.
Pippa Middleton
Philippa Charlotte Matthews (née Middleton; born 6 September 1983) is an English socialite, author and columnist. She is the younger sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Born in Reading and raised in Bucklebury, Berkshire, Middleton attende ...
ran this race in 2015 as her first full marathon.
The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the
coronavirus
Coronaviruses are a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans and birds, they cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the com ...
pandemic
A pandemic () is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of individuals. A widespread endemic (epidemiology), endemic disease wi ...
, with all registrants having the option of either obtaining a full refund (minus transaction fees) or transferring their entry to 2021.
Course
One of the more notable characteristics of the Lewa Marathon is the setting in which it takes place. The race takes place on the Lewa wildlife conservancy, a game park that is home a variety of large African wildlife to include lions, elephants, rhinoceros, and the greatly feared cape buffalo. There are no physical barriers separating the runners from the wildlife, making Lewa a unique experience in the running world. The course consists of two loops that are run on a dirt road that ordinarily serves as a four-wheel drive trail for safari vehicles. The average elevation of the course is above sea level. Located within one hundred miles of the equator, the sun can bring afternoon temperature as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. The elevation, when combined with the equatorial sun have proven to test even the most seasoned marathon runners.
Running a marathon race on an African wildlife preserve does present some unique security risks. The Lewa Conservancy is host to several large African predators that include lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, and cheetahs. Security patrols of experienced, armed rangers from the
Kenya Wildlife Service
Kenya Wildlife Service is a state corporation under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife established by an act of Parliament; Wildlife Conservation and Management Act CAP 376, of 1989, now repealed and replaced by the Wildlife Conservation and Ma ...
guard the course to ensure the safety of the runners. In support of ground efforts, two helicopters and one spotter plane keep an eye out for any possible threats.
Community impact
The impact of the Lewa Marathon on the local Kenyan community has become stronger each year. The 2009 event raised approximately $500,000 U.S. dollars that have been distributed to various charitable organizations in support of education, health, community
development, and wildlife conservation throughout Kenya. In 2007,over $60,000 USD were provided to a local school in order to build and furnish two new classrooms, a library, and a gate for the school compound. Over $30,000 was used to buy medical supplies and equipment such as digital blood pressure machines, stretchers, and beds for local hospitals. Every year funds from the marathon are allocated to the
Nanyuki Cottage Hospital specifically to provide care for animal injury victims.
While the Lewa Marathon gives generously to the surrounding communities of Northern Kenya, its main purpose is to support wildlife conservation. Funds raised from the marathon help support a staff of over 140 armed rangers that protect the animal residents of the Lewa Conservancy. Lewa is the home of over 80 black and
white rhinoceros
The white rhinoceros, white rhino or square-lipped rhinoceros (''Ceratotherium simum'') is the largest extant species of rhinoceros. It has a wide mouth used for grazing (behaviour), grazing and is the most social of all rhino species. The white ...
, both of which are endangered. The preserve also
boasts a large population of endangered
Grevy's zebra.
External links
* Official Website - https://www.lewasafarimarathon.com
References
{{Athletics in Kenya
Marathons in Kenya
Athletics competitions in Kenya
Recurring sporting events established in 2000
2000 establishments in Kenya