Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2024
Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2024
In 2024, the Uganda hub event returned to Murchison Falls National Park on a larger scale, with more than 18 teams from national parks, community scouts and supporting organisations. Runners were flagged off at Pakuba Airstrip by the German Ambassador and the UWA Communications Manager, standing in for the Executive Director. Representatives from the British High Commission also attended. The Uganda Conservation Foundation was in charge of organising the hub.
Kidepo Valley National Park’s team, the Kidepo Warriors, defended their title with a time of 2:28:30, crossing the line holding hands after 21km with 22kg packs. Kibale National Park’s team, the Kibale Commandos, took second in 2:45:00, a big jump from near the bottom the year before. The hosts, Murchison Falls, finished third, just ahead of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Worth noting this year: for the first time, women’s ranger teams from every Ugandan national park took on the same 21km course as the men. Kidepo’s women won in 2:58:07, with Queen Elizabeth next in 3:08:53 and Murchison Falls third in 3:20:52. Their strength and resilience were widely praised.
Many sponsors helped make it happen, including Nile Breweries, EngSol, Speke Uganda Holidays, Around Africa Safaris, Wild Frontiers, Mweya Safari Lodge, EarthRanger, Murchison River Lodge, City Ambulance and Experience Uganda.
The challenge is run by Tusk and the Game Rangers Association of Africa, bringing together rangers from more than 100 protected areas in more than 20 African countries and raising money for the people protecting vulnerable wildlife.
Stretching across north-western Uganda, the Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA) is Uganda's largest protected landscape and one of Africa's greatest conservation success stories.
Covering almost 5,300 km², the conservation area comprises Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and Karuma Wildlife Reserve, protecting an extraordinary diversity of savannah, woodland, riverine forest, wetlands and the iconic River Nile.
At its heart lies Murchison Falls, where the world's longest river is forced through a narrow seven-metre gorge before plunging more than 40 metres into the Devil's Cauldron below. This spectacular natural wonder gives the conservation area its identity and creates one of Africa's most unforgettable wildlife experiences.
The River Nile continues westwards through the park, supporting one of the continent's richest concentrations of wildlife and sustaining the ecosystems upon which both people and nature depend.
