Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2024
Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2024
The 2025 challenge was the sixth edition, and it was a big one: a synchronized run across 24 African countries, with over 170 ranger teams covering 21km at the same time. At the Uganda hub in Murchison Falls National Park, 14 ranger teams from five of Uganda's largest conservation areas lined up after months of training. It was the biggest and most competitive edition yet.
Defending champions Kidepo Valley National Park won both the men's and women's trophies and set a new best time. The Kidepo men finished in 2:16:00, beating their 2024 time of 2:28:30. Queen Elizabeth National Park came second in 2:24:00, a great comeback after finishing near the bottom in 2024, and Ziwa Rhino & Wildlife Ranch took third in 2:38:00. On the women's side, Kibale National Park was second and Queen Elizabeth was third.
Supporter and sponsor teams ran too, carrying the same 22kg packs. Volcanoes Safaris won their category, with Marasa Africa and the Toyota Buffaloes close behind. Guests included the UWA Executive Director and senior management, British High Commissioner Lisa Chesney, UBC Deputy Managing Director Maurice Mugisha, and Irene Birungi Mugisha, CEO of The Presidential CEO Forum, along with other leaders, diplomats and conservation partners.
The organisers thanked everyone who took part, on the trail or behind the scenes, and called it the most memorable Uganda hub event yet. Sponsors and partners included Speke Uganda Holidays, CFAO Mobility Uganda (Toyota Uganda), Experience Uganda, Wild Frontiers Uganda, The Connected Conservation Foundation, Marasa Africa, The Red Chilli Hideaway, Volcanoes Safaris and its Partnership Trust, Around Africa Safaris, City Ambulance, Focused Conservation and the British High Commission.
The challenge is organised by Tusk and the Game Rangers Association of Africa.
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.
