In Kenya, East Africa, forests are often cut down for firewood and cattle grazing. This human activity is destroying the habitat of endangered Black Rhino and other wild animals. The mountain forests also act as water-towers, collecting and distributing vital rainfall for the region.

In 1988, a charitable trust, Rhino Ark, was set up to protect these animals and mountain ranges with game-proof fencing, and needed to find a way of raising funds.

The trustees decided that the answer was to reverse nature's problem and pit the guile of mankind against the wilderness of Africa. In return for raising funds for the charity, they offered teams of 6 people the opportunity to take up the challenge of reaching a number of remote grid reference points and return to where they started, all within one day. To rank those that made it, they added the stipulation that the vehicle that managed to complete the course in the shortest measured distance would be declared the winner!

30 years later it is still an annual event called the Rhino Charge and last year 65 teams managed to raise a staggering $1.5 million for the Rhino Ark charity. 

The challenge is not for the faint-hearted - 4x4 vehicles are taken through the wildest of terrains, opening up the vegetation like wild elephants do, as they are winched over cliffs and manhandled through seemingly impassable rock-strewn rivers and valleys. 

It takes a carefully calibrated team effort to search out a passable route, heading in as straight a line as is possible through the dense African bush, and whatever lurks within. 

Human strength is needed to lift rocks, stamina to run all day in the African heat, courage to take on a dangerous descent, mechanics to keep the machine moving in spite of inevitable damage and most of all teamwork is the final arbiter of success. A day in the bush tests the abilities of all the entrants to handle the most hostile of environments when hot, tired and dirty and still keep up their positive atmosphere during one of the most challenging amateur events in the world.

Having competed in 13 successive Rhino Charges, the WildDgs team is at it again, aiming to raise funds for Rhino Ark and trying to improve on our highest ranking, 4th place. We have raised over $160,000 over the past 13 years and this year the condition of entry is our pledge to raise a minimum of $15,000 for Rhino Ark.

The team covers its own costs of entry, including mechanical improvements to the car, accommodation and transport to/from the venue. This site is set up for those of you that wish to donate directly to Rhino Ark and so to become a part of the WildDGs entry into the 2018 Rhino Charge, if only from the comfort of your armchairs. 

If you are still reading this, then you are no doubt already a donor to other worthwhile causes. This time we are asking you to consider reaching into your charity wallet, and redirect some of your charitable giving to a cause that we believe passionately in, protecting the environment in East Africa.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity.