Kenyans are known the world over for three things, ingenuity, stupidity and our love of remote and beautiful places. In a streak of brilliance the fore fathers decided to create an off-road 4x4 event that combines all three. It became known as the Rhino Charge….

Many regarded 2021 as one of the best Rhino Charge ever held in its 31 year history. With a recently borrowed and newly modified vehicle off a friend, hopes were running high and we dropped ourselves into the most difficult terrain we have ever attempted. Despite going over a mountain early on, and dropping off a shear cliff face, mechanical (and navigational) errors sadly kept us off the podium. 

Importantly, however, we raised another 1.2 million shillings, bringing our total over the years to over 12.5 million shillings (£84,000) for this fantastic charity.

So onto the fundraising for 2022

The Team:

Like all good 4x4 enthusiasts, our team of Shenzis have a predisposition for running around the bush, breaking cars, and generally being slightly unhinged…. all of which are prerequisites for a successful charge team.

Crista “Crossfit” Cullen: Is often referred to as the better Cullen! Being better looking, smarter and a better athlete than her older brother. Crista’s sporting career needs little introduction as she holds every medal you can think of, including being a triple Olympian and gold medalist, and also having been named in the world all stars on more than one occasion. She now dedicates her time to training for the Charge…as the team’s long runner, Crista is predominantly in charge of scouting a kilometer ahead of the car following game trails to see where to the team can pass.

Gray “ Steering Wrestler” Cullen: Gray’s loss of hair is widely attributed not to his wife but to hours spent under our car. Our driver on the day, Gray’s ability to interpret the runners directions over a crackly 4 watt radio were finely tuned during his time playing rugby for the England School Boys and Kenya. 

(Dr.) Guy “Boabab” Western: Our resident bush rat grew up in Kenya and has just finished his PhD at Oxford University. Baobab is great for lifting boulders and trees in the way on event day. Despite his speech impediment, the “Bab” also currently runs a community conservation project monitoring the movement of lion prides and their interactions
with people and livestock in Southern Kenya. As such he's a talented bush mechanic often seen underneath one of his many rickety land cruisers with just a spanner, some duct tape, and a broken flip flop needed to get himself home. He is a man of few
comprehensible words but immense knowledge.

Tony “Chicken legs” Binks: The team’s resident grasshopper, if there’s a mountain climb or an 8km route to scout, Tony’s (was) your man. In the recent past, age, and being tackled by 100kg of Gray, have impeded the functioning of Tony's legs. Famous for the phrase “Guys I think it’s possible,” which is usually followed by the most death defying route possible on the charge! Sadly Tony’s tendency to over-think all aspects of his life does not extent to the charge. Tony is another member who has grown up in Kenya and works full-time in a wide range of conservation projects as well as some of Kenya’s leading exclusive safari outfits.

John "The Fresher" Rogers: John Boy is new to the team and given his filthy irish jokes and ability to roll a Rally Raid car across a flat plane with not a pebble in sight - he fits right in! Renown for being a donkey on marathon runs and wanting to stretch 5kms into a run because he's 'now warm,' (who does that?) John has already proved himself as one of the teams long runners.

Peter “Squirrel” Tyrrell: Being the youngest member on the team and yet another Dr, Squirrel is often given the jobs in camp no one else wants and not much changes on the Charge! Squirrel is legend with the ladies, a certified White Water-Rafting Guide and when he’s not kayaking the Yukon for 10 days straight, he can be found between group ranches in the South Rift Valley.

Peadar “The Bearded One” Brehony: The team’s resident philosopher, think tank and spanner boy, do not be deceived by his thoughtful musings. Hidden below his impressive ginger beard, this Irishman has a predisposition for Guinness, mischief, and creating anarchy. Peadar, a man of Africa, has lived in more countries than he can drink beers. He now lives in Tanzania whilst after finally completing his PHD at Cambridge University where he coordinates the Borderlands Conservation Initiative.

Rhino Ark raises money for the building of electric eco-fences around mountain ecosystems in Kenya, namely Aberdare National Park, Mt. Kenya and Mau Eburu . This provides an "ark" for wildlife such as rhino, leopard, elephant and mountain bongo but also safeguards vital upland watertable habitats for Kenya.