THE LEWA DOWNS MARATHON:

 

The only marathon in the world run inside a game reserve.

This unique fundraising event, sponsored by Safaricom Ltd, allows the participants to compete in an internationally acclaimed event whilst running through some of Africa’s most breathtaking scenery. It is a case of running in Africa for Africa.

Held at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya, on the foothills of Mount Kenya, this is no ordinary marathon. At an altitude of 6,000ft and in the heat of the African sun makes the Safaricom marathon an endurance event.

 

The marathon is run on dirt roads, over two 21 km loops (one loop for the half-marathon). The race is watched over by an experienced team of armed rangers and a helicopter and spotter plane are in the air throughout. Water stations and first aid points are situated every 2.5km along the course and emergency medical back up is provided by AMREF the famous flying doctors.

Most runners camp at Lewa the night before the race and enjoy the pre race pasta party where Bruce Tulloh, Race Director, gives a brief on the event. Both races start at 7am. There are prizes for the marathon event and every runner receives a medal and goody bag.

Safaricom 5Km Fun Run: Following the success of the annual Safaricom Marathon, there is now a 5km Fun Run open to children between the ages 10-15 years. The event is limited to 100 entries and priority is given to those children whose parents are running in the main event. The race is run over the first 5km of the marathon course.

 

The beneficiaries: All funds raised are distributed by Tusk Trust, the UK based pre-eminent African wildlife charity. Since its inception four years ago, $260,000 has been raised and distributed between five projects in northern Kenya. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the host, receives funds to support its very successful black and white rhino breeding program. Half of the funds go to rural community development projects, including a local hospital and four schools. A significant proportion goes towards the development of two community-driven conservation projects, where the local people have successfully established their own wildlife and eco-tourism projects. The Mount Kenya Trust also receives funds.

 

The Venue:  Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a non-profit organisation registered in Kenya now an important conservation area comprising 20,000 hectares. It has pioneered the establishment of sanctuaries as a strategy for black rhino conservation in Kenya, and it provides an important extent of habitat for a number of endangered and threatened species including Grevy's zebra, African elephant and sitatunga. LWC also directly supports community conservation and education initiatives on another 40,000 hectares.

 

The charity: Tusk Trust promotes the conservation of African wildlife and particularly the protection of endangered species. The Trust is committed to improving environmental education, establishing valuable rural community development programme, encouraging the rehabilitation of habitats and promoting responsible eco-tourism.

 

SWAHILI FETE IN LAMU ISLAND:

 

Thousands of Kenyans converge every year in May in Lamu to celebrate the Swahili Cultural Festival.  The event is marked with song, dance and cultural displays. Traditional dances of the Pokomo, Swahili and Giriama, including the Mdurenge, Goma, Chama, Uta, Kirumbizi perform.  Competitions include dhow racing, canoe paddling, donkey riding and swimming.

 

Lamu is a wonderful old stone town with a distinctive Arab traditional architecture, curved doors, narrow streets, absence of vehicles, many mosques, fishermen, women dressed in black and wearing the bui bui and is rich in the Muslim culture. The town is in the North Coast region of Kenya and takes tourism seriously as this is the major source of income. Residents of this historical town hold a festival in May each year under the name of the "Lamu Dugong festival" and incorporate the famous donkey race. Donkeys are the sole means of transport in Lamu and are found in large numbers! The festival lasts a week and brings together people from all sectors including visiting tourists. The major theme of the festival is to create awareness to the residents and the public about the need to conserve the Dugong found near the islands (mythologically known as the mermaid), which is an endangered species.

 

Other activities during this festival include dhow racing, water sports, traditional dances, food exhibitions fashion and architectural displays. 

 

THE RHINO CHARGE:

In Swahili, Harambee means 'All pull together'. In Kenya, a country which sees the population rising at a steady rate, and the existing resources declining at a parallel rate, the word is often used to denote the joining together of people to raise funds for a worthy cause. People help each other out.

 

Nowhere can this exemplary human characteristic be seen more than its appearance in conjunction with another Kenyan phenomenon, which happens once a year on the Madaraka Day Bank Holiday Weekend at the beginning of June.

It’s a shame that the idea had to be thought up in the first place - but since we have no option but to raise money, the Rhino Ark’s annual Rhino Charge has to be one of the brightest ideas ever thought up in the history of FUNd-raising!

Give them a car, a map and a large expanse of unspoilt Africa - and let them loose. It’s a crazy challenge, only for those who are brave enough to face the African wilderness at its most rugged - and who like to have a huge amount of fun. Cliffs, swamps, dense thorn, and large territorial mammals are the obstacles - and many entrants fall by the wayside. Those who make it through are rarely unscathed, yet all keep coming back for more - year after year - in the name of Rhino Ark.

 

Begun eight years ago, Ken Kuhle, Chairman of Rhino Ark says “The idea of an off-road car endurance event came from a small group of Safari enthusiasts whose notion of a family outing was to drive across country, exploring wild and remote areas".

 

The Rhino Charge has grown to a colossal size during the eight years in which it has existed and, with each entrant, organisational facility and Guard Post (Check-Point) being sponsored, it has become a major feature on Kenya’s fund-raising, as well as sporting and entertainment, calendar.

The event attracts adventurers from all over the world. Young and old join together, with eighteen to eighty year olds competing and hundreds of families and friends supporting - from the bar! Teams take part in all kinds of vehicles, and well-known rallying enthusiasts from all over the world.

 

The challenge of the event is for the entrants to reach 10 Guard Posts (Control Posts), whose whereabouts are only revealed to the entrants on the night before, each Post set up in a remote and tricky location. The teams of up to six people set off at dawn with ten hours of difficult driving ahead of them to reach all ten checkpoints by the shortest route possible - testing endurance, engineering and navigational skills. Speed is not a feature of the Charge. The winner of the event is the team who manages to complete the course with the least distance recorded.

 

This is an annual car racing event organised by a local Non Governmental Organisation called Rhino Ark Trust which is committed to saving the endangered rhino species in Kenya. It is an event composed of a great mixture of professionalism, fun and family as participants who plus the organisers and individuals or companies who give support and sponsorship are committed to completing Rhino Ark's project to fence the Aberdare region near the Aberdare National Park. This is acclaimed both nationally and internationally for showing the world how determined Kenyans are to secure the future of the Aberdare ecosystem - which is a biosphere reserve and National Park.

Participants race through a trackless drive of over 200 sq. km. Their plotted path is blocked by dense bush, rock outcrops, luggas and ditches and after this hardship and fun making drive, they will have raised enough funds to support the Rhino Ark. There is a comprehensive set of rules and regulations to ensure the safety of entrants and spectators.

 

 

Annual Orchid Show:

This annual show is organized by the Kenya Orchid Society, which was established in 1952. The highlight of the Orchid Society's year, the October event is a must for all flower lovers. The displays are beautiful and it's an excellent way to learn more about this fragrant flower.

 

 

Literary & Music Festival:

Normally held at the Kenya National Theatre opposite the Norfolk Hotel, this annual event celebrating Kenya's diverse culture is held annually during July and August. The event features school choirs, traditional dancers, as well as college and university students. Song and dance displays, art exhibitions and food-tasting sessions also take place. The festival is organized by the Department of Culture of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Sports and Heritage.
 

Modern Art:

This annual three-day event, sponsored by the National Museums of Kenya, is a must for art lovers. It attracts exhibitors from all over the East African region who show their paintings, carvings and designs. Offering something for every taste, with exhibits ranging from traditional wood carvings to contemporary paintings, the show is a fantastic opportunity to admire the talents of numerous artists. The event specifics have yet to be determined, call ahead for details.

Kenyatta University Cultural Week:

This annual festival, organized by Kenyatta University (in Nairobi) students, celebrates the various cultures of Kenya and Africa. Activities are wide-ranging and include cultural talks, sports exhibitions, acrobatic shows, dancing and drama. Taking place during the first week of October, the festival plays host to an impressive range of scholars of theatre and literature, as well as artists and troupes from Kenya and overseas. The whole week is quite exhilarating and attracts thousands of locals and visitors alike.

 

 

CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE:

Councours d'Elegance has become one of Kenya's major annual events having begun 29 years ago. Held at the Nairobi Race Course, which is approximately 10 km from the city centre, the Concours is a vehicle beauty contest which attracts a wide variety of cars and motor cycles which are checked for their cleanliness and condition. This event is gaining international status with entries from countries like Mauritius, South Africa together with our neighbouring East African countries.

The Alfa Romeo Owners Club (Kenya) are the organisers of the Concours which attracts cars and motorcycles as old as 1910 models. It is a closed event for the club members although temporary membership is available to any driver holding a current license. The cars are classified into groups such as the "Vintage" which are made between 1914 and December 1930. Those made before the first World War fall in the "Veteran" class. This year's event had the oldest machine, an Otto Speedster which was made in Philadelphia in 1910. Other attractions were a 1924 fiat, 1928 Ford Tudor, 1934 Railton ports cars, 1966 Mercedes Benz 250 SE among others. A 1922 Triumphed marked the last event of the Century as the oldest motorcycle.

During this event there is also a classic sale which is open to any car of motorcycle made in 1974 or earlier, regardless of the machines condition.

 Families and friends also enjoy a fun day at the Race Course on this day. For the there are bouncing castles, face painting, clowns and a magic show. There is also a spectacular parachute drop by the Smirnoff Sky team. Gala events featuring acrobats, dancers and models are also part of the entertainment.

The AIR SHOW:

This is an annual event which has been billed as the "fastest growing Air show in Africa". It is organized by the Aero Club of East Africa and is a display of aircrafts, which goes on through out the day with overseas participants joining in. Funds raised are used for deserving Charities.

 

Some of the aircrafts displayed in this show are:

Landrover Hawker Hunter - Remarkably fast for it's 40 year old design, it exceeds the speed of sound and is capable of 1,200 km per hour at sea level. It can reach the 40,000 feet cruising level of a Jumbo Jet in 6.6 minutes.

 

F- 5E 'TIGER' - Dubbed "Freedom Fighter", it is America's and the world's leading export fighter aircraft. There are over 1000 serving in Europe, the Middle East, South East Asia and Africa. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 710 kts (1500 km/h), with a combat ceiling of 50,000 feet, which are powered by two General Electric (GE-85) turbo jet engines.

Pilatus PC 12 - Made in Switzerland, this is a large single engine turboprop aircraft. The entire range of Pilatus are renowned for their Swiss precision engineering and are born from years of extensive testing and refinement to ensure speed, range, economy and above all safety and comfort. The aircraft's performance is impressive with models flying to an altitude of 30,000 feet. Range is 2,250 nautical miles at a speed of 240 knots, while maximum cruise speed is 270 knots.

 

Whisper Class - The de Havilland DASH 7 is seen but not heard. It is used to transport Tourists, so vital to Kenya's economy, in and out of Kenya's major Game Parks and Reserves due to its low disturbance footprint as it passes, this being a great bonus for noise sensitive wildlife. It has a maximum take-off weight of 20 tonnes and is capable of carrying up to 48 passengers. It is powered by four Pratt & Whitney turbo prop engines each developing 1,120 ship horse power with very impressive STOL (Short Take-off and Landing) which enables it to land at short, rough airstrips.

Besides this display of aircraft there is also the Aerobatic and Skydiving Teams who grace this event with their spectacular colourful shows of their parachutes as well as streamer displays, canopy stacking, coloured smoke, linkups in free fall and much more.

 

KSPCA & the SHAGGY DOG Show:

The Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals is the only animal welfare society caring for domestic animals in Kenya. It has been in existence for more than eighty years and during that time the Society has grown and now has two branches and four sub-stations which they hope to expand.

 

37 years ago they held their first Shaggy Dog Show which has since then become more and more popular with people coming to enjoy the day, either with their dogs or without. Every dog must have valid Rabies Parvo and Distemper Certificates in order to enter the competition.
Interested parties are invited all over the world to look for sponsorship and participate in the race. The event has been rated among one of the world's events in the "Year of African Tourism".

The show attracts different classes such as:

The Dog Most like its owner

The Dog in Best condition

The Best Veteran Dog

The Shaggiest Dog in the show

Attractive prizes are awarded to the owners whose Dogs emerge the winners.

Entertainment is available for the whole family and also for those who have no Dogs. There are Lucky Dips, Raffles, Free Donkey & Cart Rides, Face Painting, Games and much more for everyone to enjoy. Under Other Useful Facts, create a sub topic.

 

 

THE LUNATIC EXPRESS

At the turn of the century a remarkable railway construction feat was completed and the "Lunatic line" linking Mombasa to Uganda opened up the Kenyan interior to the European farmers and settlers. During the five years it took to build the railway, the engineers encountered unimaginable hazards including hostile tribesmen, man-eating lions, inhospitable deserts and the great Rift Valley escarpment. Nowadays the train journey between Nairobi and Mombasa is a comfortable overnight sleeper with twin 1st class cabins, bedding and meals provided. The train departs from Nairobi to Mombasa and vice versa every evening at dusk, arriving soon after breakfast the following morning.

 

MEET KENYA'S MOST PHOTOGRAPHED LOCOMOTIVE: Mount Gelai, the locomotive (engine number 5918) now being rehabilitated at the Kenya Railways Central Workshop in Nairobi, is the most photographed and best known of the 59 Class Garrat steam engines run by the former East African Railways and Harbours Corporation (EARH).

The 59 "Mountain Class" are the most powerful and heaviest steam locomotive engines ever built. Mount Gelai weighed 252 tonnes and was capable of running at 100 km per hour, hauling 1,200 tonnes up a 1 in 75 gradient. It has featured in the BBC TV series, World About Us. It was made by Beyer and Peacock Ltd of Manchester, England.

Due to its immaculate, polished brass and copper, it has been a major tourist attraction at the museum over the years. 

EARH had originally ordered five large Garrats due to the increase in traffic and the growth in large, bulky loads being hauled up the Kenya-Uganda Railway.

The Garrats proved so efficient that EARH ended up ordering another 29 engines.

Of the total 34 engines that were in service between 1955 and 1980, only Mount Shengena (engine number 5930) remains serviceable, though stationary, outside the Railways Museum. The others were dismantled. Mount Shengena too is a 59 class Beyer-Garrat locomotive, built in 1955. 

On July 7, 1988, Kenya Railways ran a special steam train from Nairobi to Naivasha using Mount Shengena as the engine.

The event was an introductory run to a steam safari, a special excursion by KR then scheduled to begin in October the same year every Sunday morning. 

 

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