The Lewa Safari Marathon 2025 has finally taken place, as usual in the ragged yet breathtaking terrain of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Lewa Marathon is more than just a race, it is a powerful demonstration of how sports and athletics can drive community empowerment in terms of health, education and economic empowerment, as well as conservation of wildlife. The Marathon is a testament of 25 years of uniting runners from all over the world for a common cause and this year’s edition was a bold re-affirmation of this.
The race which is open to elite and amateur athletes is one of the worlds most grueling and yet so satisfying since participants get to combine their love for sport and tangible life changing impact in the North and Kenya as a whole.
The Lewa Safari Marathon is mainly backed by Safaricom and Huawei, as well as other key conservation partners like Tusk Trust and the Lewa Conservancy. We also have other partners like Access Bank, ICEA Lion, Highlands, AMREF, Elewana, Safarilink, GardaWorld, Tropical Heat and African Originals.
Protecting Wildlife With Every Step
As with past years, the 2025 marathon has reaffirmed its legacy as a key participant in wildlife conservation. For instance, 284 rhinos are currently under protection within the conservancy, and the proceeds of the marathon continue to strengthen anti-poaching efforts. Through continuous investment in fencing and wildlife corridor management, safe migration routes for endangered species like the black rhino and gravy’s zebra are assured.
The marathon has become a lifeline for these species and each runner and sponsor is a critical resource for veterinary teams, rangers, and community scouts who keep the animals healthy and thriving.
Youth Empowerment
The Lewa Safari Marathon has also been a game changer for the youth in surrounding communities. For instance, over 70,000 young people have been impacted with mentorship, financial literacy and other empowerment programs courtesy of the marathon proceeds.
Through education in areas like environment, sports and life skills, the marathon is nurturing a generation of young conservationists, innovators, and leaders who will shape the future of their communities and the ecosystem as a whole.
Supporting Education
One of the biggest areas of focus for Safaricom is education and Lewa Safari Marathon is quite the vehicle for actualization of this. In 2025 alone, more than 27,000 students have been positively impacted. There are 23 schools across Isiolo, Mery and Laikipia counties that receive funding for desks, infrastructure, books, sanitation services, and even teachers’ quarters.
Across these areas, the transformation is visible. Classrooms now offer conducive learning environments for students, and yet they have been overcrowded and ill equipped in the past. This helps students stay in school and clearly, Lewa Safari Marathon has literally paved the road to brighter futures for them.
Connection with beneficiaries
Lewa Safari Marathon is quite unique and set apart because despite having a global reach, it has deep connection to communities around the conservancy. Runners run right alongside the locals who are directly uplifted by their participation and this deepens the purpose of every step in the rugged trail.
As Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa aptly put it, “The marathon is a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together, protecting nature, empowering people, and creating sustainable change.”
As we await the next edition of the marathon, we appreciate it as a beacon of conservation, development and community support. Every step and every coin donated goes towards changing life of someone. The change in in Northern Kenya will continue to trickle into a ripple effect over the years.
Looking forward to the next one!
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