Thousands of wildlife rangers will come together over the summer to participate in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge.

Launched in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 with the goal of keeping wildlife rangers employed through the crisis, the Wildlife Ranger Challenge has grown into an annual celebration of solidarity, connection and camaraderie for the ranger profession.

Racing across Africa’s protected areas, wildlife rangers will unite on 19th September 2026 to compete in a coordinated 21km race across their respective landscapes carrying 22kg of kit. They will be joined by supporters from around the globe, running in solidarity #ForWildlifeRangers. This will follow weeks of gruelling training challenges including a ranger quiz, press up challenges, push up challenges and a time trial run.

Over the course of the challenge, we’ve seen an incredible swell of public support for wildlife rangers. Since 2020, the Wildlife Ranger Challenge has raised over $25 million, supporting 11,500 rangers across 24 African countries and benefiting over 500,000 people. Protecting 58 million hectares, the initiative boosts ranger fitness, morale, and performance. In 2025, 150 teams from 62 different ranger organisations joined, raising $3.35 million. With global celebrity support and widespread community engagement, the WRC is a growing movement uniting and empowering conservation efforts across the continent.

Made possible through public support & donations and generous match-funding from our founding funding partner Mark Scheinberg and the Disney Conservation Fund, this year’s event will make a lasting difference to wildlife rangers.

The sense of community and comradeship demonstrated by the many rangers from across Africa participating in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge has created a united front for wildlife and the people who live and work to protect it.