Running Towards Something Greater at The Lewa Marathon

Conservation in Motion

There was a particular kind of stillness that settled over the Lewa savannah before the race. The dust had not yet been disturbed. The hills on the horizon seemed closer than they truly were. Nearly a thousand runners from across Kenya and the world stood in the cool morning light, each making a silent statement to themselves about what the day ahead would demand. Among them were four members of Team Ol Jogi, preparing to take on the grueling 21km half marathon, while another six team members, including Grace from Ol Jogi Primary School, proudly lined up for the Children’s 5km Race.

On 27 June 2026, they represented far more than themselves. They represented the dedication, resilience, and determination that define life at Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy. None were professional athletes. They were conservationists, rangers, security staff, and a young pupil whose everyday lives are devoted to protecting wildlife, caring for guests, and serving one of Kenya’s most remarkable private wildlife conservancies. For months, they had trained before sunrise and after long working days, fitting in runs between shifts, building strength alongside the demands of their everyday responsibilities. Now they stood together on the start line of the 26th Lewa Safari Marathon.

A Race with Purpose

The Lewa Safari Marathon half marathon covers 21km of unforgiving dirt roads winding through open savannah, across rocky tracks and rolling hills. The course climbs and descends through a landscape that appears deceptively gentle from a distance. Wildlife moves freely through the conservancy; while the race is carefully marshalled, the animals pay little attention to route boundaries. The Laikipia sun, even in June, steadily tests every runner’s resolve. Among the 815 runners who completed the half marathon that morning, finishing was, for many, achievement enough.

Organised by Tusk in partnership with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the marathon has spent more than twenty-five years demonstrating how sport can become a powerful force for conservation. Funds raised support wildlife protection, education, healthcare and community development across northern Kenya. Every kilometre run eventually becomes something tangible: a ranger’s wage, a child’s education, or vital support for communities living alongside wildlife.

Representing Ol Jogi were National Police Reserve Ranger Joseph Sinore, Security Chef Sydney Saidimu, General Security Officer Alex Meshami, and Canine Handler Josephine Nanikan, who all took on the 21km half marathon, while Grace proudly represented Ol Jogi Primary School in the Children’s 5km Race. Each came from a different department, yet all shared the same determination to challenge themselves while proudly representing the conservancy.

For Josephine, however, the journey carried an even deeper meaning. She had never considered herself a runner. When the opportunity arose to represent Ol Jogi at one of Africa’s most iconic conservation events, she simply said yes, becoming the only woman on Ol Jogi’s half marathon team. She said: “I’d never been a runner, so I wanted to challenge myself. It has made me grow. I was proud to represent Ol Jogi and to be the only woman on the team.”

It was a simple decision, yet one that reflected the very qualities conservation asks of those who protect it every day: courage, commitment and a willingness to embrace the unknown. More importantly, Josephine’s achievement has already inspired other women across the conservancy to step forward and take on next year’s challenge, proving that the greatest impact is often not the medal itself, but the confidence it gives others to believe they can do the same.

More than a Finish Line

For Josephine, the marathon was never going to be a story about finishing times. She had come to Lewa to discover what she was capable of. The opening kilometres felt strong. Then the hills arrived in earnest. The temperature climbed. The cramps set in, as they do for almost everyone who spends long enough on this challenging course. She slowed her pace, walked when she needed to, gathered herself, and then found the determination to run again.

These are not admissions of difficulty so much as descriptions of what distance running truly is: a series of personal negotiations with yourself, conducted in motion, in heat, and across uneven ground. When the finish line finally came into view, exhaustion gave way to cheering spectators, relief, and immense pride. Josephine crossed the line in 2:18:48, completing her very first half marathon and finishing in the top half of all competitors.

The Results

The team’s performances reflected months of dedication, discipline, and perseverance:

• Sydney Saidimu – 1:34:15 (75th overall – Top 10%)
• Joseph Sinore – 1:35:08 (79th overall – Top 10%)
• Alex Meshami – 1:47:19 (140th overall – Top 25%)
• Josephine Nanikan – 2:18:48 (394th overall – Top 50%)

Together, they represented Ol Jogi with distinction across one of the world’s most celebrated conservation races. Equally inspiring was Grace from Ol Jogi Primary School, who proudly completed the Children’s 5km Race. Cheered on by Head Teacher Halima Mohamed Hussain, her participation served as a wonderful reminder that conservation is about both protecting wildlife today, and also about inspiring the next generation to believe in themselves, embrace new challenges and discover what they are capable of.

The Spirit of Conservation

Ol Jogi was founded on the understanding that protecting wildlife is inseparable from the people who dedicate their lives to doing so. Rangers, guides, handlers, security staff, educators, and every member of the team bring to their work a level of commitment that extends far beyond the professional. It is personal. It is purposeful. It is exactly the kind of resilience that carries someone across 21 kilometres of difficult ground.

The Lewa Safari Marathon will return. The hills will remain just as steep. The sun will be just as relentless. And Team Ol Jogi will almost certainly be back on the start line. Because conservation has never been built by people searching for the easy path. It has always belonged to those willing to keep moving forward, one determined step at a time.

With Gratitude

Achievements like these are never accomplished alone. Our sincere thanks go to RX Motorsport Kenya for generously sponsoring the team’s participation and making this opportunity possible. We are equally grateful to Steve Ynoy for his logistical support, Johnnie Cross for organising the Ol Jogi running kit and running with the team, and Brian Kasembeli and Joseph Mugekenyi for the time, encouragement and dedication they invested in preparing the team in the months leading up to race day. To every member of Team Ol Jogi, congratulations. Whether crossing the finish line among the top ten per cent, completing a first half marathon, or proudly representing Ol Jogi Primary School in the Children’s 5km Race, each of you represented the conservancy with determination, humility and pride. Your commitment reflected the same resilience, teamwork and sense of purpose that define life at Ol Jogi every day.