Muddy conditions and unforgiving terrain reminded drivers and crews why Safari Rally is the world’s toughest rally, humbling past champions and crowning new ones. These are some of the moments I witnessed.

WRTI Service Park

This is the Rally Nerve Centre. It hosts Rally HQ, the Media Centre, Rally TV Broadcast Centre, WRC Promoter Offices, Parc Ferme, Scrutineering and many more facilities and spaces necessary for the smooth running of the Safari Rally.

Each team has a designated zone where they prepare and service their cars under the watchful eyes of the Scrutineering officials.

Nikhil Sachania’s steering wheel has been customised to enable him steer, clutch, gear and brake using his arms.

Even after sunset, you’ll find many hands on deck doing what is necessary to make sure their teams are at their optimal level during the rally.

Joel Muchiri is the Service Park Manager. His work is to make sure all the moving parts keep in motion with little to no friction.

Media Accreditation

Safari Rally has become an annual meet up for many photographers. We’re shooting different things in different places throughout the year but Rally Week has us all in Naivasha to capture the only WRC round held on African soil.

Application for Accreditation usually starts in mid January with confirmation emails shared about two weeks to rally start. To get a media tabard and car stickers which give you access to the competitive stages, one has to attend the compulsory Media Safety Briefing at the Media Centre which is within the Service Park.

Shakedown at Nawisa

Thursday 12th March, 2026.

New stage, new challenges, same fun.

Getting to our preferred photo point was a challenge though as we had to hike for a few kilometres to get there. The hike wasn’t an issue though – marshals were. Despite getting to the stage more than two hours before the first car (media are to be in their positions 90 minutes before the first car) they refused several photographers to proceed past the start.

Kenyan photographers – me included – had to ‘sneak in’ with a group of caucasian photographers who arrived after us.

This colourism from some marshals needs to stop.

Unlike other rally stages, rally cars run Shakedown three or four times, allowing you the photographer to change your position to shoot something different and that’s what I did.

I started by positioned myself at this muddy puddle to capture shots of the cars coming through.

After the levels of mud dropped, I moved on to a different spot where I could capture more action.

SS1 Camp Moran 1

The competitive distance had been shortened from last year’s run to try and tame what has turned out to be the most gruelling stage of the rally.

It helped, but not much.

In 2025, cars had to content with fesh fesh.

In 2026, mud is what the drivers battled.

Simply, Camp Moran cannot be tamed.

This led to the cancellation of it’s second run SS3 Camp Moran 2 which was scheduled for the early morning of Friday 13th March.

SS6 Kedong 1

Friday 13th March, 2026.

Thanks to Miti Mbili Airport, Kedong has become a fan favourite.

Here’s why.

SS7 Kedong 2

This followed quickly after Kedong 1, leaving little time to move to another photo point. I could only make it to about 1 km after Miti Mbili to capture the cars negotiating a hairpin.

SS11 Soysambu 1

Saturday 14th March, 2026.

Another stage almost ruined for me by a marshal.

The guy in question didn’t want us to park in the shade like other cars but wanted me to leave my car in the middle of an exit route and walk to the photo point. It took making a call to a higher rally official to park the car in a safe place.

Dust off my shoulder, I managed to get to the second river crossing to capture some decent shots.

One of my favourites from the rally. This one deserves a video explainer.

SS16 Sleeping Warrior 2

From Soysambu, we made our way to Sleeping Warrior anticipating proper mud baths.

Sadly, the stage got cancelled a few minutes to the start because the road conditions had deteriorated greatly after the afternoon rains.

Transport to SS 17 Oserengoni 1

Sunday 15th March, 2026.

After spending the night in Gilgil, we used Moi North Lake Road to get to Hell’s Gate. This helped us avoid the traffic that was on Moi South Lake Road.

Somewhere along the way before Kongoni, we spotted these trees and decided to add some rally cars to frame.

Regroup before SS18 Hell’s Gate 1

Further ahead, we reconnected with the drivers who had just tackled SS17 Oserengoni 1.

SS18 Hell’s Gate 1 Start

A lot of camaraderie happened before the start point of SS18 Hell’s Gate 1.

I found drivers comparing notes about SS17 Oserengoni 1, discussing how their cars were handling the final day of rallying and openly sharing their personal reflections on the rally.

It’s sportsmanship at it’s finest, before re-engaging rally mode.

And for the Rally Officials, it is a moment to catch a breather and some stories before continuing with their duties.

SS20 Hell’s Gate 2 Powerstage, Podium and Finish

From 41 entrants, 29 made it to the finish and thousands of spectators were present at Hell’s Gate to receive and celebrate with them.

After 94 starts, Takamoto Katsuta claimed his maiden WRC win at Safari Rally Kenya on 15th March 2026, two days before his 33rd birthday.

Four-time WRC champion Juha Kankkunen lifts the manufacturers’ trophy marking Toyota’s sixth consecutive win of Safari Rally Kenya.

Robert Virves and Jakko Viilo emerged tops in WRC 2 in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2

The Photographers

Always behind the cameras, except for moments like these.