The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) alerted motorists to expect heavy traffic during the Safari Rally, scheduled for March 12–15, 2026. The agency urged drivers to take alternative routes to dodge delays and stay safe on the main highways.
In an advisory issued on Wednesday, KeNHA Director-General Luka Kimeli noted that the authority expects major gridlock as fans and participants flock to rally sites nationwide. Officials specifically warned truck drivers against parking in unauthorized spots, noting that violators face immediate arrest.
To keep traffic moving, KeNHA highlighted several bypasses:
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The Scenic Route: Travel from Nairobi through Rironi, Flyover (Magumu), Njambini, Ol Kalou, and Dundori, ending at Lanet.
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The Adventure Route: Take the path via Nairobi, Rironi, Naivasha, Engineer, Ol Kalou, Dundori, and Lanet.
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The Thika Trail: Pass through Nairobi, Thika, Magumu, Ol Kalou, Dundori, and Lanet.
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The Suswa Shortcut: Connect through Nairobi, Ngong, Suswa, Narok, and Nakuru.
“The authority continues to ensure your safety on all our highways,” Kimeli added.
The 2026 Safari Rally Kenya forces drivers to maintain total focus from the very first second as they tackle 20 grueling special stages over four days.
The action kicks off with the Shakedown stage at Nawisa, near the Naivasha Service Park. This stretch tests competitors with bumpy climbs, a quarry that looks like the Saudi Arabian desert, and a mix of tight and wide rough patches.
Organizers shortened Camp Moran this year, but it remains a technical challenge. Drivers must navigate rocky ground and constant elevation shifts between the 11-kilometer and 21-kilometer marks.
At Morendat Farm, the Mzabibu stage begins with narrow, tricky trails through the vineyards before opening up into a high-speed sprint and finishing on rough, grass-lined paths.
Loldia keeps its classic layout, featuring technical climbs, descents, and quick straights. Meanwhile, the geothermal stage mimics the legendary Acropolis or Mexico rallies, constantly switching between narrow, bumpy tracks and smooth, high-speed roads.
Kedong debuts a new, punishing section filled with rocks, dips, and the iconic Mbili jump. Soysambu mirrors its 2024 version, blending flat-out straights with narrow, rugged roads and a final 1.5-kilometer technical dash.
This year, Elmenteita runs in the opposite direction. It offers fast but narrow roads that cut through forests and freshly plowed fields near the finish line.
The legendary Sleeping Warrior stage circles a mountain that resembles a resting Maasai warrior. This iconic test pairs high-speed sections with rough forest tracks, all while subject to unpredictable weather.
Oserengoni starts on cramped, bumpy forest trails before transitioning into faster stretches and concluding with a rough patch leading onto a long straightaway.
The rally culminates at Hell’s Gate. These medium-width roads hide treacherous rocky spots and end on an open road with a difficult junction, the same spot where Takamoto Katsuta rolled his car during the 2025 event.
Toyota Gazoo Racing leads the 46-car field, looking to extend a winning streak that spans every Safari Rally since the event returned to the calendar in 2021.
Fans should closely monitor a stacked lineup, which includes eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier and last year’s Safari victor, Elfyn Evans, who currently leads the championship standings. They face stiff competition from teammate Takamoto Katsuta, a two-time Safari podium finisher, alongside the hard-charging Oliver Solberg and breakout talent Sami Pajari.
Local hopes rest on a strong Kenyan contingent, featuring two-time African Rally Champion Karan Patel, junior star Samman Singh Vohra, and Nikhil Sachania, who secured the WRC3 (World Rally Championship 3) title in 2025.
The competition unfolds over 10 unique stages, each tackled twice. With the route ranging from the massive 25.6 km Loldia stretch to the short 8.27 km Mzabibu sprint, crews and spectators can expect four days of relentless, high-speed drama.
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