All those kilometres, sweat and very tired legs have added up to something super! More than R549,000 has been raised to support the people protecting KZN’s wildlife.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (04 September 2026) – Remember those 22 runners who were gearing up to find out whether they were ‘as tough as a ranger’?
Well, they ran…and then some! The final numbers are now in for Run for Rangers 2026, with an impressive R549,458 raised for conservation efforts across KwaZulu-Natal.
When we checked in with the initiative ahead of the event in July, just over R261,000 had already been banked. By the time the running shoes came off and the fundraising wrapped up, that number had more than doubled.
The money raised by Run for Rangers, as part of the Sport for Lives initiative, will go on to do good things. The event supports Project Rhino’s work across KwaZulu-Natal, which helps rangers and anti-poaching teams protect rhino and other wildlife.
Part of this year’s funds will go towards essential ranger gear and supplies for teams working across multiple reserves. Another portion will help with skills training in tracking, detection and wildlife crime prevention. There is also a four-legged focus in the mix, with funds contributing towards new kennels and accommodation for a K9 anti-poaching unit.
The 100km run is turning into boots, skills and better support where it counts!
“Run for Rangers was highly successful, particularly because we were able to keep the running costs down and ensure that as much of the money raised as possible could go directly towards conservation,” Director of Project Rhino Grant Fowldes said.
“The participants put in an incredible amount of sweat and tears. They covered a lot of metres in the spirit of ‘Are You as Tough as a Ranger?’, and that effort has translated into meaningful support for the people working on the ground.”
Run for Rangers started in 2022 and has steadily grown into a pretty gruelling way for ordinary runners to stand behind the people doing one of conservation’s toughest jobs. Rangers spend their days patrolling land, removing snares, tracking threats and protecting wildlife from poaching.
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“A lot of the money raised will go towards supporting people, putting boots on the ground, providing training and making a tangible difference in a field that is beginning to tell.”
“We may never get on top of poaching completely, but we are certainly making it more difficult for poachers to operate, and rangers are an integral part of that fight.” says Fowldes.
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