Tashinga Initiative - Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2026
Uniting To Support Africa’s Rangers #ForWildlifeRangers
10 WRC teams based across Zambezi's wildlife areas
Rangers are Africa’s unsung heroes. They hold diverse roles as conservationists, teachers, community support workers, leaders and much more.
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge, organised by Tusk, is a celebration of solidarity, connection and camaraderie for the ranger profession. Culminating on 19th September 2026, the campaign raises vital funds for Africa's biodiversity guardians.
The Tashinga Initiative is a female-led wildlife protection organisation dedicated to supporting rangers and community scouts in Zimbabwe's Zambezi Valley and other Protected Areas. Since 2020, we have proudly supported up to ten ranger teams each year to participate in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, helping equip and empower those on the front line of conservation.
IF YOU DONATE TODAY, your donation will be matched 100% by Tusk Trust's WRC Campaign (see below)! Your donation comes BACK to The Tashinga Initiative for its ongoing efforts to support Rangers and their unique patrol effort.
Give today and the Scheinberg Relief Fund will match every dollar donated, amplifying your impact. Join us in speaking up #ForWildlifeRangers
Find out more at wildliferangerchallenge.org
THANK YOU TO THE WRC ORGANISERS TUSK TRUST AND GAME RANGERS ASSOCIATION OF AFRICA!!
Sep 30, 2026, 8:14:49 AMWe applaud the fabulous organisation, dedication and hard work by the Organisers Tusk Trust and Game Rangers Association of Africa and thank them for giving this gift to the Rangers of Africa since 2020!
END OF WILDLIFE RANGER CHALLENGE 2026!! THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS AND SUPPORTERS!
Sep 30, 2026, 8:09:22 AMWOW thank you so much to all of you for supporting Tashinga Initiative the way you have done so in order to get our ten teams verifiable across the finish line of the 2026 WILDLIFE RANGER CHALLENGE! We are very very proud of all the teams with their fantastic achievements!
21km RESULTS!
Sep 28, 2026, 10:35:13 AMWe are thrilled to have received our results from the WRC Judges with the results published online at https://wildliferangerchallenge.org/ and also on our own website at https://tashinga.org/wildlife-ranger-challenge-26-the-tashinga-initiative/. HUGEST CONGRATULATIONS to the winning team in Africa - Team Tashinga Initiative - Dande-Mbire!
TRAVELLING THROUGH THE REGION
Sep 18, 2026, 7:02:42 AMWe've just completed our third round-region trip to visit most of our teams at Charara, Hurungwe, Chirundu Task Force, ZAVARU, Mana Pools, Chewore South, Mushumbi Pools, and Dande Antipoaching Unit. it was great catching up with those who were available and it was a fantastic moment to have all four Chewore South Team members together!!!
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 21KM RACE! 10 TEAMS, 3 Challenges done - 1 to go!
Sep 12, 2026, 10:46:06 AMYou can see our teams here https://tashinga.org/wildlife-ranger-challenge-26-the-tashinga-initiative/! All ten of them. We are so proud to be able to support the Zimparks Ranger Teams! Please help us reach the final line with your donation!
The Teams are training, DUTY COMES FIRST and TRAINING AFTERWARDS! TEAMS KM SCORECARD: 1854.86KM
Sep 11, 2026, 9:51:13 AMIt's a tough call, but the teams and the Rangers never give up on their commitment to this extraordinary WILDLIFE RANGER CHALLENGE 2026!
Our Mountain Men - patrol in the very rugged Doma area in the eastern end of the Zambezi Valley
Sep 10, 2026, 4:22:51 PMWow meet our Veterans of our mountainous area of Doma! It is remote, and rugged and lonely too - this team are veterans of WRC having participated since 2021! They grow older with WRC but never give up! Give them a huge cheer!
Our updated training score card - a tally of the 10 teams' activities across Mid-Zambezi Region
Sep 10, 2026, 4:13:59 PMWe have passsed the 1,800km mark in our training kms each and every one recorded on STRAVA.
2.4km Time Trial Challenge has been undertaken by 9 out of our 10 Tashinga Initiative - WRC teams so far!
Sep 10, 2026, 3:57:54 PMWe are delighted that we have been able to comply with the regulations of WRC and timeously submit our 2.4km Time Trial results for nine out of ten teams.
Our teams have participated in their second WRC Trial Challenge, the 2-minute SITUP CHALLENGE
Aug 30, 2026, 1:55:59 PMWe are very proud of what many of the teams have been able to achieve, in our case, undertaking the challenge singularly, whilst they are out on duty. Here on the banks of the Zambezi, doing what is required and this Ranger achieved 90 situps!
Meanwhile the training continues and the distances clock up!
Aug 30, 2026, 1:45:53 PMThe distances and activities that you see here are what the individual Rangers have been able to achieve over and above their full time duties, usually apart from each other, and in different locations, having to adjust to challenging circumstances or often having to walk to find "signal". We admire their commitment!
Mid-Zambezi Region Teams have completed their PUSHUP CHALLENGE!
Aug 30, 2026, 1:43:19 PMHere are the results of the efforts by the teams across the Region. To note that these teams patrol full time each and every day and all activities associated with training and executing WRC Challenges happens outside of duty time!
Training underway, wherever, whenever - the Rangers of Zambezi are making it happen
Jul 21, 2026, 10:55:27 AMPlease support us in our efforts to get 10 teams over the finish line - that's 50 Rangers training in teams of 5 Rangers each, where one Ranger will act as a spare, supporter on the day of the 21km race on the 19th September - meet 6 of our 10 teams!
Bridges may break — but WRC26 training goes on!
Jul 21, 2026, 10:49:49 AMNo matter the challenges, and where patrol duties come first - Ranger teams keep up their training!
WRC 2026 is launched today!
Jul 21, 2026, 10:48:08 AMLet us celebrate another year of WRC! We have 10 teams that we are sponsoring, facilitating, managing across the Mid-Zambezi Region in collaboration with ZimParks' and the phenomenal Rangers that protect this landscape!
Totals walked/run in training exercises as of mid July
Jul 18, 2026, 12:34:24 PMTake a look at this chart of the collective kms walked or run by Team members through their training sessions, as and when they can, given their duties come first - we are thrilled with their dedication to WRC26!!
BANNERS FLYING and TRAINING, TRAINING and more TRAINING
Jul 18, 2026, 12:18:13 PMFollowing our training programme all ten teams across this huge 1,280,000ha protected area landscape do their utmost to complete the exercises, before and after work, as we strongly advocate that the wildlife protection duties comes first! These are but a few samples for you to see. AND the teams are raising their banners across the Mid-Zambezi Region - as they come back from patrol, they are proud to see the WRC banner flying!
