2025 Safari Rally to start at Nairobi CBD with two new routes included

This year's World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally will see two new stages introduced as organisers look to make the experience the best for drivers and spectators alike. 

The rally, slated for Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 March, will be flagged off outside City Hall, as opposed to KICC where previous editions have been held with the intention of having easier access for the public. 

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Targeting a field of 50 crews, this year's Safari will double up as the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) Kenyan leg as well as the opening run of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) slated to have six legs this season. 

"We want the City Hall way lined up with the public as they watch the cars move out from the flag off on their way to the spectator stage at Kasarani SSS3," WRC Safari CEO Charles Gacheru said. 

On the opening day, a new stage has been introduced around Morendat Farm in Naivasha. "The stage is called Mzabibu, named after a vineyard there.

From Nairobi the cars drive to Safari Mall for an autograph session before heading to the new 8km loop before retiring at the service park," the CEO explained. 

On Friday, action will involve four stages starting at Camp Moran, another new stage. The cars will then head to Loldia, KenGen Geothermal, and Kedong. 

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"We are working with KenGen on sustainability for the rally. Camp Moran is also one of the air carbon capture sites in the world and we are using that to tell the story.

In Kedong, we have maintained the Miti Mbili jump but have rejigged the route to a much shorter one, from 30km last year to about 17km for 2025. The spectator stage remains," Gacheru continued. 

The weekend will see drivers head to the Delamere Farm for Saturday's action with Soysambu, Elementaita and the Sleeping Warrior stages remaining as has been.

The two viewing points at the conservancies will be accessible, with strict guidelines. On Sunday, an early morning run at Morendat gives way for action at Hells Gate and Oserian. 

To ensure accessibility for spectators the organisers have announced that a public village will be set up at Morendat where the cars will compete twice and some will be available for autographs. "When action is not headed that way we will have a big screen for the spectators there," Gacheru added. 

WRC Safari Rally will be the third round of the 14-event championship in what will be the longest season since 2008, running from January to November.