The 2026 Safari Rally promises another adrenaline-fuelled spectacle as crews gear up for a mix of brand-new and classic stages across Naivasha and surrounding areas.
Rally fans can expect high-speed straights, rocky climbs, and technical challenges that have made the Safari Rally one of the most unpredictable events in the World Rally Championship calendar.
The event kicks off with the new Nawisa Shakedown, located just across the road from the rally’s Service Park in Naivasha.
Drivers will face a bumpy sandy climb, a rocky quarry section reminiscent of Saudi Arabia, and narrow, rough tracks that lead into faster downhill stretches – a perfect taste of what’s to come.
Camp Moran (SS1/3) returns with a shortened layout from 2025, featuring exceptionally rough and rocky terrain between 11km and 21km.
Meanwhile, Mzabibu (SS2/10) in Morendat Farm vineyards blends narrow technical trails with high-speed grass-lined sections, ending on a fresh new finish.
Other fan-favourite stages include Loldia (SS4/9), where drivers will navigate a mix of straights, junctions, and technical uphill climbs, and Geothermal (SS5/8), which combines bumpy narrow roads with cambered high-speed corners reminiscent of Rally Mexico and the Acropolis Rally.
Kedong (SS6/7), featuring a new rough opening and the iconic Mbili Jump, will see cars soar high into the air – often sideways – thrilling both drivers and spectators alike.
In contrast, Soysambu (SS11/14) alternates between long open straights and narrow technical roads, with the final 1.5km serving as a spectator hotspot.
Elmenteita (SS12/15) runs in the opposite direction to last year, featuring fresh ploughed roads, forest sections, and fast lakeside stretches, while the Sleeping Warrior (SS13/16) remains one of the rally’s most anticipated stages, combining fast forest roads with rough terrain and flowing open sections.
Rainy conditions could once again throw surprises on this classic stage.
Oserengoni (SS17/19) mixes narrow technical forest trails with long fast straights, while Hell’s Gate (SS18/20) is set to be one of the fastest stages of the rally, challenging drivers with tricky rocks and a technical junction near the finish.
The stage has previously claimed rolls, including Takamoto Katsuta in 2025.
With a mix of new sections, classic routes, and technical challenges, the 2026 Safari Rally is set to test the skills, courage, and endurance of drivers and teams.
