African Parks Acting Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve Park
Manager Timothy Maseko Chana has described the annual Ranger Challenge as
crucial in raising awareness of the importance of game rangers in protecting
wildlife and the reserve.
Chana says although the work of rangers is often not
fully appreciated, such events help raise resources to support their work.
He made the remarks on Saturday at the African Parks
office after the 2026 Ranger Challenge, which attracted more than 100
participants who competed in three categories, namely Sand Packers, women and
men, covering a 21-kilometre route from Tongole Wilderness Lodge to Nkhotakota
Wildlife Reserve offices.
“So the Ranger Challenge is a very critical event that
we hold across the African Parks network. It’s not just here in Nkhotakota but
also other protected areas. Its importance is that it helps to raise awareness
in terms of the work that the rangers do. We want to celebrate, commemorate and
show solidarity with them,” said Chana.
Acting African Parks Manager, Maseko Chana during interviews.
He added that there is a need for the country to enhance
efforts to ensure that rangers are provided with the necessary resources to
support their work in the field.
“The pressure facing the protected areas keeps changing,
which always requires us to keep changing our strategies. Rangers should be
kept well trained, so that requires continuous raising of resources,” added
Chana.
Chana also thanked Tongole Wilderness Lodge and Bua
River Lodge for supporting this year’s event.
Meanwhile, Tongole Wilderness Lodge General Manager
Emmanuel Kandiyero says the lodge decided to support the event after
recognising the importance of rangers and wanting to appreciate their endurance
in carrying out their daily work.
Kandiyero, ongole Wilderness Lodge General Manager.
“This day also gives partners and the communities an
opportunity to participate in the challenge, and I hope that the people who
participated now appreciate that the work done by rangers is not as simple as
it may seem,” said Kandiyero.
One of the participants and winner of the Sand Packers
category, Aaron Nakholo, who covered the distance in 2 hours and 12 minutes,
attributed his victory to endurance and perseverance.
winner of the Sand Packers category, Aaron Nakholo.
“It needs strong training so that your body can maintain
pressure, with perseverance in mind, knowing you have a mission to accomplish,”
said Nakholo.
The top three finishers in all three categories received
K300,000 for first place, K200,000 for second and K150,000 for third.
In the Sand Packers category, Nakholo finished first,
followed by Brian Chali and Blessings Kamanga. Nakholo received a gold trophy
and medal, while Chali and Kamanga received silver and bronze medals
respectively.
In the women’s category, Anastasia Simkoko finished
first, followed by Christina Banda and Alice Biliyati.
Madalitso Mallias won the men’s category, followed by Bonwell Kadango in
second place and David Asifa in third.
