Featured in The Independent: The most thrilling way to do a safari – by running a marathon
Isabella Machin gets in her miles by running among wildlife as part of the Lewa Safari Marathon
- 21st October 2025
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As Travel Partners to Tusk, we were delighted to arrange for Isabella Machin to run amongst wildlife as part of the Lewa Safari marathon in June, raising critical funds for the charity. Enjoy a snippet of her time below or read the full article HERE:
“My heart fights against the thin-breathed strain of altitude at more than 1,500 metres above sea level, as loose stones crunch beneath my feet on the auburn sandy road. Trusting my instinct for balance, I glance up to see endangered Grevy zebras, reticulated giraffes and even a white rhino eager to cross the meandering path now shared by more than 1,400 participants. I watch in bewilderment, then urge my legs on under the awakening African sun.”
It is 8am, and I am running deeper – 13.2 miles to be exact – into the 62,000 acres of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, nestled within the Mount Kenya Unesco world heritage site. Located in northern Meru County, Lewa is a heart-palpitating 50-minute bush plane journey from Nairobi.
Hearing a crack-crack-crack noise overheard draws my gaze upward to a helicopter, which takes the role of a sheepdog as it delicately herds animals away from the track – ensuring safety for both runners and animals, assisted by rangers strategically stationed along the route.
My thoughts naturally drift to the pride of lions I saw just 24 hours earlier. Anxieties ease as I recall ranger Monica’s words: Lewa tracks every large animal using a wildlife-monitoring platform called EarthRanger.
Yes, that includes lions, I repeat to myself….”
Huge congratulations to Isabella and, if you are interesting in following in her footsteps, CLICK HERE for information on entering the Lewa Safari Marathon 2026.
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