Running for Rangers

“Before the plane touched down, I saw an African elephant wandering through the bush. I had never seen such a majestic animal in my life.”

That moment stayed with Amy Willis, Ker & Downey World Travel’s Philanthropy Manager and an avid ultrarunner, during her first visit to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Northern Kenya in 2023. Once on the ground, the landscape came alive—elephants, rhinos, giraffes, Grevy’s zebra, and even a lioness calling to her cubs in the grass, appeared throughout the landscape only to quickly vanish.

“I fell in love with this place and Lewa’s incredible conservation story.”

Lewa is one of Africa’s great conservation successes. As the first private rhino sanctuary in East Africa, its rhino population has grown from just 15 animals to 293 today. Thanks to the dedication of Lewa’s rangers, there hasn’t been a poaching incident since 2019.

When Lewa approached Ker & Downey about working together, Amy had an idea.

“I knew I could combine my love for running with taking an active role in raising funds for Lewa by racing alongside the rangers in the 2026 For Rangers Ultra Marathon.”

The For Rangers Ultra, is a 5-day race that spans 230 kilometers across five northern Kenyan conservancies—Lewa, Borana, Lolldaiga, Ol Jogi, and Ol Pejeta. The race is fully self-supported, with runners sleeping in the bush and moving through the same rugged wilderness the rangers patrol every day.

“This race has conservation at its core. Being part of something bigger than myself makes it incredibly meaningful.”

Funds raised will support Lewa Wildlife Conservancy’s ranger program and critical conservation work, helping protect rhinos, elephants, and other wildlife that depend on this landscape.

For the Ker & Downey Foundation, protecting places like Lewa is part of a larger mission: ensuring the wild places that inspire travel today still exist for generations to come.

“Imagine a world without it—without towering African elephants and ancient black rhinos walking the planet.”

With your support, that future doesn’t have to become reality.

Please consider donating to support Amy’s run and Lewa’s vital conservation efforts. Every contribution helps protect Africa’s wildlife and the rangers who defend it.