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The Grumeti Fund Promotes Strength in Sisterhood at the 2024 Serengeti Girls Run
What better way to experience and support the Serengeti than to run across its vast plains?
2024 marked the seventh consecutive year of the Serengeti Girls Run. This purpose-driven event works to raise funds for the Grumeti Fund to support their empowerment programs for rural girls in Tanzania. The run takes place in the stunning wilderness of Singita Grumeti’s private concession within the Serengeti which boasts a unique ecosystem and abundant wildlife.
About the Serengeti Girls Run
The run is open to runners of all fitness levels and includes six nights at the Singita Sabora Tented Camp and a 63 km run over three days across the vast plains of the Serengeti. Participants are invited to participate either on foot or by supporting the runners in the chase vehicle.
Singita Faru Faru Lodge, Grumeti, Serengeti, Tanzania. Agency HKLM. Art Director: Paul Henriques. Stylist/Producer: Janine Fourie. Photographer: Mark Williams. 16/02/12.
Those taking part will also be invited to engage with the Grumeti Fund conservation initiatives. This includes careers fairs for local high school girls, a visit to the anti-poaching canine unit, where conservation teams work relentlessly to protect wildlife, and a tour of the Research and Innovation for the Serengeti Ecosystem (RISE) centre which works on cutting-edge conservation research.
Participants are also treated to daily game drives alongside their wilderness runs, for a truly unique experience that gets you as close as possible to nature.
Singita Sabora Tented Camp – Luxury Adventures Under Canvas
What better way to rest your tired muscles after a day’s run than in the luxury of a tented safari suite? The tents feature mindfully created interiors with a modern take on traditional elements of a luxury-tented safari. Every aspect of the tent design celebrates the creativity and craft of local artisans. Each suite features a private fitness area, a sala with loungers, a meditation deck and a curated in-room pantry and dining space. Laundry services, meals, beverages, all activities and return flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Singita Grumeti are included.
The tented safari experience allows you to fully immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a comfortable and rejuvenating stay in the Serengeti.
Singita Grumeti’s Private Concession Reserve
The Singita Grumeti Reserve encompasses approximately 350,000 acres of untouched wilderness that is exclusively accessible to guests visiting through one of the safari programmes. This ensures a crowd-free safari experience. It is located adjacent to the western corridor of the Serengeti National Park making it an essential buffer zone for this heavily protected area.
The area is part of the Great Migration route and is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros), ensuring exceptional game viewing all year round. The reserve offers exclusive low-impact luxury tourism experiences which form part of their ‘Safaris with Purpose’ program, designed to help protect and preserve the area’s wildlife and local communities for the future.
For those looking to experience the wonder of the wildebeest migration, it is best to visit between April and June, however, an abundance of wildlife can be seen at any time of year.
What is the Grumeti Fund?
The Grumeti Fund is a non-profit organisation that contributes to the conservation of the Serengeti ecosystem, ensuring its preservation for future generations. The fund is the custodian of more than 350,000 acres and carries out conservation, research, anti-poaching and community development programs throughout the Singita Grumeti Reserve.
Challenges for conservation
The area has faced severe challenges over the years with illegal hunting, raging wildfires and the spread of invasive vegetation that threatens local flora and fauna. Previously the area was so hindered by poaching that game sightings were sparse. Thanks to the incredible conservation programmes of the Grumeti Fund population numbers are recovering and it is now possible to see huge numbers of game, predators and rare species at any time of year. The Fund has helped ensure the recovery of many treasured species such as the buffalo, wildebeest and elephant populations. One of the most incredible achievements to date was the Grumeti Fund’s successful relocation and reintroduction of nine critically endangered Eastern Black Rhinos in 2019.
Running for Women and Girls Empowerment
Empowering women and girls is crucial for building strong communities and fostering sustainable development. The Serengeti Girls Run celebrates solidarity, strength, preservation and female empowerment, aiming to inspire the next generation of women to achieve their full potential.
The empowerment initiatives the run raises funds for have made an indelible footprint in the lives of countless young girls and women in the area. Over 10,000 girls participated in the girls’ empowerment programme between 2017 and 2023, and over 9,000 received sustainable sanitary pads. Easier access to sanitary supplies has enabled girls to spend more hours in school, positively impacting pass rates.
Each participant in the Serengeti Girls Run helps empowerment projects fund initiatives such as:
- Scholarships
- Empowerment events for 5,000 schoolgirls
- One year’s worth of sanitary pads for 5,000 school girls to help ensure they stay in school and feel confident
- Training fees
- Accommodation and meal costs during internships
- Mentorships programmes
- Life skills training
Each step participants take in the run represents a commitment to preserving Tanzania’s extraordinary beauty and supporting the future of its female leaders. The Serengeti Girls Run helps Tanzanian women overcome traditional barriers, empowering them to pursue their dreams.
Thanks to the dedication of both the organisers and participants, this event now serves as an inspiration for the next generation of girls and women. It is helping to create a world where every girl has the opportunity to thrive and leave her mark.
How to Get Involved in the Serengeti Girls Run
The Serengeti Girls Run takes place in November each year. Due to the secluded and remote nature of the event, there are only limited spaces which makes it advisable to book well in advance. Our team at The Luxury Safari Company is dedicated to providing curated experiences like no other. If you would like to discuss taking part in the Serengeti Girls Run experience please contact us via the details below.