WRC
Stage Guide: Safari Rally Kenya 2026
With a refined schedule that packs 20 special stages into four days, the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya demands maximum commitment from the very first kilometre.
Shakedown, Nawisa:
A brand-new stage located across the road from the rally’s Service Park in Naivasha. The new shakedown first climbs uphill on a medium-wide road which is bumpy and sandy. At 1.47km the stage enters a quarry with a rocky backdrop reminiscent of Saudi Arabia. After exiting the quarry, the road becomes rougher on a very narrow and bumpy section at 2.35km before continuing on a wider one after a junction. The rest of the stage varies in roughness, with some faster sections as it heads downhill.
SS1/3 Camp Moran:
Camp Moran was a new stage for 2025 and uses sections previously run as part of the Sleeping Warrior test. It has been shortened for this year. It is a very rough and technical stage, with the section from 11 to 21km exceptionally rough and rocky, featuring constant elevation changes, dips and bumps throughout.
SS2/10 Mzabibu:
The stage is located in the Morendat Farm vineyards, with its first 4.3km run mostly on narrow and technical trails passing next to short trees and bushes. This is followed by a high-speed section on a very narrow road with grass growing down the middle, before a rough and slower section begins at 5.9km. The end of the stage runs on more grass-lined roads which are quite rough in places and features a new finish.
SS4/9 Loldia:
Loldia was set to feature a new rough section, which was ultimately removed before the start of the rally. The stage is therefore run in the same configuration as last year. The first part is a mix of straights and junctions across roads of varying width. From 3.75km to 8km the stage becomes technical, slow and rough on a very narrow road climbing uphill. At 8.2km it begins descending, remaining very rough and twisty until the 11.5km mark, after which it becomes faster and the road widens, with the rest of the stage similar in character to the opening section. Thierry Neuville broke his suspension here whilst leading the rally in 2021.
SS5/8 Geothermal:
The stage begins on a bumpy and narrow road before turning onto a wider and smoother section. Very rough patches appear at around 4km, with the road becoming rougher and narrower again at 5.2km for just under a kilometre before smoothing out once more. At 7.9km the stage joins a wide and smoother road with many cambered corners. This section is more reminiscent of Rally Mexico or the Acropolis Rally than the traditional Safari.
SS6/7 Kedong:
Run with a new section at the start which is very rough in places, featuring many rocky sections as well as dips and bumps. In total, around half of the stage is new for this year and includes a mix of high-speed sections on narrow tracks connected by junctions. It also features the iconic Mbili jump where cars launch high into the air and often land sideways.
SS11/14 Soysambu:
Run in reverse and in a similar configuration to the 2024 edition. A previously rocky and rough section has been removed. The stage features a mix of long, high-speed sections with straights and junctions in open terrain alongside narrow and rough roads, constantly alternating between the two. The final 1.5km is run on a technical and slow road after a long straight at 22.3km, featuring long slow corners and a popular spectator area. In 2024 Grégoire Munster broke the suspension of his Puma Rally1 on this stage, while in 2022 Gus Greensmith rolled out of the rally here.
SS12/15 Elmenteita:
Run in the opposite direction to last year and featuring several new sections, with fresh ploughed roads near the finish. The stage begins in open terrain with high-speed sections on narrow roads with grass growing in the middle and plenty of bumps. After a junction at 10km the stage becomes smoother as it runs alongside Lake Elmenteita before turning rough and technical again through a forest section at 12km. After exiting the forest the stage returns to a mix of fast sections and junctions on slightly wider roads with many dips and bumps.
SS13/16 Sleeping Warrior:
Perhaps the most anticipated stage of the event, Sleeping Warrior is one of the most iconic tests of the modern Safari Rally Kenya. The stage takes its name from the mountain the route passes around, which resembles a Maasai warrior lying on his back. Compared to 2025 the stage has had some sections near the start removed, while the rough finish has also been omitted. The new start features a long straight before joining last year’s route. Two more long straights follow before a junction leads crews onto a rougher section. At 8.3km there is a very fast but rough section through forest with many dips and bumps. After a hairpin at 12.3km the stage returns to open roads, with the final section generally fast and flowing. Unpredictable weather conditions are common, with rain causing major drama in previous editions.
SS17/19 Oserengoni:
The opening 2km run on a very narrow, bumpy and technical road through forest. The stage then exits via a junction onto a faster road outside the forest. A massive straight begins at 4km and lasts almost 2km before the cars turn onto a slow and technical section on a narrow road. The stage becomes faster again at 12.4km before ending after a very rough section and another long straight.
SS18/20 Hell’s Gate:
This stage runs entirely on a medium-width road and is one of the fastest of the rally. The section from 5 to 7km can be particularly tricky, as large rocks have previously been pulled onto the racing line. The final kilometres are run on an open road with a tricky junction just before the finish. Takamoto Katsuta rolled here in 2025.
Stage descriptions provided in collaboration with Powerslide Blog.
