WRC Safari Rally Kenya has become a major tourist magnet for the East African country (Photo: WRC)
An influx of tens of thousands of tourists and car rally fans from around the world have turned up at Naivasha town in Kenya to attend the fourth edition of the motorsport competition, 2025 WRC Safari Rally Kenya.
According to hoteliers and other tourism stakeholders in Naivasha, in south-western Kenya, have reported a tourism windfall and brisk business fortunes due to the influx of local and international revellers who have trooped to the region for the rally.
The competition, which kicked off in Naivasha on Friday after Kenyan President William Ruto flagged them in Nairobi’s Kasarani stadium, are expected to boost local tourism inflows as small and large businesses open their doors for buyers.
Officials of Kenya Tourism Board emphasise the rally’s impact on the local tourism industry noting that events like the WRC Safari Rally are crucial for driving sustainable tourism growth and boosting the sector’s contribution to the economy.
June Chepkemei
“It is gratifying to note that the rally participants will extend their stays after the championship to tour other parts of the country, including all the way to the Kenyan coast besides Nairobi,” says June Chepkemei, CEO, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB).
According to Nakuru County officials, local hoteliers, camping facilities and Airbnb facilities have been fully booked for the three-day event. According to David Mwangi, Chairman of Nakuru County Tourism Association, over 100,000 rally lovers are expected in the town for the three-day event.
“The rally has placed Kenya and especially Naivasha town as a key destination to both local and international tourists thanks to hearty and welcoming locals, warm weather, alluring lake and world class cuisines,’’ says Mwangi.
The local officials say that to ensure a seamless event, hundreds of the security officers have been lined up at key service points to control traffic, give speeding rally cars way, and protect enthusiasts from harm.
They add that despite the scorching sun and dusty roads, rally lovers arrived at marked rally routes in Naivasha to witness man and machine battle each other.
One of top favourites Solberg found his car stuck in the dirt (Photo: WRC)
According to local tourism officials, the four-year-old event has put Kenya on the world map and showcased its hospitality and natural attractions to millions of fans around the world.
This year’s rally held features a strong entry list including 10 top-level Rally1 cars and 16 WRC2 entries, with notable drivers like Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanperä, Ott Tänak, and Thierry Neuville.
Hoteliers say that the influx of visitors has led to full occupancy of hotels in the region, with the spill-over effect extending to other accommodation options such as serviced apartments, boutique hotels, camps and Airbnb listings.
“We are capitalising majorly on our competence and resourcefulness. We have had to set up additional tents and outdoor seating areas to cater for the overwhelming number of guests checking in,” says Susan Muli Mwangi, owner of Grand Tiara Hotel, a hotel in Naivasha.
“We have had a lot of investments in serviced apartments, hotels, boutique hotels, and guest houses in the last five years since the rally returned to Kenya. The trickle-down effect has been immense, with new petrol stations, shops, and supermarkets sprouting up to cater to the influx of visitors,” she adds.
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