Changing the Game for the Women and Girls of the Serengeti

It was a wet and gloomy morning on the plains for the third and final day of running but this did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of our Serengeti Girls Run participants. Soon the women were approaching the finish line amidst excited cheers of support and encouragement. Tired but exhilarated, there was a profound sense of achievement for their own accomplishments as well as what they had contributed to the upliftment of women and girls in rural Tanzania.

"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish" - Michelle Obama

Get involved Have you been inspired by the Serengeti Girls Run participants? You too can support the Grumeti Fund, Singita’s non-profit conservation partner in Tanzania, and their special projects for female empowerment by making a donation. Donate now »

The participants set out from Singita Sabora Tented Camp - their home base during the event - on the first day of the run

Singita Grumeti's abundant wildlife was on display throughout the run, including daily sightings of zebra, giraffe and elephant

This year's event - the second in this series of Safaris with a Purpose - has just wrapped up and was a resounding success. This all-women run across the Serengeti wilderness raised funds and awareness for the Grumeti Fund’s girl and women empowerment programmes; a range of initiatives specifically aimed at providing opportunities for women in conservation, local commerce and community leadership.

On their second day in the Serengeti, the participants joined schoolgirls from the local village of Natta for a 4km/2.5mi "fun run", all decked out in their Grumeti Fund t-shirts

The run was followed by an inspiring career fair and the opportunity for the participants to engage one-on-one with the girls

The challenges of daily life for women and girls in rural Tanzania are myriad. Limited access to education, cultural marginalisation and poverty are just some of the forces impacting their potential. In an effort to address this, the Grumeti Fund works in more than 20 villages close to Singita Grumeti to engage and uplift local girls and women through a variety of development projects.

Late afternoons were spent exploring the 350,000-acre reserve on a game drive and spotting the amazing wildlife for which Singita Grumeti is well known

The participants were accompanied along the route by highly-trained scouts from the Grumeti Fund's anti-poaching unit who kept an eye out for curious wildlife

The participants in the Serengeti Girls Run each make a sizeable, once-off donation to the Grumeti Fund and help to raise awareness for the cause. Each contribution assists in funding numerous outreach programmes including scholarships for local girls in secondary school, vocational studies and university, training girl mentors and providing life skills and internships as well as enterprise development training for women and environmental education for girls from local secondary schools.

The spirit of togetherness was palpable throughout the three days of running

The shared camaraderie, perseverance and passion formed a profound and meaningful bond between the women

In return, the runners experience not only the profound satisfaction of knowing they have made a difference in the lives of their Tanzanian contemporaries, but also a sense of immense personal and physical achievement for having traversed one of Africa's most iconic landscapes on foot. Covering 21km/13mi each over three consecutive days, the runners demonstrated individual strength and resilience while forming a deep bond having shared in one of life's most meaningful experiences; working together to give back.

Crossing the finish line on the third and final day was a moment of pure joy for the runners who were enthusiastically supported by their fellow participants

Congratulations to these remarkable athletes for their grit, determination and commitment to the goal of making a meaningful contribution to the lives of women and girls in Tanzania

You can take a look at the #SerengetiGirlsRun hashtag on Instagram, as well as [our feed](https://www.instagram.com/singita/) and the SGR 2019 Highlight to see more from the event._