History 1970s

1973 East African Safari Rally (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 21st East African Safari Rally

Date: April 19–23, 1973

Host Countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: ~5,000 km

Total Starters: 89 crews

Total Finishers: 18 crews

The 1973 Safari Rally was one of the toughest events ever staged in world rallying. Torrential rain, axle-deep mud, and endless gravel roads stretching across East Africa pushed crews and machines to the limit. Local hero Shekhar Mehta, partnered by Lofty Drews, drove brilliantly through catastrophic conditions to claim a career-defining win for Datsun in one of the most grueling rallies of all time.

Route

Kenyan Highlands: Fast but rugged stretches lined with wildlife hazards, washouts, and red clay mud.
Lake Victoria Basin: Rain-prone regions turned roads into rivers, forcing cautious water crossings and engine protection strategies.
Tanzanian Dust Plains: Long, dry sections where visibility vanished behind a trail of choking dust.

The rally traversed a vast loop through Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, tackling flooded plains, rocky climbs, and desert-like savannah in a single itinerary.

Only the most well-prepared and resilient crews survived the event, which was notorious for its high attrition rate and the sheer remoteness of stages.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Shekhar Mehta & Lofty Drews · Datsun 240Z
2nd Place
Sandro Munari & Mario Mannucci · Lancia Fulvia HF
3rd Place
Rauno Aaltonen & Gunnar Palm · Peugeot 504

Mehta’s deep knowledge of East African roads and Drews’s pinpoint co-driving made the difference, securing Datsun’s triumph in a rally that wiped out nearly 80% of the field.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Flooded Stages: Sudden flash floods turned passable roads into impassable rivers.
  • Mechanical Attrition: Suspension, fuel systems, and differentials were constantly under stress from uneven terrain.
  • Isolation and Repairs: With few service points, crews were often forced to conduct emergency field repairs to stay in the rally.

The 1973 Safari Rally was less about outright speed and more about survival—and Mehta’s local knowledge and Datsun’s preparation turned brutal adversity into a defining WRC victory.

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