The Cars 2026
It’s all about the cars. A celebration of automotive elegance and engineering excellence.
It’s all about the cars. A celebration of automotive elegance and engineering excellence. The Safari 500 maintains the established formula of four distinct categories, ensuring a diverse and appealing lineup: Classic, Modern Classic, Sports, and Special.
The event is personally curated by the founder and the Admissions Committee who ensure that a mix of interesting, rare and exciting cars dominate the rally. All entries are limited by certain brands, models and by invitation or application. Subject to approval by the admissions committee.
Vehicles eligible for entry fall into four distinct categories: Classic (Pre-1977), Modern Classic (1977-1996), Sports (1997-current), and Special (Restomod/Recreation). Each class celebrates a unique era and style of motoring, bringing together an exceptional lineup of vehicles on African roads.
Car Categories
Pre 1977
Classic
Our pre-1977 Class celebrates some of the world’s rarest cars. From vintage Bentleys to roaring Daytonas and glorious Gullwings, this class is about interest over value, passion over performance, and elegance over mere beauty.
1977 – 1996
Modern Classic
1977 through to 1996. The variety in this class sets it apart, from poster cars of our childhood to the cars we used to drive. This emotive class highlights the automotive excellence that was abundant in this period.
1997 – 2025
Sports
1997 through to today. This class, limited to just 15 vehicles, brings together the most driver-focused sports and supercars of the modern world. Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche and Ferrari dominate this class.
Restomod/Recreation/Continuation
Special
This class is for special cars where passion and skill have gone into creating a masterpiece of automotive excellence. From customised Americana to restomods and end-of-run continuations and homologations, these vehicles bring big drama, excitement and inspiration to the rally.
