The rally was historically one of the fastest events in the world championship with average speeds over 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph).

[5] However, the roughness of the terrain and the long stages meant that the winner was often the most reliable or the fastest cautious driver.

[2][6] In later years, top rally teams would use helicopters to fly ahead of the cars to warn of animals or other vehicles on the rally route.Teams built specially strengthened cars for the event, with bullbars, snorkels (for river crossings) and bright lights to warn wildlife.

[8][7] During the rally, repairs had to be regularly made to the cars, which added to the elapsed time of the competitors.

In 2013, President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta announced a plan to return the Safari Rally to the world championship.

[3] The Safari Rally eventually made a comeback to the WRC in 2021 after an eighteen-year hiatus from the 24–27 June, with a successful event held in Kenya on the floor of the Rift Valley in Naivasha, Nakuru County.

[12] Kenyan drivers Shekhar Mehta and Carl Tundo have been the most successful competitors, with five outright victories each.

[17] The 2017 edition of the rally had joint winners, as both Richard Jackson and Carl Tundo had the same time.