Challenge4ACause is Rhino Africa’s annual cycling event through Namibia. From its inception in 2009, Challenge4ACause is our way of giving back to the continent, by using the race to raise money to support the conservation of Africa’s endangered wildlife and finance projects that uplift disadvantaged communities.
2013 Reunion Ride
This year is something special as the original riders of the mighty Challenge4ACause reunite for an even more exciting and adventure-packed epic race across the desert.
18 challengers from different walks of life will ride 333 kilometres across the Namibian desert from 14 July to 21 July 2013.
They’ve been training to make sure they’re ready for what Namibia has to throw at them, from the boiling heat to the gruelling hills with the desert-adapted black rhinos and other unique wildlife along the way. They will camp at night and ride through the sweat and tears come day, all in the name of fund-raising for various charities.
The first rhino in the Damaraland Conservancy was killed last year. We need your help more than ever! Please take a look at our Make A Pledge page and help donate to a worthy cause. Here’s a look at the itinerary this year:
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek and drive to Palmwag. Camp overnight at Palmwag. Day 2: Ride from Palmwag to Wereldsend – 61km Day 3: From Wereldsend to Overhang Rocks – 57km Day 4: From Overhang Rocks to Cliff Camp – 32km Day 5: From Cliff Camp to SRT Ugab Camp – 58km Day 6: From Ugab Camp to Guantagab Camp – 63km Day 7: From Guantagab Camp to Doro Nawas – 62km. Overnight Doro Nawas. Day 8: Drive to Windhoek for the journey back home
Meet the Reunion Riders
Watch the video from our 2011 Ride
The funds raised by our team go to support the following foundations:
Save The Rhino Trust: Save The Rhino Trust Namibia protects the highly endangered desert adapted black rhino population in the Damaraland region of Namibia. It is the largest free ranging black rhino population in the wild. SRT has provided consistent patrolling and monitoring of black rhino over the last 25 years and they require funds for their anti poaching units.
Wildlife ACT Fund: The Wildlife ACT Fund is a non profit company and requires funds for the development of new anti-poaching technologies, the implementation of long-term monitoring programs of endangered species and community outreach initiatives.
Good Work Foundation: The Good Work Foundation uses its funds to promote the education of disadvantaged individuals in rural areas and to pioneer wildlife corridors between existing conservation areas.
Khumbulani: Khumbulani is a centre for kids between the age of 0 to about 13 years, managed by an amazing lady called Gloria Bebeza. Run out of a two roomed house, Gloria cares for about 160 HIV infected or affected children daily.
Take a look at what we got up to on a recent trek into Namibia…
Watch this space for more about this year’s Challenge4ACause!
Challenge4aCause 2012 is complete! Ten elite riders spent seven days conquering the elements in Damaraland, Namibia. They cycled 340kms through sand, up dunes and often into 50km/h headwinds. They did this to raise money for Save the Rhino Trust, Wildlife ACT Fund and Good Work Foundation. They experienced, first-hand, the harsh environment of the desert-adapted black rhino. Our congratulations and thanks go to the riders, sponsors and the team responsible for organising this incredible event. And of course to our clients, without whom none of this would be possible.
Look out for the video coming soon, but in the meantime, here is a selection of the best photographs from this year’s event.
In 2011, 12 cyclists embarked on an epic journey across Namibia’s Damaraland desert to raise money to help save the desert-adapted black rhino. This year they’re setting off on the 4th Challenge4aCause. This time round there are 10 riders and their tyres will skirt the Skeleton Coast in what promises to be the most grueling challenge yet.
The Route
The cyclists are travelling a new route this year. In fact, it’s so new we hardly know anything about it. Just that it’s uncharted territory. All the more thrilling…
The Plan (The best laid plans…)
Day 1: Drive to Palmwag Day 2:Cycle to Sesfontein. 120km on the first day, all on gravel road, except for the last 20km. Sleep out close to Hoanib River Day 3:Enter the concession at the northern border and start cycling. Sleep in riverbed close to Hunkab spring Day 4: Further south over gravel plains to Kai-Ais spring, where we camp Day 5:Rugged terrain along riverbeds exploring the area, finish at Palmwag Day 6:Cycle towards Werelds End, then west towards the border of the Skeleton Coast Park. Sleep in riverbed Day 7:Head further west and south in the concession, finish at Werelds End Day 8:From Werelds End to Damaraland Camp – 75 km – finish Day 9:Transfer back to WHK and fly home
Riders of the Storm – 2012’s Team
Click on the image to see the full pdf of this year’s team of daredevils; one woman and nine men… Who will spend more time on foot than on the saddle? Watch this space for updates!
Riding For Rhinos
Challenge4aCause is not just an incredible adventure. All proceeds go towards saving the desert-adapted black rhinos and other endangered species, as well as to our favourite community based projects. This year we’re aiming to raise R800 000.
DID YOU KNOW: Only one case of rhino poaching (Oct 2011) has been reported in Namibia’s Kunene region since 1994. This is largely thanks to Save the Rhino Trust and their close, 30-year long working relationship with local communities.
However, in South Africa, from 1 January 2012 – 20 June 2012, 251 rhinos have been poached, with the Kruger National Park having lost 149 rhinos. 170 arrests have been made thus far…
What: Next weekend thousands will be descending upon Cape Town to take part or watch the great Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour. It’s the largest timed cycling event in the world and attracts over 35 000 cyclists from all across the world.
Charities: As a non-profit event, the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour donates the proceeds raised through sponsors and participants to two charities. The first is the Pedal Power Association, which uses the funds to develop cycling in communities by sponsoring development cyclists and hosting fun rides in the Western Cape area. The second is the Rotary Club of Claremont, which invests their share into a variety of fundraising projects.
When: 11 March 2011
Where: Situated in Cape Town, the 110km route takes riders past some of the city and its surrounds’ most picturesque parts. It’s definitely no boring road race. Starting in the CBD at Hertzog Boulevard by the Civic Centre, the route winds down along the coast into Simonstown and then turns at Smitswinkel, heading back along the coastline before the climb up Chapmans Peak. It’s then a short but steep hill up Suikerbossie and the final leg – a downhill race to welcome relief of the finish line in Green Point.
Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Just take a look:
Rhino Africa’s Involvement
We will be supporting the Race For The Rhino initiative, started by Scott Irving. Scott and his team have arranged for 50 or so riders to participate in the Argus Cycle Tour to raise awareness for rhino poaching. They have raised funds through donations – riders involved will collect donations on a km basis as well. Excess funds go to WWF. All riders involved will be wearing the same riding kit, with the “Race for the Rhino” logo and the Rhino Africa Safaris logo, the company that made the tops is ENJOY and has donated R50 for every top sold. The idea is for all 50 cyclists to ride together and complete the route in a time of 5 hours.
We at Rhino Africa Safaris have donated R20,000 (less the cost of 15 tops, totaling just under R15,500) directly to the cause. Fifteen of our members will be taking part in the race along with Scott and Co., wearing the sponsored tops. Read more or donate to the cause here.
We can’t wait to hit the tarmac and wish all participants the best of luck! Stay tuned for the war stories and successes that are sure to follow.
Read more about other cycling events that we’ve participated in in the past to raise money for charities or conservation in the Challenge4aCause section on our website and in our blogs. Watch the Challenge4aCause video here!
The 2012 Route Map
If you’re in Cape Town over the cycle tour weekend, be sure to check out our list of top hotels to stay at while here. Why not make an adventure out of it!
We asked you to ‘Like’ our Rhino Africa Facebook Page in exchange for us donating $1 for every ‘Like’ to the Wildlife ACT Fund in the name of wildlife conservation! We’re happy to say… we have officially reached our target of $3,000! That’s a total of R23 850. A big thank you for helping us get there so quickly! Your support and interest is hugely appreciated – none of our community or conservation work would be possible without your continued support.
Yesterday we handed over the cheque to the Wildlife ACT Fund in a small presentation in our Rhino Africa offices. You can read more about our 1 ‘Like’ $1 Campaign here on our blog.
But this was just the tip of the iceberg… We decided to go above and beyond that and donated a total of R160,000 to the Wildlife ACT Fund.
In the spirit of saving rhinos and other endangered animals, we also donated a further R150,000 to the Save the Rhino Trust Namibia to fund critical anti-poaching units and enable the Save the Rhino Trust to enhance security and improve rhino monitoring in Namibia.
What about the money, honey?
Wildlife ACT Fund will use the money to purchase new wildlife saving equipment for their Endangered Species Monitoring Programme and their Rhino Relocation Programme, such as the various forms of tracking collars used to track animals like Cheetah, African Painted Dog and Leopard.
These include the latest location transmitters, using either VHF radio technology or GPS devices transmitted via cellular networks or satellite. This equipment makes it possible to monitor these animals daily, which means that if they are injured, sick, trapped in a poacher’s snare, or have escaped out of a reserve, help is not far away. A valuable spin off of this is the data, which is available for important research on animal movement patterns, population demographics and inter-species interactions, all of which helps with the future conservation of these species.
Who are Wildlife ACT?
They are a team of experienced conservationists, who get our hands dirty, working in the field, to save endangered and threatened species. They are a small, but efficient team who stretch every cent to make sure it is utilised in meaningful conservation operations. Their main focus is on the critically endangered Black Rhino and Painted Dog populations, as well as the threatened Cheetah and Vulture populations in Southern Africa. They focus on:
Finding and funding the right equipment needed to effectively monitor endangered and threatened species
Managing, capturing, transporting and reintroducing these animals to new areas
Implementing anti-poaching measures and technology in the field
Helping rural communities who live alongside protected wildlife areas to develop a love and respect for nature, provide them with reasons to protect it, and advance economic empowerment.
Image credit: Wildlife ACT
We at Rhino Africa will continue to raise money this year for conservation efforts, starting with some grand plans for Challenge4aCause 2012! Watch this space for more and find out about our other Doing Good efforts here.
As the year comes to a close we’re in the mood for new year’s resolutions and looking back on the year past. On things we’ve done. On whether we did more good than bad. Here’s a stock of our Doing Good efforts this year – the bad stuff stays in Vegas, as they say…
Watch the Doing Good video below – look out for the new one coming next year.
Khumbulani Day Care Centre
We have been supporting the Khumbulani Day Care Centre for several years with monthly donations and it has been a pleasure to watch the centre grow and develop over the years. Each year we throw them a special Christmas Party, which this time we combined with their 10th Birthday Party, celebrated in the Khayelitsha town hall. Read more about the fun we had here.
Madlala Digital Learning Centre and Project
New on the horizon is our involvement with Madlala Digital Learning Centre – a pilot learning centre in partnership with a local high school in Limpopo’s Justicia community, next to the Kruger National Park. It brings online, interactive digital learning opportunities to disadvantaged communities. Students receive English, computer, leadership and music lessons each week, as well as talks by specialists and a chance to complete the International Computer Drivers Licence. They’ve already been approached with job proposals for their first graduates.
Thanks to your much valued patronage we were able to donate a percentage of our profits to Madlala this year – a total of R50 000, which led to further investment from SAB (South African Breweries) and other big hitters. The donation has subsidised the centre until it becomes self-sufficient and has paid for the education of several students who could otherwise not afford the fees. At Rhino Africa we believe in using tourism and revenue from it to uplift and benefit communities.
Challenge4aCause
In July this year (seems like ages ago already), 12 humble riders conquered the mighty Namibian Desert to raise money for wildlife conservation and community upliftment in Africa. The riders endured a thrilling 330 kilometres through the harsh but spectacular landscapes of Namibia’s Damaraland, home of the endangered desert-adapted black rhino. The event was only possible because of the much valued support from suppliers and clients.
This year’s Challenge4aCause event raised a remarkable R658,062. This is how the funds were allocated:
• Save the Rhino Trust Namibia: R150,000. To fund critical anti-poaching units. We are proud that the last known poaching incident in Damaraland was in 1994. Challenge4aCause funding has enabled the Save the Rhino Trust to enhance security and improve rhino monitoring in Namibia.
• Good Work Foundation: R100,000. For the Madlala Digital Learning Centre based in the Justicia community. Their mission is to bring online, interactive digital learning opportunities to local communities. This pilot project has lead to SAB and T-Systems funding the building of a large Digital Learning Centre in Hazyview. Building work is set to commence before year end. This incredible sponsorship is a direct result of Challenge4aCause’s funding of the pilot project.
• Wildlife ACT Fund: R160,000. This funding will be used to purchase equipment for their Endangered Species Monitoring Programme and their Rhino Relocation Programme. Follow them on Facebook.
• Khumbulani: R150,000. R85,000 to fund the purchase price and transfer costs of the property adjacent to Khumbalani. R10,000 towards teacher training – Gloria Bebeza and her team went to Philipollis in July for teacher training arranged by the Good Work Foundation. R23,000 general operating costs associated to the running of Khumbalani. R30,000 towards Khumbalani’s 10th Birthday celebration and their annual Xmas party.
• Participation Costs: R100,000. These are the participation costs of our suppliers which were sponsored through barter agreements and thus included in the total sum raised.
It was a great success for the group with riders from Singita Game Reserves, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, the Royal Portfolio, and Tintswalo Lodges. Congratulations again to all the riders and thank you once again for your incredible support! We hope that you’ll be able to join us next year for what promises to be an even more incredible ride.
World Rhino Day
We hosted a World Rhino Day protest outside Parliament in Cape Town earlier this year. It was a great success in terms of the amount of press it garnered, the fact that we got the Democratic Alliance to make a presence and speech against rhino poaching, and the amount of supporters that pitched up in red to protest with us. Read more about the event here.
Going Green
Rhino Africa is in a partnership with the Heritage Environmental Management Company – formed to create an ethos of environmental responsibility and sustainable development. We spent much of this year furthering this partnership and our green practices to make sure that we’re doing the best we can to be an eco-friendly company that benefits the earth and community. Read more about Heritage and Rhino Africa here.
What we’ve been doing to ‘go green’
This year we launched a Green Committee, whose members each have various tasks in helping to further ‘greenify’ our company. We’ve been looking at ways to offset our carbon footprint – and that of our travellers – by planting trees to counter the greenhouse gas emissions. Among many things, we’ve implemented LED lighting and recycling bins; and designed and purchased new eco-friendly recycled bamboo USB flash drives to replace the rubber ones we once had.
This year we drew up a Rhino Africa Green Procurement Policy and Sustainable Vision Statement (which you can view on our website) and are also busy establishing a list of green standards for the suppliers, hotels and lodges we work with to find out more about what they’re doing for the planet. We’ll be implementing a Responsible Rhino Rating on our website to rate how responsible and sustainable the accommodations we recommend are.
In this way, the people who travel with us can be more conscious of the impact of their Rhino Africa tailor-made trips.
There is plenty more in the pipelines so keep an eye out for another update in 2012. For more on how to be a responsible traveller, visit Heritage’s site. That’s it from us. We hope you’re also doing your bit to conserve our Earth.
On Saturday the Rhino Africa team headed to Khayelitsha to celebrate Christmas and the 10th Birthday of the Khumbulani Day Care Centre. Khayelitsha is a place some of us had never been to, a place where some of us live, and a place some know very well, having worked closely with Khumbulani for over five years now.
About Khumbulani
Khumbulani is a centre for kids between the age of 0 to about 13 years, managed by an amazing lady called Gloria Bebeza. Run out of a two roomed house, Gloria cares for about 160 HIV infected or affected children daily. In addition to this, Gloria runs a soup kitchen for the local community feeding up to 350 people a day!
Rhino Africa has been supporting Khumbulani for several years with monthly donations, and by providing food for the children. Through our association with Nhlayisa, we provide a specially formulated porridge for Khumbulani that provides much needed nutrients for the kids. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “To heal a nation you must first feed and educate her children”, and it is in this spirit that we embrace our involvement with Khumbulani.
We arrived at Eyethu Hall in Khayelitsha in a long convoy of cars with friends and family members but the children that greeted us out in the parking lot still outnumbered us – coming from the Khumbulani daycare, afterschool and support programme. There was plenty arranged for the day to keep the little ones entertained – jumping castles, face painting, soccer, cricket, scooter races, skipping games, and more! There was even a visit from Barney the Dinosaur (our travel consultant Billy, undercover) and Santa Claus (another undercover agent, Luyanda), who handed out gifts to the gracious Khumbulani children.
While the children and other Rhino Africans played outside, inside the Eyethu Hall, where the event was held, speeches were given by several speakers to honour Khumbulani’s 10th Birthday. David Ryan, our MD, spoke about community upliftment through sustainable tourism. David gave praise to Gloria, the remarkable woman who runs the centre who, along with her team, gives selflessly each day to improve the lives of others. “The project is an inspiration to all of us as South Africans and an example of what can be achieved in the face of adversity through hard work and with a big heart,” David told the audience.
For Rhino Africa, tourism is obviously important. It puts food on our tables. But for Rhino Africa, that “tourism revenue is meaningless unless it is helping to uplift communities and enrich the lives of their residents,” David added. “Sustainable tourism is not just about being green – it’s about ensuring a long term future for South African tourism based on partnership and community benefit so that everyone in the country can benefit. We need to think about the long term and not use tourism for short term gain.” And that’s why we put so much effort into Khumbulani and projects and charities like it. (Read more about our doing good efforts on our website.) Plus, the smiles on these youngsters’ faces and their hugs are reason enough to be there – the future leaders of South Africa!
It was great to see such high level interest and support for Khumbulani, with the keynote speaker, Beverley Cortje-Alcock, being a representative of the Social and Early Childhood Development Portfolio in Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee. Other speakers included the Councillor for Ward 94 from the City of Cape Town and representative from the Department of Social Development. With recognition like this, there is no limit to what can be achieved by Khumbulani – we already have some interest from a German investor, so watch this space for some amazing developments in 2012!
Take a look at all these smiling faces!
A special thanks to our sponsors and donors for the event:
Budget Car Rental; Raith Gourmet; Rukou International Trade/ Cape Juice; Honda Tygerberg; Contego Cycling Team/ Chris Willemse Cycling; Celtic Harriers Athletic Club; Francor Bakery; Nampak Paper Products; and Sight ‘N Sound Audiovisual.
And thank you also to Ingo Brüggemann from our German Division for organising the day and to all of our suppliers and clients for helping us make this project and our charitable efforts possible.
‘Like’ the Rhino Africa Facebook Page and we’ll donate $1 to the Wildlife ACT Fund!
One person alone can certainly make a difference. The collective impact of a group of passionate people however, can change the world.
With so many threats to our planet and so many causes to support, it can be overwhelming when trying to decide who to support and how to help them.
At Rhino Africa we believe passionately in using revenue from tourism to uplift local communities and to conserve wildlife (find out more in the Doing Good section on the website). Through Challenge4aCause (our annual cycling event) we have raised over R1million for Save The Rhino Trust, Good Work Foundation, Khumbulani and Wildlife ACT Fund. This Festive Season we’d like to make an extra donation to the Wildlife ACT Fund (www.wildlifeactfund.org) and we’ve made it as easy as possible for you to get involved.
The Wildlife ACT Fund team is a group of passionate and dedicated, on-the-ground conservationists who are on a mission to save our threatened and endangered wildlife species from extinction. The Fund’s main focus is on the critically endangered Black Rhino and Wild Dog populations, as well as the threatened Cheetah and Vulture populations in Southern Africa.
We believe that no single organisation can work in isolation and that by working together we can conserve this beautiful planet of ours and protect the species which call it home. Join us as we ensure that our children and grandchildren one day get to see animals like the mysterious African Painted Dog, the powerful Cheetah and the elusive Black Rhino roaming freely in the wild while majestic Vultures soar high above.
Eine Form von nachhaltigem Tourismus in Afrika: Volunteering
How can you help?
Like the Rino Africa Facebook Page – yes it is that easy!
For every new Facebook Fan we receive we’ll donate $1 to the Wildlife ACT Fund until we reach our target of $3,000! The quicker we get there, the quicker we’ll hand over the money to Wildlife ACT Fund! Click Here to visit our page.
So help spread the word and be sure to invite as many of your friends and family as possible to ‘Like’ the Rhino Africa Facebook Page. With just one click you can make a difference to species conservation in Southern Africa.
And don’t forget to ‘Like’ the Wildlife ACT Fund Facebook Page too where you’ll be able to find out more about their incredible projects and what they are doing in the field to save endangered species.
Auction4aCause
On December 14 2011, Fundrah, an online donation portal, will be hosting an online auction in support of the Wildlife ACT Fund. All proceeds from the auction will go directly towards the Fund’s on-the-ground conservation work.
However, this is no ordinary auction! Every time a bid is placed on an item, a few unique things happen: the most recent person to bid becomes the Top Bidder and the auction price increases by the set amount of just 1c.
Bidding then continues, with people outbidding each other by increments of 1c, Top Bidders being named and then replaced by others, while the auction timer ticks down from 15 seconds to zero.
When the auction timer hits zero—meaning someone placed a bid and no one chose to outbid them—the Top Bidder is declared the winner and gets to buy the item for the final auction price. The best part is that auction winners will be receiving fantastic deals on the items up for auction. The average saving is 75% off of retail price, though it’s common to see savings of 82%, 91%, even 94%!
There are some exciting items up for auction, including getaways to some of Rhino Africa’s favourite lodges. Auction items include: 2 nights for 2 people at the exclusive Chitwa Chitwa Private Game Reserve, photographic prints from world renowned photographer Christian Sperka and a 2 week endangered wildlife conservation experience with Wildlife ACT. So be sure not to miss this unique opportunity to support Wildlife ACT Fund and their commendable conservation work while at the same time getting yourself a fantastic luxury safari holiday at a massively reduced rate!
Join us online on 14 December 2011, as we support the Wildlife ACT Fund. To find out more about the auction or to participate visit the Wildlife ACT page on Fundrah.
Remember that every little bit helps and in small, but meaningful ways, you too can make a difference to conservation in Africa.
Last week, 18 adventurous cyclists travelled up to Botswana to partake in the Cycle Mashatu challenge. For four days, these passionate individuals rode 150 kilometres, six to seven hours a day, through the Mashatu Game Reserve.
Ancient elephant paths provided the single track that wound through the assortment of savanna, forest, rocky outcrops and wooded floodplains. This year, Rhino Africa sent Ingo Brüggemann (Head of the German Division – Rhino Afrika), who jumped at the opportunity. Along with Ingo, the team consisted of 17 other riders all from the tourism industry, compiled by organiser Peter Allanson (from Lion Roars).
The mission was to raise funds for wildlife conservation and to help put a stop to rhino poaching. The total is to be split equally between the Chipembere Rhino Foundation (a privately run, non-profit organisation committed to assisting in the protection and conservation of Africa’s rhino) and the Wildlife ACT.
We caught up with Ingo, who told us more about the experience. He said that while the distance might not have been as much as the Challenge4aCause Damaraland Challenge it was still spectacular and demanding. They cycled from early morning to lunch time, when they’d set up camp for the day.
The wildlife was particularly abundant. Elephants often crossed their path and the team also spotted leopard as well as plenty of giraffe and birdlife. At night, they saw hyenas surrounding their tents at the campsite; they cycled into a cheetah kill as the big cat was digging into an impala; and they heard lions at night… It was definitely an adventure!
Since these wild animals perceive the tents as foreign objects, as they would a tree, they didn’t come too close – although some elephants did trash the riders’ makeshift bush toilet. With the assistance of two trusty and armed guides, the team had to ride slowly and often take detours because of the wildlife.
The landscape was diverse and impressive, with everything from thick bush and desert dry conditions to river beds with thick sand. The cycling was quite technical and demanding as a result; there were many punctures and they often ran short of spare tyre tubes – thanks to the thick, spiky devil thorns.
The Mashatu cyclists slept in two-man dome tents and on the last night, on stretchers in a boma with nothing between them and the naked starlit African sky. Which, while being beautiful and a unique experience, didn’t allow for much privacy…
All in all, Ingo, like many of the other cyclists, are keen to do the challenge again next year, especially since they managed to raise about R180 000 for rhino conservation.
Pictures by Susan Parker-Smith of Catalyst Communications.
Due to the success of Challenge4aCause in recent years, a second event was added to the 2011 calender – Cycle Mashatu 2011. As with C4AC Damaraland 2011, the cycle will raise money for Wildlife ACT, Good Work Foundation and Save the Rhino Trust.
Today 18 intrepid cyclists set off for Mashatu. They will ride down the elephant lined paths of the Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana for five nights and six days, cycling a total of 50 kilometres a day. They will start and end at Pont Drift Border Post, South Africa.
We’d like to wish all the riders good luck – particularly Ingo Brüggemann from our German Division and Peter Allanson from Lion Roars, featured in the image below before they set off this morning!
About the Event
Mashatu Game Reserve is a wholly preserved and untainted wilderness in south-eastern Botswana, at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers. The ample plains range from savannah, to riverine forests, marshland, and sandstone outcrops. Mashatu, ‘Land of Giants’ takes its name from the locally-sacrosanct Mashatu tree and the giants that roam its terrain. As one of the largest private game reserves in southern Africa, Mashatu is, at 25 000 hectares, a fitting setting for the world’s largest land mammal – the elephant. Other than elephant, herds of giraffe, wildebeest and zebra have also roamed the dramatic landscape for thousands of years. Ancient elephant paths provide the single track which interlace a mosaic of savanna, forest, rocky outcrops and wooded floodplains. On the Mashatu Cycle Challenge, riders will also sleep under starlit skies and will encounter ample big game. Thankfully there will be some expert rangers in tow!
Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet in Johannesburg, road transfer to wilderness camp
After an long day driving to the destination, riders arrive to chilled drinks, a hot bucket shower and a wholesome dinner. The temporary, low impact, fully equipped wilderness camp provides for an unforgettable night’s rest after a hard day’s ride. Meals are prepared on open fires. Starlit skies and night sounds will awaken the senses.
Day 2, 3, 4 and 5: Explore
After a night under the stars, the riders wake early to freshly brewed coffee and breakfast, before preparing their bikes and heading off to uncharted terrains. They’ll discover new skills as rocky outcrops, sandy riverbeds and open plains test biking abilities. The late afternoon will bring the chance to ride or drive to a nearby sundowner point.
Day 6: Departure
Breakfast on this day brings an end to the adventure followed by a road transfer back to Johannesburg.
Wie versprochen möchten wir Ihnen weiteres Bild- und Videomaterial unserer Challenge 4 a Cause 2011 nicht vorenthalten. Soeben haben wir unser neuestes Video zur Challenge im Internet veröffentlicht, um auf die Wilderei der Nashörner aufmerksam zu machen und unseren Beitrag gegen diese Grausamkeit zu dokumentieren.
Wenn auch Sie einen Beitrag gegen die Wilderer leisten möchten, können Sie hier spenden und kämpfen mit uns gegen die Ausrotten der Nashörner, deren Horn in Asien teuer gehandelt wird.
Bitte beachten Sie, dass das Video von unsere englischen Schwesterfirma Rhino Africa Safaris produziert wurde und daher Englisch gesprochen wird.
Twelve humble riders conquered the mighty Namibian Desert… This is their story.
The challenge is now complete. The riders endured a grueling 300 kilometres through the harsh desert conditions of Namibia’s Damaraland, to raise money and awareness to help save the desert-adapted black rhino and to donate to the Good Work Foundation and Wildlife ACT.
It was a great success for the group, which consisted of Rhino Africa team leader, David Ryan, and riders from Singita Game Reserves, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, the Royal Portfolio, and Tintswalo Lodges. Congratulations again to all the riders and thanks to our sponsors and suppliers! An extra big thank you to our valued clients, without whose continued patronage none of this critical conservation work would be possible…
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