2004 JHB - to Durban
2005 Tour de Kruger
2006 Tour de Zambezi
2006 Tour de Kruger
November 2006 – Over the past year, Wilderness Safaris staff members throughout southern Africa were involved in successful fundraising efforts; they ran, walked, canoed and cycled to raise money for Children in the Wilderness , living up to the company’s ideal of seeking to make a difference to Africa’s wildlife and its people.
Two major cycling events were organised by Wilderness Safaris. The Tour de Zambezi, an event for road bikes covering four different countries – Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia – which ook place from 27th April to 1st May 2006, where 40 cyclists braved potholes and elephant dung-heaps to cover a distance of 450km, through national parks along the Zambezi River. While distances were huge and some roads endless, it was made worthwhile by the smiles and cheers of welcome that greeted the cyclists in many of the villages en route.
The second annual Tour de Kruger took place in July 2006, with some 130 intrepid cyclists covering about 350km through the wilds of the Kruger National Park and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Both these cycling events raised funds for the Peace Parks Foundation as well as for Children in the Wilderness to the tune of….
In addition to these, individuals and small teams proved that they could push themselves to the limit for a good cause.
Marketing Manager Tracy Bamber started things off by running the 56km Two Oceans Marathon, raising no less than R87 000 for Children in the Wilderness. Tracy’s sponsors included many generous agents, as well as staff from Sefofane and Wilderness Safaris in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Malawi.
Then, Christo Potgieter, manager of Botswana Explorations, and Simon Blackburn of Kwando raced each other down the length of the Okavango, the former on foot and the latter in a canoe, completing 374km in five and a half days! The “crazy duo” raised over 30 000 Pula for Children in the Wilderness (Botswana), Bana Ba Letsatsi and Bana Ba Metsi, overcoming painful knees, and avoiding crocodiles, hippo and elephant, all for the sake of charity.
Christo challenged others to do the same. This challenge waspromptly taken up by four Wilderness Safaris Botswana guides who trekked from Duba Plains in the northern Okavango to DumaTau in the Linyanti in the Duba-Duma Challenge. Tony Reumerman, Gavin McCabe, Anthony Bennett and Richard Coke covered 127km in aid of Children in the Wilderness (Botswana), raising more than 75 000 Pula. They described their walk as ‘gruelling,’ having to cross some of the wildest areas in Botswana in the hottest month of the year – with not uncommon encounters with elephants.
To end the year off with a bang, four Wilderness Safaris Namibia staff members are cycling the Desert Dash, a 24-hour extreme cycling event to be held on 15th December 2006, where teams of four need to complete 337km on gravel road over two mountain passes from Windhoek to Swakopmund within 24 hours! Not for the fainthearted, this event will require a combination of off-road cycling skills, endurance and high fitness levels, all tested to the limit as teams attempt to ride during the hottest month Namibia’s summer. Nico van de Merwe, Birgit Bekker, Daleen Steyn and Christine Thirion will cycle as a group and individually to create awareness and raise funds for the Children in the Wilderness Namibia
As CEO of Wilderness Safaris, Malcolm McCullough points out: “Our people are courageous and caring, dedicated to our planet and with a passionate conservation ethic in common.”
There is often a story to tell when you have a selection of titles to choose from – Cycling Africa, Lifestyle Cyclists in Action, If it is Sunday it must be Zambia (reminiscent of the 60’s movie for the sub-vet readers) and the list goes on.
There will no doubt be other articles, film clips and general coverage of the inaugural Tour de Zambezi, so I will concentrate on some of my impressions.
40 of us cycled some 440km over 3 days through 4 countries (Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia), achieving what many of us did not previously know was possible over the Freedom Day / Worker’s Day long weekend.
My “weekend pass” was contingent on “knowing when to give up”. Fortunately I only hit the wall some 400km into the tour and then only for 10 or so difficult kilometres.
For many of us this tour represented a number of personal bests – the most kilometres in 1, 2 or three days, the most time in the saddle and, combining these two, the most endurance.
There were no Suikerbossies, but there were many inconveniently placed climbs and long unending stretches, all designed to test our mettle. In my case, on the last day, some 160km into this stage, I was waiting for my payback, but I had misread the route profile and the long awaited downhill had to wait for another 4 or 5 climbs, until at about 180 km (further than the Vasbyt!) we suddenly had two in a row – sheer bliss!
I went into the ride not knowing what to expect. The first day at 86 km would not be a hassle. The second day, coming after the first, at 126 km was likely to be hard. This certainly proved to be the case, especially in the prevailing heat. The big question mark was however day three. 230km was far, very far, especially after the two previous days. Very few of us had ever done that distance, even in 3 days.
As it turned out, my little group started the day in the dark and finished it in the dark! We spent almost 10 hours in the saddle that day. Both our backsides and our feet took a lot of strain and the physio certainly proved her worth.
The tour was one of many memories.
The most spectacular view had to be the Victoria Falls, when crossing the bridge joining Zimbabwe and Zambia. Although shrouded in both the fading light of the late afternoon and the tremendous spray, it was truly magnificent. The view of the bridge, with the spray in the background, from the Victoria Falls Hotel, our stop on the last night, was also awesome.
Then there was the beautiful setting of the Botswana / Namibia border post at Ngoma, showing the Chobe River to best effect. Many also commented on the lush vegetation all along the route.
We passed more villages than we could count, in both Namibia and Zambia, constantly being greeted by the friendly villagers. The Zambians did however appear to be more friendly and relaxed.
I quite enjoyed entering “bicycle” as my mode of transport when entering Namibia. I can imagine what response that would have elicited if the immigration official did not have a sense of humor!
With all the potholes, in both Zimbabwe and Botswana, we certainly are not going to have any night races in the area. That is another reason why we could only start cycling in broad daylight. In fact, leaving from the Chobe Game Lodge, we were only allowed to cycling after 10am, once the animals had settled down.
There were also many interesting people on the tour.
Bridget Ringdahl will no doubt be remembered by many readers for having spent a year cycling the length of South America, all along the Andes. What was less well known is that a few years earlier, she had also spent 6 months cycling in South East Asia. Her South American exploit was a daunting 1 300km.
Next and not very far behind, was Henning de Jager, who did the 2005 Tour de Afrique, over some 12 000km. He is also one of the few South African’s to have completed the 1,200km Paris-Brest-Paris audax ride. Having recently sold his business, he is constantly on the lookout for fresh challenges. A true Lifestyle Cyclist.
His partner, Estie du Plessis, spent last Christmas cycling in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, all by herself. Her next target is a training ride through the Pyrenees in June, to prepare herself for the Trans Rockies Race in Canada, a few months later.
Cinio Branco has made his life’s mission the advancement of disabled cycling in South Africa. His trials and tribulations in keeping the sport on the map in South Africa could fill another article. He was no mean cyclist either.
Then there were the 35 other cyclists who all contributed to making the event the success that it was.
The organizers, Children in the Wilderness and the Peace Parks Foundation, had organized last year’s Tour de Kruger, so they had a good idea of what was required, but this was a road race, with different logistical requirements. It was nevertheless amazing what went into the event. Heather Wilson, the co-ordinator, did a tremendous job, ably assisted by representatives of both organizations, volunteers from the Land Rover Club and Doc Eddie, who all chaperoned, supported and generally looked after us, the physio, the photographer and the cameraman and, most importantly, the catering team during those long stretches.
At time of writing, the jury was still out as to whether the event will be repeated next year, but personally, time and timing permitted, it is certainly worth repeating. One thing that is for sure is that, based on this event, the re-run of the Tour de Kruger will be another event to remember!
On the 27th of October the ballroom at the Windhoek Country Club bloomed with hope and the theme of desert flowers as Children in the Wilderness celebrated a spectacular fundraising event. The fun-filled programme, complete with a silent auction of locally inspired artwork, music by South Africa Idol winner, Heinz Winckler, and a presentation on the success of the programme over the last five years enthused the large audience.
After just five years in existence, Children in the Wilderness Namibia, a charitable organisation that aims to create a network of learning sanctuaries that nurture vulnerable children and conserve the environment, had much to celebrate. As Madam T.K. Angula, wife of the honourable Prime Minister Nahas Angula, the programme’s Patron and the evening’s keynote speaker, said, “Children in the Wilderness has conducted 16 camps in Namibia and taken over 400 children through the programme. In May this year we hosted our first follow-up camp with 30 youth.”
Over 400 people attended the black tie event, with the tourism industry strongly represented. Amongst those who supported the event were Namibia Wildlife Resorts, the Namibian Tourism Board, Sefofane Air Charters, the Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino, Legacy Hotels and others such as Budget Car Rental, Cymot, Avis and Trophäendienste.
Dave van Smeerdijk, Managing Director of Wilderness Safaris, remarked, “Wilderness Safaris is proud to have initiated and continued to support this remarkable programme, but as evidenced tonight by the support of businesses in Namibia, the idea, message and goals of Children in the Wilderness are much bigger than one company.”
Along with the music of Heinz Winckler, a highlight of the evening was the silent auction of artwork inspired by orphaned children and produced by Namibian artists such as Nicky Marais as well as various celebrities at an “Artists Date” at Joe’s Beerhouse before the event. Some of the celebrities who assisted with their time and abundant creativity were local musician Jackson Kuejua, Stefan Ludik of Egoli fame, and international singers Nianell and Heinz Winckler.
With huge support from local business the event will ensure that the next camps at Kulala Wilderness Lodge in December as well as the follow-up programme continue to educate and inspire Namibian children. Connie Botma, Executive Director of Children in the Wilderness Namibian Trust, summed up the evening, saying, “We wish to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who assisted in making this event an memorable occasion. Our theme for the evening, Flowers of the Desert, reminds us all that children, as with our natural environment, are beautiful and fragile gifts entrusted to the world. In order for them to bloom, like flowers, children need to be cared for, attended to and nurtured. We believe that if they are well guided and supported, they will bear the seeds and fruits of the future. We are grateful to all who invested with us in a brighter future.”
By Ginger Mauney & Connie Botma