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Boundless Southern Africa Expedition 1

Boundless Southern Africa Expedition 1

Author: Kingsley Holgate
Date: 2017-10-11

A GREAT SEND-OFF

Whilst tracking the Outside Edge of Africa, we receive an interesting request from an oddball, lover-of-the-bush-type character by the name of Johann Louw. He's as tough as an old piece of biltong and if he had his way, he would be out of the office and forever on his motor bike crossing the wilds of Botswana, or paddling down his beloved Orange River. Johann has had a long association with conservation and the Peace Parks Foundation and his satellite phone message is to the point: 'Are you guys able to lead an expedition to link two oceans, nine countries, seven Transfrontier Conservation Areas, more than 30 nature reserves and game parks - and the communities living in and adjacent to these areas You'll have the support of nine governments. What do you think '

The expedition's objective will be to highlight the importance of transfrontier conservation across southern Africa and to encourage communities - especially young people - living alongside wildlife to embrace nature, culture and community. Our answer is of course, 'Yebo - yes! We're in.' It's stuff we really believe in.

Before the arrival of man in his millions and the cutting up of the continent into man-made territories, Africa's wildlife was free to roam without borders. Their free movement is still essential in order for them to follow ancient migratory paths - especially elephant. But all that has changed.

And so, within six months of completing Africa's Outside Edge, we're off again on another challenging expedition.

There's a frenzy of activity outside the Tourism Indaba in Durban. Ministers of Environment and Tourism and conservation officials applaud, traditional dancers from all over southern Africa sing a 'Boundless' song and a masked mkishi dancer from Barotseland walks tall on high stilts. "Hambani

Kahle Nondwayisa!" Hlube Chief Baba Dlamini shouts out my Zulu name, as he urges sponsors and guests to endorse the Scroll of Peace and Goodwill for Conservation that we will carry like an Olympic torch coast-to-coast across southern Africa. In it, Miss South Africa writes, 'Prosperity Health and

Environment - we wish you all well.'

The drums beat and the Zulus chant as Miss South Africa gracefully cuts the ribbon - it's the start of the Boundless Southern Africa Expedition. First stop, the Maluti-Drakensberg Mountains and the first of the seven Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) we plan to cross. Will keep you posted.