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Boundless Southern Africa Expedition 6

Boundless Southern Africa Expedition 6

Author: Kingsley Holgate
Date: 2017-11-16

BELOW ZERO IN DIAMOND COUNTRY

Mike Nixon's Zulu name is quite apt - uMashovashova ('the one who pushes and pedals') and we quickly start calling him 'Shova Mike'. He gets on the phone to find out how Leith is faring after his accident. "It's worse than we thought," he reports. "Leith needs a major operation with plate and pins and no cycling for three months. But he's in good spirits and all he wishes is to be back on expedition!"

Our next destination is the Letseng Diamond Mine - the world's highest mine - and home to some of the biggest diamonds in the world - the 603-carat 'Lesotho Promise' whopper being one. "If we find another big diamond, we'll call it Boundless," laughs Des Mostert who's in charge of community projects for the mine. The Landies crawl through sleet and snow and over the Tlaeeng Pass, the highest in the Malutis. It's a far cry from the tropical jungles and North African deserts of our previous expedition. An incredible 4x4 route, framed by the brightest rainbow we've ever seen in our lives, takes us down into the valley. The adventure fraternity is concerned about the rumour that the Sani Pass is to be tarred - a sure end to a piece of historic motoring history, but fortunately Lesotho is crisscrossed by other wonderful 4x4 trails.

In the freezing cold, we are warmly received with traditional song and dance at the village of Maloraneng. Silhouetted against the setting sun, women wrapped in thick, warm blankets dance in a circle, pointing long sticks skywards. They've slaughtered a beast and pots are bubbling on cooking fires. Tall, bearded Dr Gideon Groenewald is Peace Parks' TFCA facilitator for the Maluti-Drakensberg and determined to retain the transfrontier vision initiated by great men like Dr Anton Rupert, Prince Bernard of the Netherlands and Nelson Mandela. Gideon pauses from strumming his guitar to brief us on the next morning's activity; it will be by military helicopter to the centre of Lesotho for a community day at Katse Dam. That night the temperature drops to minus-13 degrees.

'Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this journey of discovery. Boundless are the opportunities we all have to live. Conservation is the way of living with all things - in peace. Godspeed on your travels through the transfrontier conservation areas. The spirit of the mountains is in the wind. Listen to it!' Dr Gideon Groenewald, Lesotho Transfrontier Conservation Area Facilitator, Peace Parks Foundation.