Travel with a purpose

- Author Sophie Neville in South Africa - 

I have been passionate about promoting the conservation of the rhinoceros all my adult life. This year we gathered a group of twelve experienced riders to generate funds for Save The Waterberg Rhino and associated community projects in rural South Africa.

The idea was to raise sponsorship by riding 180kms across the Waterberg hills to the Palala River, a six-day trek through the big game country featured in my memoir 'Ride the Wings of Morning'. Each rider paid their own safari costs and raised £1,000 or more for The Waterberg Trust - a small but effective UK registered charity.

We set out on 20th January. It was high summer in southern Africa where the bush was blooming after recent rains. We came across zebra and wildebeest enjoying lush grazing after a year of dought. 

To our joy we saw animals great and small from warthog to giraffe.

We came across Cape buffalo

along with a number of different species of antelope, including rare roan antelope recently been re-introduced to the area.

And then we encountered white rhino.

I was cautious about approaching these two young males but they are used to horses, who graze with them on the game reserve, and I was able to get pretty close. 

-The author Sophie Neville riding with rhino-

The threat of poaching is so accute that their horns have been saturated in poison to negate their astonishing commercial value. They also have a 24 hour armed guard.

Details of the current crisis were revealed by Save The Waterberg Rhino. There are five different species of rhinoceros in the world. All are threatened, some to the edge of extinction. In South Africa along, poachers have been slaughtering about four white rhino a day. These are breeding animals. Females with small calves are shot, their horns hacked off and exported to the Far East. 

There is a huge market for the horn. It is only keratin and can smell revolting but sadly it is fashionable to own what has become a symbol of wealth. 

The good news is that The Waterberg Trust raised over £30,000 this year. 50% of funds will be used to install a vital security post with high-tech vehicle recognition systems. 

-Sophie Neville with some TWT Riders outside a security post about to be installed-

The remainder will go to established community projects in the area that benefit local children. £2,000 has been sent to Lethabo Kids Club for the provision of school shoes and bags. 

-TWT riders financing a 'Back to School' project-

We've been able to send more than 100 pupils from the township of Leseding on a residential course at Lapalala Wilderness School to learn about nature conservation. After gaining environmental awareness some chose to work with wildlife or in education and there is a marked committment to re-cycling.  

-Sophie Neville speaking to the students of Metshesethela School-

If you would like to know more or get involved please contact us at The Waterberg Trust

  

Riding through a monkey puzzle forest

As we rode up into the Andes mountains we came across more and more monkey puzzle trees. I had never seen so many growing together.

It began to dawn on me that I had never seen them in the wild. This is because the monkey puzzle is naturally found in only a small area, high up on the Argentinian border with Chile where they grow alongside bamboo and a variety of deciduous trees.

I didn't know that there were both male and female trees or that you could eat the seeds in the same way as you can eat pine nuts.

I believe it was Charles Darwin who gained some of these seeds during his epic voyage in HMS Beagle. These did well in the moist British climate and soon it was all the rage to grown one and they sprang up outside Victorian villas.

It was wonderful to see monkey puzzle tress growing in the mountains where they belong. We came across some of great height that must have been 400 years old or more. Of course they have not been in Europe long enough to gain such a great age.

Other trees on the mountainside were hanging with moss - indicating just how high the rainfall can be.

It resembled the copious wrapping on the roast chicken kept in our saddlebags for lunch, which was laid out on the trunk of a monkey puzzle that had come down sometime before.

We rode on, climbing steadily. The going was slow but the sun shone and the varied vegetation held our interest.

It was spring and the mountain flowers were blooming all around us.

Eventually we stopped under a grove of near a useful fenced paddock.

Whilst we made up our camp for the night the horses were able to freely graze on the slopes.

Our guides relaxed in the shade.

Whilst our wonderful Argentinian back-up team organised supper.

A well-earned meal, cooked along with Monkey Puzzle nuts on an open fire.

Towards the Andes, on a horse

.

So, you want to ride across the Andes?

You need a horse like this,

a headcollar,

bridle,

one of these saddles,

and a trustworthy guide.

I decided I'd better wear a hot weather helmet.

By lunchtime I looked like this.

But  the food was good,

the scenery interesting

and the experience unforgettable.

If you would like to ride across the Andes 

contact Nigel Harvey at Ride Worldwide 

They have space on a ride going early next year.

,

Have you ever been to Kosi Bay?

If you are planning a trip to South Africa, see if you can visit Kosi Bay in Natal.

The unique system of costal lakes support a huge number of bird species and is famous for the traditional fishtraps used by the local people.

We were able to watch both Samango monkeys in the costal rain forest and went snorkeling in the estuary.

Being guests of the Warden we were able to stay in one of the researcher's huts for a few days.

I remember listening to Zulu drums beating as the sun went down.

You can now stay at Memela Bush Lodge,  Kosi Bay Lodge or in other accommodation nearby, but ask about camp sites or if they still have hiking trail huts available, as they are right down by the lakes.

A Live Broadcast on USA Radio ~

On Saturday 23rd March 2013  

Sophie Neville was on 'Second Chance Radio Show' in the USA 

interviewed by Dr Diane Dike.

Sophie spoke about her books and her life in Africa.  

Free Kindle copies of 'Ride the Wings of Morning' were offered on the programme. 

As a result it reached #1 in the free Kindle store under the category Travel - Africa in the UK and Canada

~ Click here for the links ~