Feel up to a real Challenge and help raise funds for African Conservation? Get involved with Challenge4aCause and support rhino anti poaching.
We’d like to invite you to support a once in a lifetime mountain biking challenge that aims at changing the lives of many threatened and endangered African animals, where 20 cyclists will brave 4 days of 50km per day through the Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana.
Challenge4aCause is a fund raising initiative that supports the conservation of Africa’s endangered animal species. All funds raised in the Mashatu Challenge will go to the Wildlife ACT Fund and the Chipembere Rhino Foundation.
Cycle Mashatu Challenge4aCause Dates:
22 – 26 Aug 2011
4 days, 5 nights
50 km per day
20 cyclists
Details of the events can be found on the Challenge4aCause Facebook page.
All funds raised will be split between 2 organisations:
Chipembere Rhino Foundation
Is a privately run, non-profit organisation committed to protecting and conserving Africa’s rhino. The Foundation was established in November 2010 after the Amakhala Game Reserve lost 2 rhinos in one week to poaching. Both were breeding bulls and thus it was a devastating blow. Funds raised by the challenge will go towards anti-poaching efforts and rhino conservation initiatives in the Eastern Cape and beyond.
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 for threatened and endangered species, as well as community outreach initiatives.
How Can You Help?
Join the fight to save the Rhino and other animals from extinction and stand a chance to win a dream island holiday.
Support Challenge4aCause as we cycle through the Mashatu Reserve in Botswana to raise funds for the plight of endangered animals in South Africa and stand a chance to win:
1st Prize:
5 night stay for two at Belle Mare Plage Mauritius (dinner bed & breakfast) incl all flights and transfers ex JHB.
2nd Prize:
2 night stay at Hlosi Lodge on Amakhala Game Reserve for a family of 4 (all meals, teas and game drives included).
3rd Prize:
2 night stay at Robberg Beach Lodge Plettenberg Bay for a family of four (bed & breakfast).
4th Prize:
A Canon digital camera
The prize draw takes place on the 2nd September 2011 and by buying a ticket for R100,not only are you entering the draw but you are making a donation to a very worthy cause! Buy 5 tickets (1 book) and you automatically get the 6th ticket for free!
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 reserve in southern Africa, Mashatu is, at 25 000 hectares, a fitting setting for the world’s largest land mammal - the elephant. It is a huge wilderness area in eastern Botswana at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers.
Mashatu Game Reserve is where herds of elephant, giraffe, wildebeest and zebra have roamed the dramatic landscape for thousands of years. Ancient elephant paths provide the perfect single track to cycle which interlace a mosaic of savannah, forest, rocky outcrops and wooded floodplains.
Showing posts with label rhino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rhino. Show all posts
Friday, August 19, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Chipembere Rhino Foundation welcomes Freshly Ground
The heavens had blessed the parched Eastern Cape landscape with much needed rain for the better part of a week. Pans were once again full, grasses green and many tracks made impassable with the deluge of water that covered some areas of the Amakhala Game Reserve. The prospect of potentially challenging weather conditions to come was what overshadowed the team at Chipembere Rhino Foundation, with the imminent arrival of their new patron and South Africa’s best loved band, Freshlyground.
Well as they say “timing is everything” and the long anticipated day dawned clear and crisp, with the pristine and refreshed air that takes up residence after the rains have washed away all evidence of heat and dust. We could not have asked for better!
The late afternoon arrival of Freshlyground for the official “ meet and greet” was kindly hosted by Amakhala’s neighbour, the Sidbury Cricket Club – South Africa’s oldest club founded in 1899. Though it is without doubt the oldest cricket facility, the welcome itself was held at the newly built club house. A sincere thanks must go to Dr.William Fowlds and Stacy Dewey for making this location available to us. The event was absolutely faultless and the club rose to the occasion!
Freshlyground was not alone, popular lifestyle show, Top Billing, had agreed to join us and sent along a film crew and presenter to document Freshlyground’s stay at Amakhala Game Reserve, to follow their experience and new association with the Chipembere Rhino Foundation.
Freshlyground was greeted by Amakhala’s legendary “Leeuwenbosch Choir” under the guidance of ‘Ouboet’. The Xhosa harmonies and traditional dancing was enough to get the band motivated and ‘in the mood’ to dance with the chorus.
Once things had settled after the rousing performance, and our visitors had tucked into refreshments and platters of food, an informative slide show of Amakhala’s rhino population was presented along with insightful statistics on how Africa’s rhino have been affected throughtout history by poaching.
The presentation was succinctly summarised by Brent Cook, co-founder of Chipembere Rhino Foundation, outlining the extent of the escalating poaching crisis, how it has affected Amakhala directly and the threat Africa’s remaining Rhino are facing. A question and answer session followed, allowing Freshlyground the opportunity to gain a good understanding of their role as rhino ambassadors and establishing official communication between them as patrons and the foundation.
The next three memorable days were spent out in the bush observing rhino in their natural habitat, visiting the site of the terrible poaching incident on Amakhala and discussing the modus operandi of the poachers. The stunning weather conditions held up, and as much time as possible was spent enjoying the safari experience. Freshlyground conducted interviews with Top Billing in various locations on the reserve on their involvement with Chipembere Rhino Foundation, their music and plans for the future.
All of us at Chipembere Rhino Foundation wish to convey a huge heartfelt thank-you to Freshlyground. First and foremost for taking the time to care about the plight of Africa’s Rhinos, and secondly for being such fantastic down-to-earth folk!!! We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of you, and we and are truly honoured to have Freshlyground as our patron. We look forward to a long and productive association with Freshlyground in this campaign of raising rhino awareness.
None of the above would have been possible without the co-ordinated efforts and creative networking skills of Helen Turnbull, who recognised a synergy that successfully linked the two organisations together. Thank you!
Well as they say “timing is everything” and the long anticipated day dawned clear and crisp, with the pristine and refreshed air that takes up residence after the rains have washed away all evidence of heat and dust. We could not have asked for better!
The late afternoon arrival of Freshlyground for the official “ meet and greet” was kindly hosted by Amakhala’s neighbour, the Sidbury Cricket Club – South Africa’s oldest club founded in 1899. Though it is without doubt the oldest cricket facility, the welcome itself was held at the newly built club house. A sincere thanks must go to Dr.William Fowlds and Stacy Dewey for making this location available to us. The event was absolutely faultless and the club rose to the occasion!
Freshlyground was not alone, popular lifestyle show, Top Billing, had agreed to join us and sent along a film crew and presenter to document Freshlyground’s stay at Amakhala Game Reserve, to follow their experience and new association with the Chipembere Rhino Foundation.
Freshlyground was greeted by Amakhala’s legendary “Leeuwenbosch Choir” under the guidance of ‘Ouboet’. The Xhosa harmonies and traditional dancing was enough to get the band motivated and ‘in the mood’ to dance with the chorus.
Once things had settled after the rousing performance, and our visitors had tucked into refreshments and platters of food, an informative slide show of Amakhala’s rhino population was presented along with insightful statistics on how Africa’s rhino have been affected throughtout history by poaching.
The presentation was succinctly summarised by Brent Cook, co-founder of Chipembere Rhino Foundation, outlining the extent of the escalating poaching crisis, how it has affected Amakhala directly and the threat Africa’s remaining Rhino are facing. A question and answer session followed, allowing Freshlyground the opportunity to gain a good understanding of their role as rhino ambassadors and establishing official communication between them as patrons and the foundation.
The next three memorable days were spent out in the bush observing rhino in their natural habitat, visiting the site of the terrible poaching incident on Amakhala and discussing the modus operandi of the poachers. The stunning weather conditions held up, and as much time as possible was spent enjoying the safari experience. Freshlyground conducted interviews with Top Billing in various locations on the reserve on their involvement with Chipembere Rhino Foundation, their music and plans for the future.
All of us at Chipembere Rhino Foundation wish to convey a huge heartfelt thank-you to Freshlyground. First and foremost for taking the time to care about the plight of Africa’s Rhinos, and secondly for being such fantastic down-to-earth folk!!! We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of you, and we and are truly honoured to have Freshlyground as our patron. We look forward to a long and productive association with Freshlyground in this campaign of raising rhino awareness.
None of the above would have been possible without the co-ordinated efforts and creative networking skills of Helen Turnbull, who recognised a synergy that successfully linked the two organisations together. Thank you!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Q&A on Rhino Poaching
The Endangered Wildlife Trust's Rhino Security Project has released an informative and thought-provoking factsheet providing answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding rhino poaching, the value of the horn, the practice of dehorning rhinos etc.
Copy and paste this URL for some invaluable information:
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Rhino Day 22 Sept 2010
HILLSNEK SAFARIS team with the AmakhalaRangers, Reserve Volunteers and Ulovane
Students showing their support for the "Stop Rhino Poaching Campaign"
at the look out spot "Gods Window" on the Amakhala Game Reserve.
Thanks to all for your time and effort in this crucial campaign!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
RHINO MONTH
RHINO MONTH
September is an extra special month ..... HillsNek Safaris is supporting WWF with RHINO MONTH! Take a stand, get involved, make a donation and spread the word to help save Africa's rhino against ruthless poaching and the threat of extinction.
September 22nd has been declared RHINO DAY whereby all citizens are implored to make a noise and send out an urgent plea for help from our leaders:
"Concerned about Rhino poaching? Then get ready to take a stand and to make some noise.
On 22 September, RHINO DAY, WWF calls on all concerned citizens of the world to dust off their vuvuzelas, toot their horns and to make as much noise as possible, at 1pm, as a symbolic act to send a powerful message to leaders that the time to take serious and effective action against rhino poaching is now.
RHINO DAY will be the culmination of a month-long campaign by WWF and other partners, encouraging the public to help support South Africa’s rhino warriors – the men and women at the frontline who risk their lives daily against the sophisticated, ruthless and heavily-armed international criminal gangs who run the illegal rhino horn trade.
Together we can all play a role in the fight against Rhino poaching.
As part of RHINO MONTH, WWF is challenging individuals, businesses, schools, universities and other organisations to not only make a noise on 22 September, but also make a donation which will ensure that much-needed anti-poaching equipment and support can be secured for rangers across the region."
On 22 September, RHINO DAY, WWF calls on all concerned citizens of the world to dust off their vuvuzelas, toot their horns and to make as much noise as possible, at 1pm, as a symbolic act to send a powerful message to leaders that the time to take serious and effective action against rhino poaching is now.
RHINO DAY will be the culmination of a month-long campaign by WWF and other partners, encouraging the public to help support South Africa’s rhino warriors – the men and women at the frontline who risk their lives daily against the sophisticated, ruthless and heavily-armed international criminal gangs who run the illegal rhino horn trade.
Together we can all play a role in the fight against Rhino poaching.
As part of RHINO MONTH, WWF is challenging individuals, businesses, schools, universities and other organisations to not only make a noise on 22 September, but also make a donation which will ensure that much-needed anti-poaching equipment and support can be secured for rangers across the region."
Visit http://www.wwf.org.za/ for additional information on this vital campaign.
HillsNek Safaris Team
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Rhino Wars
Conservation War Crimes
Sadly the war on rhinos is raging and poaching is rapidly on the rise. Before going commercial and entering the tourism market, the HillsNek Safaris lodge operated as a base camp for our White Rhino Monitoring & Anti-Poaching Programme.
Grocott's Mail - Grahamstown's oldest independent newspaper - recently ran an on-line article on this topic and interviewed the HillsNek Team where a diligent and dedicated anti-poaching and monitoring programme is firmly in place.
Take a look at the article on Rhino Poaching by clicking here:
http://www.grocotts.co.za/content/rhino-poaching-rise-10-08-2010
At HillsNek Safaris our mission is still first and foremost to PROTECT THE ENDANGERED RHINO. The ruthless and unneccessary slaying of one of the oldest animals on this planet is deplorable. To think that in our lifetime this animal could go extinct is unfathomable and despairing.
We put out an urgent call to all to be proactive. Spread the word and help create an awareness of the plight of the rhino. Tell your family and friends. Let your children know. Tell the educators. Every effort is needed to help combat this war.
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