The Kingsley Holgate Foundation launches its next Defender-powered humanitarian and conservation expedition on 1 October, following the Drakensberg mountain range from Iron Crown near Haenertsburg in Limpopo to the historic village of Rhodes in the Eastern Cape Highlands.
Called Tail of the Dragon, the expedition will traverse the Transvaal Drakensberg in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, the Northern, Central and Southern Drakensberg in Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, before travelling through the highlands of Lesotho and into the Eastern Cape. The team will explore the geology, wildlife, history, archaeology and cultures associated with one of Southern Africa’s great mountain ranges, while conducting humanitarian and conservation work in remote communities.
This expedition marks 25 years of unstoppable partnership between Defender and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation. Since 2000, Defender has supported the Foundation on more than 40 expeditions, helping to deliver malaria prevention, clean water, reading glasses and conservation education to communities across Africa.
Ross Holgate, expedition leader, said: “After so many years of exploring Africa, there is something very special about turning our attention to a great mountain range right here on our doorstep. The Drakensberg has shaped the landscapes, cultures and communities of Southern Africa for generations, and Tail of the Dragon gives us an opportunity to explore that story from north to south. We’re expecting remote 4×4 tracks, high mountain passes, tricky river crossings, unpredictable weather, long days and the inevitable surprises that make an expedition a true test of endurance, ingenuity and spirit.
“But as with every expedition we undertake, this journey must be about more than adventure. Along the way we will be distributing mosquito nets, giving the gift of sight through our Rite to Sight programme, supporting early childhood development centres and working with young people on wildlife conservation. If we can leave each community a little better than we found it, then the expedition will have achieved what we set out to do.”
Tail of the Dragon will continue the Foundation’s malaria prevention work, with education and the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets to maternity clinics in communities in northern Limpopo. The intervention follows severe flooding earlier this year which has resulted in an increase in malaria cases in communities close to South Africa’s borders with Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
The expedition will also carry thousands of pairs of reading glasses for the Foundation’s Mashozi’s Rite to Sight programme. Simple eye tests will be conducted in remote communities along the route, continuing a programme which has already helped more than 224 000 people recover the gift of sight.
Early Childhood Development will be another focus, with the team supporting rural early learning centres through structural upgrades, murals and educational resources. Wildlife Art competitions and conservation education activities with schools will also take place throughout the expedition to encourage children living close to conservation areas to better understand and protect their natural heritage.
The expedition route will provide a punishing test for the convoy, led by the Foundation’s two Defender 130 Outbound luxury SUVs, the ultimate combination of capability and comfort. From Iron Crown and geological landmarks around the Blyde River Canyon, to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, the journey will take in the Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls, the peaks and passes of the Central and Southern Drakensberg, and the steep 4×4 climb up Sani Pass into Lesotho.
From there, the expedition will cross the Lesotho Highlands before entering the Eastern Cape, where the Defenders will tackle a series of challenging unpaved mountain passes including Naude’s Nek, Lundean’s Nek, Joubert’s Pass and the Bastervoetpad before reaching Rhodes.
As part of the 25-year partnership celebrations, the Foundation also plans to incorporate 25 historic Defenders through the ages at different stages of the expedition. The convoy will serve as a symbolic acknowledgement of a partnership that has helped the Foundation reach remote communities across the continent.
The Kingsley Holgate Foundation’s partnership with Defender has seen the expedition team travel across all 54 African countries and complete more than 40 expeditions. Its recent Greater Gorongosa and Afrika Odyssey expeditions alone covered well over 150 000km in the new Defender.
The two Defender 130 Outbounds currently used by the Foundation offer up to 2 516 litres of loadspace, while Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, Terrain Response 2®, Electronic Air Suspension and Adaptive Dynamics provide the capability required for difficult terrain. The vehicles also offer up to 900mm of wading capability.
Janico Dannhauser, Defender Brand Manager, JLR South Africa, said: “Twenty-five years is an extraordinary milestone for Defender and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation. In that time, the team has travelled to every country on the African continent, often reaching communities in places where very few others can go. We are immensely proud that Defender has been part of that journey.
“Tail of the Dragon is a fitting way to mark this anniversary. It brings the adventure home while continuing the humanitarian and conservation work that has always been at the heart of our partnership. The two Defender 130s will once again have an important job to do, carrying the team and vital supplies through some of the most challenging mountain terrain in Southern Africa.”
Tail of the Dragon is scheduled to conclude in November this year in Rhodes in the Eastern Cape.