News

A businessman from Port Elizabeth and an Honorary Ranger at Addo Elephant National Park, Wayne leads the One Land Love It (OLLI) expedition. He began his cycle at Kruger National Park”s Pafuri Gate on 28 November 2015 and is scheduled to finish at AENP on Saturday 13 February 2016.

All funds raised before, during and after the journey will go to caring for orphaned rhino calves at Care for Wild, a rhino sanctuary near Nelspruit, and the SANParks Honorary Rangers towards their counter-poaching initiatives. A black-tie dinner hosted in Port Elizabeth just before the group set off raised R124 000, and half of the proceeds have each already been handed over to the beneficiaries.

Wayne was joined along the stretch from Oudtshoorn this morning by his daughter, Laura (19), who forms part of his support team of family members. This is headed up by Wayne”s wife Nikki, their son Daniel (22) and friend Melissa Farquhar. Wayne”s parents and Nikki”s father are also a part of the support crew. As Wayne and Laura reached the N1 heading in to town, they were joined on bicycle by Karoo National Park Section Ranger, Samuel Tompies and Field Ranger, Mark Khuun. Two provincial traffic escourt vehicles were also on hand to lead them safely up to the park”s entrance.

Here a number of park staff and rangers were eagerly awaiting his arrival. They were keen to meet the man who”s cycled between all national parks in an attempt to make their jobs easier by raising funds for counter-poaching equipment.

Nikkie says, “Wayne”s endurance and determination despite challenging circumstances is absolutely amazing! It still amazes me that we can give a time of arrival at a park when he may have a pass or headwind to contend with, as he is always on time. It is so touching to see the rangers” responses at each of the parks and to see how much they appreciate his efforts”.

SANParks has hosted Wayne and his support crew at all of the national parks he”s arrived at. Between parks along the route many establishments have heard of the adventurer and kindly offered beds and food – both vital to the success of the expedition.

Wayne is carrying with him a “Scroll of Unity in Conservation”, which he requests a senior representative from each of the parks he visits to sign. In this way he links all of the parks and staff who carry the responsibility of maintaining the integrity of our natural heritage. It was no different at Karoo, where Park Manager, Nico van der Walt, added his signature to the scroll.

Wayne will spend two nights in the park before he cycles to Camdeboo National Park on Saturday morning. He will reach his second-last park, Mountain Zebra, next Monday (8 February) and his final destination on Saturday 13 February. “The success of our journey would not be possible without the support of my family, our sponsors who make the expedition possible and ordinary people making the conservation of our natural heritage possible. Thank you to each and every one of you,” says Wayne.

For further information about OLLI or to find out how to donate to the expedition or its beneficiaries, go to www.oneland.co.za

The One Land Love It Expedition received a warm welcome from Karoo National Park staff.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Frontier Region Communications

Enquiries:

Fayroush Ludick
Regional Manager: Communications, SANParks
Cell: 082 888 0201
E-mail: [email protected]