After months of planning, I was sat in the middle of Zimbabwe, in the dark waiting for the team to arrive. Jack Weightman (The Videographer) and Summer Rylander (The Journalist). Their role is to help tell the story of these amazing projects. It still didn’t feel real until I tried to sleep. The nerves kicked in as the challenge was starting with a bang. A 30km Sand Run with the Cobra’s. These young lads are seriously fit! Trained like the original Zulu Warriors. They could run! The run started early at their HQ. It was a really inspiring place, right next to the parade square…… two white rhinos. What a way to start! We ran as a pack, chanting songs across deep sand. The first 15km were great. We stopped to interview the village head, hearing about the benefit of the programme for the locals. We had to get back on track to meet the deadline and this was where it got tough. All of a sudden, the Cobras sped up. I think they were showing me what they had in the tank. I knew the speed was increasing because the chanting stopped. The next 5km were hell! I had to give it everything I had to keep up with them. It was inspiring and humbling. Testament to their hard work and passion for what they are doing. Luckily for me the final part of the run meant running with kit and a rifle slowing our pace and working to my advantage.
The reason we had to rush was because the team was catching the Elephant Express. A train that runs on the old railway line built by Cecil Rhodes. As I ran with the pack following parallel to the railway line, the train passed us. My heart sank… then it halted to a stop. We had made it. Straight onto the train passing the Cecil the Lion Tree. The place where the famous Lion was baited and hunted. A pivotal moment for wildlife that helped drive the need for conservation and protection. The train journey wasn’t long because we were finishing the day off with a 15km Horse ride to our camping spot. I had only ridden a horse once before. I was pretty experienced…. Especially to ride across the bush where you find every kind of predator going. The ride was so much fun, with only two small adrenaline rushes as the Horse bolted reacting to something it heard stalking us. This was when I realised, I definitely wasn’t in control of the ride! But we made it.
The next two days consisted of a 70km Bike ride across the Bush. Along the way we met the Dart Project. Again, locals patrolling the area removing wire snares. Sadly, these snares are used by poachers and locals. It is a really hard balance of judgement. Locals need food to survive. Often, they are laying snares because they become desperate. I’m glad these projects help remove them but also conquer the issue with offering food supplies into the villages. We then headed out on a trek through dense bush. It was incredible. A proper adventure. The GPS broke. We got lost (Actually you never get lost. Just navigationally challenged) and I ended up using a 70 year old map and compass bearing to find our way back. Along the walk we found trees grown through and around huge rocks, giraffe, warthogs and more. It was a relief to reach our next stop for the night, knowing I could rest and be ready for the final big day. A 100km Mountain bike to Victoria Falls. All through the bush.
The first 20km were a breeze following a tarmac road before turning off and following an old elephant track. The support vehicle worked hard to follow us as we cycled across rivers and through head high reeds. My bike had a recurring puncture which we managed to fix in true African style by gluing a random piece of rubber to it. 60km in and we were flying. Until we reached a swamp. I was able to pick the bike up and trudge across it. Sending mud up to my knees. The driver was confident the vehicle could cross. 2 seconds later we knew it wouldn’t as it sank and stuck into the mud. The only way I can explain the next three hours is to imagine a huge mud fight. Up to your chest, whilst trying to lift a push a huge 4×4. It would move an inch. We managed to jack up the vehicle using rocks but still it wouldn’t move. We were stuck. Properly. If we didn’t reach Victoria Falls in time, we wouldn’t be able to complete the border crossing into Zambia. The other concern was that my reliable Adflex boots were covered in thick mud! In fact, I am still cleaning them now 3 weeks later. One of the team who could speak the local language (In fact Zimbabwe has 16 languages) cycled back and found someone willing to help us. Before too long we were pulled out and finding a new way through.
With darkness approaching we had made it and could see the enormous water cloud created by the spray from the falls. I cannot put into words how big Victoria Falls is and how small it makes you feel.
Stage one of the challenge was about highlighting the integration of two White Rhino back into Hwange and the new jobs created via the Cobras. This project has just started, so it was amazing to be able to visit a project that has been running for 20 years at Vic Falls. They have successfully bred and looked after Black Rhino and now give Rhino to other parks to emulate the programme elsewhere. So exciting and I felt honoured to meet the passionate team behind this.
If you would like to donate to these amazing challenges, you can follow this link
Images Courtesy of Jack Weightman
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