Rangers on the Front Lines

The virtual halting of global tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating economic impact on safari Africa. Anti-poaching patrols, conservation teams and local communities all rely heavily on tourism dollars, and the burden of providing these essential services to protect the future of the continent's iconic wildlife has largely fallen on the camps and lodges in conservation areas. 

Ride 4 Rangers

In response, the Africa travel industry has come together to create Ride4Rangers by embarking on a 30,000km (roughly 19,000 mile) cycle, walk, run, hop, row or horse ride to raise vital funds to support rangers who are the first line of defense to protect endangered species, but whose employment has been put at risk by COVID. Not only has the goal been met, but Ride4Rangers has so far covered an astonishing 62,000km (38,500 miles), the equivalent of circumnavigating Africa twice!

Guests staying at Lewa Wilderness and Borana Lodge in Kenya took part in the event by riding horseback across the Lewa Borana landscape. In the UK, the Ride4Rangers peloton team completed a 1,407km (900 mile) Land's End to John O'Groats ride. The Victoria Falls community joined the efforts by cycling through the bushveld from the town of Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

The campaign continues – aiming to put US $10 million into the field to support rangers over the course of the next nine months.

Join the Virtual Challenge by registering here. Donate £10 (roughly $12) before your 10k (6.2 mile) ride and if you have the Strava App join the "Ride4Rangers Club" and share your map on social media. Alternately, set your own challenge by covering a certain distance solo, organizing a run with friends, planning a fancy dress walk with your family or starting a peloton with your colleagues. Be as creative as you like!

Throughout the program every dollar donated will be matched by the Scheinberg Relief Fund, doubling your contribution.

 Project Ranger

As reported in last quarter's issue of Classic Africa News, Project Ranger continues to make a difference in South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Botswana, Kenya and Uganda by funding salaries, training, and operations of wildlife monitors, rangers and anti-poaching personnel.

 In South Africa, Project Ranger supports the Equine Rangers of Project Rhino in KwaZulu Natal - a mounted anti-poaching patrol unit, which has proven very successful. Other initiatives that are supported via the rapid response funding from Project Ranger include the Uganda Conservation Fund, the Uganda Wildlife Authority's operations in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks, SORALO in Kenya and the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area (EWMA) in Tanzania.

 The Project Ranger program was launched by Derek and Beverly Joubert of Great Plains Conservation (Duba Plains, Zarafa Camp, Mara Plains, etc.). Your donations make a big impact on the ground, by enabling Project Ranger to support ranger's salaries, enabling these front line conservationists to continue their important work. View the program's latest short video from rangers in the field.