During MAY 25 – JUNE 5, 2017 (WEATHER PERMITTING) the three seasoned hikers Grant Melville of Umhlanga, Ian Shooter from Pietermaritzburg and Jeffery Mthabela will attempt the 230 km Drakensberg Grand Traverse in support of the SANParks K9 Units.
Grant has 15 years of hiking and bush experience, gained in part from being a SANParks HONORARY RANGER since 2012. Ian is a qualified guide with 35 years of hiking experience in the Drakensberg, and Jeffery has worked as his assistant for 13 years and has lived his whole life in the tribally owned Mnweni valley in the ‘Berg. They will traverse the mountain range unassisted, with only one resupply at the Sani Pass.
The DRAKENSBERG GRAND TRAVERSE is a 230 km hike along the escarpment of the pristine and remote Drakensberg Mountain Range that shares a border with Lesotho. The hike has no predetermined routes or even trails, but requires the ascent of at least five of the spectacular ridges and summits along the way.
Grant, Ian and Jeffery will set off for the chain ladders from the Phuthaditjhaba (Witsieshoek) Sentinel car park in Free State on 25 May at 9 am. The route takes them over the 3000m+ peaks of Mont Aux Sources, Champagne Castle and Mafadi – the highest peak in South Africa – and Giant’s Castle, before they descent through Thamathu Pass to Boesman’s Nek Hotel near Underberg.
WHY? The Drakensberg is vitally important as one of the main water catchment areas that feed KZN rivers and the Orange River system in South Africa. We need to look after this mountain range to protect our water source and the wildlife that lives there.
Wildlife is under threat all over South Africa. We are hiking to raise awareness about the plight of our rhino and elephant populations, and all the other animals killed by poachers in our national parks – and to demonstrate what can be done to counter this threat: SANParks (www.sanparks.org) are fighting back with the support of the SANParks Honorary Rangers (www.facebook.com/sanparkshonoraryrangers).
Since 2012, specially trained canine (K9) units have reinforced the efforts to combat rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park and beyond – and they are making a difference: In 2016 for the first time, the number of rhino killed in the Kruger National Park was less than the year before, while the number of arrests of poachers doubled. K9 units were involved in 90% of these arrests. As the commander of the overall, coordinated counter-poaching war in the Kruger National Park remarked: “the dogs have been a game changer.”
Fifty-two dogs and their handlers are on duty in the Kruger National Park right now. The K9 Units are deployed by helicopters, vehicles, and on foot, to patrol our national parks and deter, track down and help arrest poachers to protect our wildlife. They work in remote and pristine areas, often unassisted – just as we will be on our hike.
The Climb for K9 is supported by the SANParks Honorary Rangers, KZN Region. We hope to spur your interest in the protection and conservation of our precious wildlife heritage, and to raise funds for the continued upkeep and training of the SANParks K9 Units.
Please get involved; we can all do something:
- Follow our progress, blogs and videos at: @ClimbforK9 and ClimbforK9
- Meet the K9s at the Kruger K9 Centre at: www.facebook.com/groups/1154497561228335/
Help the expedition become a success:
- Contact Grant at ClimbforK9@gmail.com if you can contribute equipment, supplies or assistance to the Climb for K9
- Come to send us off from the Sentinel car park near Phuthaditjhaba (formerly Witsieshoek) in Free State on 25 May at 9 am
- Contribute to the upkeep of the K9 Units in the Kruger National Park by donating directly to www.givengain.com/cause/2552/campaigns/17669/
or by EFT to SANParks Honorary Rangers NEDBANK account no. 1585 392 448, Branch code 158550. Please use the reference: “your name.KZN-DGT.K9” to enable us to keep track of contributions and send a copy of your deposit slip to
ClimbforK9@gmail.com
All sponsors will be acknowledged for their contributions.
All proceeds from this event will be used to support the SANParks Project Watchdog; the overall campaign for the SANParks K9 units. Thank you for your support!
