Clive Walker | The Waterberg Trust

Lapalala Wilderness School

While the horses enjoyed their grazing the riders paid a visit to Lapalala Wilderness School.

Lapalala Wilderness School display

A number of rhino skulls were included in an environmental display in the lecture room.

LWS staff

We met staff working at the eco-school along with the writer and artist Clive Walker who founded the project with Dale Parker thirty years ago.

LWS meeting Clive Walker

Clive gave us an illustrated talk on the plight of the five different species of rhinoceros.

LSW Talk on Rhino

Having established Lapalala Wilderness as a rhino sanctuary, Clive also founded the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the Elephant and Rhino Foundation and Chaired a number of other conservation bodies in South Africa.

LWS Clive with riders

Riders were then introduced to one of the schools teaching assistants – a Burmese python.

LWS python

Pupils at the school never forget handling such a large reptile.

LWS pupils with python

It is a highlight of their four-day residential course when they have fun while learning about the importance of nature conservation and re-cycling. Their stay leaves a lasting impression. Some pupils take up a career working in conservation as a result.

LWS pupil

Looking around the well-established project was certainly memorable for TWT riders

LWS looking around

and we are grateful to the Director, Mr Mashudu Makhokha, for making it possible. To find out more about Lapalala Wilderness School please click here.

LWS Mashudu

Tessa Baber, who appears in this short film, started ‘Save The Waterberg Rhino’ in 2013.

Those taking part in The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride in March 2016 will be able to observe a number of white rhino living on Ant’s Nest game reserve, while being updated on anti-poaching initiatives by Tess and her husband Ant Baber who is leading the six-day ride.

The plan is to cross the Waterberg on horseback, traversing Kwalata private game reserve to Lapalala Wilderness where riders will meet the warden Anton Walker, who also appears on this film. He cares for both black and white rhino re-introduced to the area by his father, the author and wildlife artist Clive Walker when he was warden about thirty years ago.

While on this reserve riders from the UK will visit the Lapalala Wilderness School where children, often from deprived communities, come for a week’s residential course on wildlife conservation. Many of them testify how this experience changes their outlook on life, giving them an appreciation for their environment and the future of South Africa’s wild animals. The children take their enthusiasm into the community whose support is essential if poaching is to be combated.

The ride will end at the Palala River on Jembisa private game reserve who have been supporting Save The Waterberg Rhino and the Lapalala Wilderness School for some time.

The Waterberg Challenge Ride 2016 promises to be quite an intrepid adventure. The route has not attempted on horseback before. The riders face early starts and long hours in the saddle but they are busy getting fit and packing carefully in preparation for the challenge.

Riding safaris at Ant's (60)

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

Support the project on Social Media and receive news:
For Save The Waterberg Rhino’s Facebook page, please click here.
For The Waterberg Trust’s Facebook page, please click here
For the Lapalala Wilderness School’s page, please click here

Find out about Save The Waterberg Rhino

Donate via The Waterberg Trust Justgiving page:

As a UK registered charity, The Waterberg Trust can claim Gift Aid on eligible donations, and organise transfer of funds to South Africa efficiently. Add a note to specify ‘Save the Waterberg Rhino’ or ‘Lapalala Wilderness School’ with your donation.

Riders are gaining sponsorship on individual pages:

Anne Lester – https://www.justgiving.com/Anne-Lester

Susie Airy – http://www.justgiving.com/SusieAiryTheWaterbergTrust

Fiona Worlidge – https://www.justgiving.com/fiona-worlidge

Belinda Fordy – http://www.justgiving.com/Belindalfordy

Becky Overy Owen – https://www.justgiving.com/bexoo

Belinda Chaffer – http://www.justgiving.com/Belinda-ChafferTWT

Sophie Neville – http://www.justgiving.com/Sophie-Neville-TWT2016