Tag Archives: Waterberg

Riding North to Kwalata Game Reserve

April 16, 2016Africa, Charity fundraising event, Limpopo Province, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Uncategorized, Waterbergactivity holiday, Ant Baber, Anthony Baber, challenging horse ride, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Clothes sale, Donate, Fundraising event, Game reserve, game viewing, horse safari, Horseback, Limpopo Province, Long distance riding, Riding, riding in Africa, riding with game, Safari, save the rhino, Save the Waterbeg Rhino, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sponsored ride, WaterbergSophie Neville

We had a bit of a problem on the third morning of The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride. Some of the horses spurned their comfortable camp and tried to run home in the night. Luckily they were not able to get far but it meant we set off later than intended at 9.45am. Once in the saddle we were able to canter for miles along sandy roads over the top of the Waterberg Plateau and made up the time.

Cantering to Kwalata

We needed to cover a fair distance but it was cool and the going good.

Cantering

The third day is typically the most tiring for members of the team and we managed to break two stirrup leathers which slowed us down. We would have battled if the sun had been out.

Road to Kwalata

We are actually riding down a government road here – a very beautiful one.

TWT team 2016

Thankfully we made it to the gates of Kwalata private game reserve just as it began to rain at 1.30pm and were able to reach the lodge for a late lunch. Everyone was tired but grateful for a cool drink and a plate of lasagne, while the horses enjoyed fresh grass and a good feed.

Lunch at Kwalata

The rain cleared and we had time for a swim that afternoon before mounting up again.

Belinda at Kwalata

We rode through the reserve for about 11kms, passing warthog and a few impala.

Belinda Fordy on Kwalata

Our horses spent the night in a boma originally built for elephant. This gelding didn’t seem to think much of the way they’d left the bathroom.

Horse inspecting elephant bathroom

The riders were able to relax back at the lodge where there was a much nicer bathtub

Kwalata bath tub

and very good food, cooked outside on the fire. The sponsored ride was led by Ant Baber in aid of Save The Waterberg Rhino and associated community projects in the Waterberg. If you’d like to make a donation we have a Justgiving.com page here.

Kwalata

If you would like to keep in touch, The Waterberg Trust have a Facebook page here.

Wildlife spotted on The Waterberg Challenge Ride 2016

April 9, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Nature Conservation, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Uncategorized, Waterbergadventure, Africa, Baby rhino at Ant's Nest, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, endangered wildlife, Fundraising event, Game viewing at Ant's Hill, Game viewing at Ant's Nest, horse safari, Horseback, Limpopo Province, Long distance riding, photo of Livingstone eland, photos of buffalo, photos of rhino calf, photos of white rhino, Riding, riding in Africa, riding with game, South Africa, Sponsored ride, Watching rhino at Ant's Nest, Waterberg, wildlife, Wildlife at Ant's Hill, wildlife conservation, Wildlife on Ant's NestSophie Neville

Buffalo by Anne Lester

Anne Lester, who came on The Waterberg Challenge Ride in South Africa this March, has just sent in some of the photographs she took of wildlife encountered on horseback.

Giraffe by Anne Lester

We rode close to giraffe, and were able to watch a group of eleven browsing.

Livingstone eland by Anne Lester

This is a breeding herd of rare Livingstone eland, the largest antelope species found in South Africa. We also spotted waterbuck, kudu, nyala, grey duiker, sable, roan, blessbok, oryx, red heartebeest and numerous herds of impala.

Riding with rhino by Anne Lester

You can see how close we were able to get to animals on Ant’s Nest game reserve, a sanctuary for white rhino. Poaching in South Africa has become such a threat that these rhinoceros have had their horns impregnated with poison so they have no market value.

Rhino cow by Anne Lester

The rhinos are accompanied by armed guards 24 hours a day. This is expensive but meant that the animals are well habituated to horses and we managed to get very close.

Baby Rhino by Anne Lester

The good news is that the rhino are breeding well and are in good condition. This calf was born two months ago after a two-year birthing interval.

Riding up to a rhino calf by Anne Lester

We are currently fund-raising for Save The Waterberg Rhino who are striving to protect this special area as well as organising community projects so that local children can learn about the importance of nature conservation and ecology. If you can help, please go to The Waterberg Trust Justgiving.com page here. We have a Facebook page here.

Riding through Ant’s Nest in the Waterberg

April 6, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Uncategorized, WaterbergAchievement, adventure, Africa, challenging horse ride, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Fundraising event, Game reserve, game viewing, horse safari, Horseback, Limpopo Province, Long distance riding, photo of baby wildebeeste, photo of rider, photo of sable antelope, photo of wildebeeste, Riding, riding with game, Safari, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sponsored ride, The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2016, WaterbergSophie Neville

On the second day of The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2016 we mounted our horses and rode through Ant’s Nest game reserve up to Ant’s Hill in two groups consisting of 8 or 9 riders each: the tortoises and the hares.

Ant Baber showing us the ropes

Those going on the fast ride, led my Ant Baber, found themselves cantering alongside a herd of giraffe, which was exhilarating and covered more than 11 kms in about 3 hours.

Riding up to Ant's Hill

The tortoises rode more sedately, coming across zebra, warthog and rare antelope such a herd of Livingstone eland as well as a lone sable bull:

Sable at Ant's Hill

We rode on, encountering impala, blesbok and more zebra before reaching a dam. The hares arrived hot on our tails having spent time watching the behaviour of a herd of buffalo.

Dam on ant's Hill

Some of the riders were able to take their horses in to cool off during the heat of the day.

After being treated to a delicious lunch of homemade sausages cooked out in the bush

Bush breakfast at Ant's Hill

we had coffee at Ant’s Hill where we received a talk about the Waterberg Biosphere.

Ant's Hill

As we rode out that afternoon, we saw more game including a family group of bat-earred foxes. This was very special as the guides had only seen them once before on the reserve.

We spotted quite a few wildebeeste along with their calves who, at a few moths old, almost look like a different species:

Wildebeeste calf

It was the group of tortoise riders, going at some speed, who made it to the north of the reserve first, clocking up 26.3kms and reaching the top of the escarpment, 4,500 feet above sea-level. As the horses found hay-nets waiting for them in the paddocks of an old Transvaal farm, the riders returned in a game-viewing vehicle for one last comfortable night at Ant’s Nest and packed their bags for the next two days on the move.

Tsede riding on Ant's Nest

If you would like to find out more, The Waterberg Trust have a Facebook page here. Riders are raising sponsorship for community projects in the Waterberg on Justgiving.com here

Report on the second Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2016

March 24, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Uncategorized, WaterbergAchievement, activity holiday, adventure, Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Community Programmes, Donate, Fundraising event, Game reserve, game viewing, horse safari, Horseback, Limpopo Province, Long distance riding, make a difference, Making a Difference, Riding, riding in Africa, riding with game, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sponsored ride, Transformed Lives, Travel news, WaterbergSophie Neville

Sophie Neville and wildebeeste

The dream of riding through the game reserves of South Africa became a reality for twelve British riders this March when they took up the challenge of raising £1,000 each for Save The Waterberg Rhino and local community projects.

Zebra by Sophie Neville

The team was made up of experienced riders

uphill

and, being led by Ant Baber,

Ant Baber

the pace was fast whenever the terrain allowed.

Cantering

The idea was to traverse 175kms of remote country

Walking uphill

while taking the opportunity to learn about rhino conservation

Sophie Neville watching rhino

and discover more about the Waterberg. For further detail and more photos of this ride, please see subsequent posts. Photographing giraffe

If you would like to get involved or find out more The Waterberg Trust have a Facebook page here. Riders are raising sponsorship on Justgiving.com here

Expedition Success – The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2016

March 21, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Trustees, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, WaterbergAchievement, activity holiday, adventure, Africa, challenging horse ride, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Fundraising event, Game reserve, game viewing, horse safari, Horseback, Horseback challenge, Limpopo Province, Long distance riding, make a difference, riding in Africa, riding with game, South Africa, Sponsored ride, WaterbergSophie Neville

The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2016 proved a great success!

Riders saw rhino from horseback and got very close to white rhino feeding.

They received a talk on the threat posed by poaching,

and were led over the hills of the Waterberg by Ant Baber to visit

Lapalala Wilderness School where local children come to learn about nature conservation.

We raised more than £18,000 for Save The Waterberg Rhino and community projects in the Wateberg. We were able to send 120 children on a residential course at Lapalala Wilderness and gave a grant to Letabo Kids Club for their ‘Back to School’ initiative in the township of Leseding.

All set for The Waterberg Trust Challenge Rides

March 9, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Peer Education, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Ant's Nest, anti-poaching unit, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Education, Fundraising event, Game reserve, game viewing, horse safari, Horseback, Limpopo Province, Long distance riding, make a difference, Making a Difference, Riding, riding in Africa, riding with game, Safari, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sponsored ride, The Good Safari Guide, Transformed Lives, Waterberg, Waterberg ConservanceSophie Neville

Lapalala Wilderness School does such good work in promoting conservation in South Africa that it makes excellent subject matter for television.

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The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2016 has also been attracting quite a bit of on-line media coverage. Please click on these links to see:

Classic Safari Camps

The Good Safari Guide

Ant’s Nest Newsletter

Hiking, Outdoors and Wildlife online

Waterberg Conservancy

and we have had a report on the 2015 Challenge Ride in Arabian Online written by Kate Williams.

Sophie Neville has had a news article published in the Lymington Times

This coverage is wonderful as we want to raise funds to send 100 children on a eco-course at the Lapalala Wilderness School and support Save The Waterberg Rhino, raising awareness for conservation as we do so.

How you can support The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride:

Follow Save the Waterberg Rhino on Twitter

Follow the projects on Facebook:

The Waterberg Trust on Facebook

Lapalala Wilderness School on Facebook

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Learning about reptiles

Meet the people striving to Save The Waterberg Rhino

February 26, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Uncategorized, Waterberg, Youthadventure, adventuretravel, Africa, Ant Baber, Anthony Baber, Anton Walker, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Clive Walker, Fundraising event, Horseback, Lapalala Wilderness, Long distance riding, make a difference, Making a Difference, Riding, riding in Africa, riding with game, Save the Waterbeg Rhino, South Africa, Sponsored ride, Tessa Baber, WaterbergSophie Neville

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

If you’d like to organise your own fundraising event, and learn more about the charity contact sophie@sophieneville.co.uk

Making a Difference: Teaching Conservation Skills at Lapalala Wilderness School in South Africa

January 26, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Peer Education, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAchievement, activity holiday, adventure, Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Community, Community Programmes, conservation skills, conservation training, eco school, Education, environmental education, Fundraising event, horse safari, Horseback, Justgiving, Limpopo Province, Long distance riding, make a difference, Making a Difference, Nature Conservation, raising awareness, Riding, riding in Africa, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sponsored ride, Transformed Lives, Waterberg, wildlife conservation, youth empowerment, youth opportunitiesSophie Neville

Lapalala Wilderness School wins Eco School Award and inspires others

The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2016 is currently raising funds and looking for sponsorship to help this award winning eco-school on the Palala River in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.

The Lapalala Wilderness School was established thirty years ago to give children from disadvantaged areas to have the opportunity to spend a week learning about nature conservation while gaining practical skills in the African bush.

If you would like to support this excellent educational project, you can make a donation on JustGiving via The Waterberg Trust and add a note with your donation specifying “Lapalala Wilderness School”

Help fight rhino poaching in the Waterberg

January 19, 2016Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, WaterbergAfrica, anti-poaching, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Community, Community Programmes, Education, Fundraising event, Horseback, Long distance riding, make a difference, Making a Difference, rhino, rhino charity, riding in Africa, riding with game, Safari, save the rhino, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sponsored ride, Waterberg, waterberg rhinoSophie Neville

Photo of new baby rhino by Ant Baber at Ant’s Nest

The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2016 is being organised to raise funds for Save the Waterberg Rhino along with associated community education projects, to help fight rhino poaching and teach local children about the conservation of these amazing animals at the Lapalala Wilderness School.

Over 5,000 rhino have been killed by poachers in South Africa alone. The Waterberg is home to a signification concentration of rhino, second only to Kruger National Park.

PROJECTS REQUIRING FUNDING & STRATEGIC PARTNERS:
Rhino horn treatment
Tracking devices for rhinos
Equipment, such as:
• Binoculars
• Night vision
• Thermal vision
• Hi Tech solutions
• Bullet proof vests
• Crime scene equipment
• Uniforms and kit for scouts
Anti-poaching scouts for rhino protection
Tracker Dogs
Training for Anti-Poaching UNITS
Management Courses for Rhino Owners

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

Donate via The Waterberg Trust Justgiving page:

As a UK registered charity, we 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’ with your donation.

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

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

If you’d like to organise your own fundraising event, and learn more about the charity contact sophie@sophieneville.co.uk

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

To find out about Save The Waterberg Rhino, click on the banner below:

Reporting back on the Waterberg Charity Ride 2015

March 6, 2015Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Healthcare, HIV prevention, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Travel, Trustees, WaterbergAchievement, activity holiday, adventure, Africa, AIDS in Africa, challenge, Charity, Charity fundraising, Charity fundraising event, Donate, HIV Awareness, horse safari, Horseback, Limpopo Province, Riding, riding in Africa, riding with game, Safari, South Africa, Sponsored ride, WaterbergSophie Neville

Ten riders from Scotland, Wales, England, Ireland and the Netherlands gathered at Horizon Horseback Safaris on 25th January 2015.

After an evening ride to ensure everyone was happy with their mounts,

we set off over the hills, taking on the challenge to find a route across the Waterberg plateau on horseback. Our week in the saddle proved quite an adventure.

We had some wonderful game viewing.

Being on horseback we could get remarkably close to animals

especially zebra used to grazing with the horses.

Some sections were challenging

and we crossed through territory new to the horses.

There were other stretches where we pushed on

and picked up speed.

There were mornings when we cantered for miles, afternoons when we had to dismount to walk up stony hillsides – all be good for the inner thigh.

We found ourselves going through very beautiful country.

We spent long days in the heat,

but it was high summer in South Africa and the bush was verdant.

Making our way through the game rserves, crossing rivers

and plains where herds of wild animals were grazing was exciting.

We rode with zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, warthog, jackal, red heartebeest, blesbok, impala, greater kudu, waterbuck, mountain reed buck, duiker, eland, oryx and saw nyala, sable, springbok, baboon, vervet monkey, slender mongoose, tree squirrel, ostrich, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, crocodile and even a debra – the hybrid foal of a zebra mare and donkey stallion.

We saw amazing creatures, great

and small.

Some saw sable antelope

and we even came across other horses, grazing in the Africa bush.

After six days on horseback we made it to the Palala River and could celebrate the fact that we had covered somewhere in the region of 200kms.

Everyone agreed that it had been a great expedition accomplished by a wonderful team.

Before flying home we had time to meet staff at the Waterberg Welfare Society

and see around the hospice and Timothy House children’s centre.

Very many thanks go to all those who sponsored the riders and supported such a good cause. Funds are still coming in but we hope to let you know the total raised soon and report on the details of projects we will be able to finance. The riders all paid their own expenses and brought generous donations, with gifts for the local children.

I was able to take beautiful books, stationary and clothing to the farm school where they were very much appreciated.

If you would like to add a donation via our Justgiving page please click here.

Grateful hanks also go to those who hosted us and looked after the riders so beautifully: Horizon Horseback Safaris, Koshari Game Reserve, Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill, Lindani Game Reserve and Jembisa, who treated us to dinner under the stars on our last night.