The Kingsley Holgate Foundation launched its Tail of the Dragon expedition on October 1, which follows the Drakensberg mountain range from Iron Crown near Haenertsburg in Limpopo to the village of Rhodes in the Eastern Cape Highlands. This journey aims to deliver health and conservation aid to remote communities in South Africa and Lesotho. The expedition will cover a vast area, crossing the Transvaal Drakensberg in Limpopo and Mpumalanga and the Northern, Central, and Southern Drakensberg in the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
The expedition will provide various forms of aid to communities along the route. This includes distributing insecticide-treated bed nets and education to maternity clinics in northern Limpopo, which has seen an increase in malaria cases due to severe flooding earlier this year. The team is also carrying thousands of pairs of reading glasses for Mashozi's Rite to Sight programme, which has already helped over 224,000 people. Additionally, rural early learning centers will receive structural upgrades, murals, and educational resources.
The expedition is led by two Defender 130 Outbound SUVs, which offer up to 2,516 liters of loadspace and up to 900mm of wading capability. The vehicles' off-road capability comes from Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, Terrain Response 2, Electronic Air Suspension, and Adaptive Dynamics. The route takes in notable landmarks such as the Blyde River Canyon, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, the Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls, and the climb up Sani Pass into Lesotho.
The expedition leader, Ross Holgate, expressed the team's goal of leaving each community a little better than they found it. The team will also explore the geology, wildlife, history, archaeology, and cultures of the Drakensberg range. Furthermore, schools will participate in Wildlife Art competitions, promoting conservation education and awareness among local children.
This expedition marks 25 years of partnership between the Kingsley Holgate Foundation and Defender. Since 2000, Defender has supported the Foundation on over 40 expeditions across all 54 African countries. To commemorate the anniversary, the Foundation plans to bring in 25 historic Defenders at different stages of the journey.
Janico Dannhauser, Defender Brand Manager at JLR South Africa, emphasized that the expedition brings the adventure home while continuing the humanitarian and conservation work that has always been at the heart of their partnership. The Tail of the Dragon expedition is scheduled to conclude in Rhodes in the Eastern Cape in November.
The Kingsley Holgate Foundation's expedition demonstrates the impact of partnerships in delivering aid to remote communities. With the support of Defender, the Foundation continues to make a positive difference in the lives of people across Africa. The expedition's progress can be followed through updates from the Kingsley Holgate Foundation and Defender.
Key points
- The Kingsley Holgate Foundation's Tail of the Dragon expedition aims to deliver health and conservation aid to remote communities in South Africa and Lesotho.
- The expedition is led by two Defender 130 Outbound SUVs, which provide the necessary off-road capability and loadspace for the journey.
- The expedition marks 25 years of partnership between the Kingsley Holgate Foundation and Defender, highlighting their long-standing commitment to humanitarian and conservation work in Africa.
