In an effort to raise awareness on the challenges conservationists face in Africa, four cyclists will embark on a journey of 5000km across Africa, passing through Malawi and three of its top national parks.
The project, named the Cycling 4 Wildlife Foundation, sees four cycling enthusiasts on a mission to raise €100k in donations for African Parks. Thomas van Meeuwen, Huib Wesselman van Helmond, Willem van Liemt and Kan Stoop kicked off their project with a 12 hour cycling event on stationary bikes in a greenhouse in April 2023, followed by presentations from African Parks and Cycling 4 Wildlife. So far, the team have raised as staggering €53,250 of their €100,000 goal.
As members of the African Parks NextGen network, the team have witnessed how little awareness exists among their generation about conservation in Africa. Over a quarter of the earth’s biodiversity exists on the continent and one-tenth of the world’s irrecoverable carbon is stored in Africa. These landscapes are critical in providing clean air, water, food security, and a better way of life. Yet Africa’s wild ecosystems continue to be undervalued, and nature continues to be destroyed.
Their journey through Africa will begin in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park from 14th June, before heading south, calling in at all 3 of the parks & reserves in Malawi that are managed by African Parks: Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, followed by Liwonde National Park and then Majete Wildlife Reserve.
Their time in Malawi’s parks will not only be for sight seeing and passing through, but a moment to learn about the exceptional work that African Parks do across Malawi. They will be delving into the record breaking 500 Elephant Translocation project that took place in 2017 bringing 500 elephants and other wildlife to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. They will be exploring the effects of the project, the ecosystem and it’s impact six years on. They will also be learning about community involvement and the environmental education programmes that help create a stronger future for the park, its wildlife and neighbouring communities. Further insights into African Park’s work in Liwonde and Majete will also be covered and shared with their social media following to inspire and bringing African Park’s work to the public eye.
The team share their plans for the project and why they have chosen to cycle the route. “The bicycles are central to our mission as they help us reach our objectives in two ways: First, as means by which we deliver an extreme physical achievement, which is how we raise money for conservation. Second, the bicycles allow us to cover great distances. With minimal impact on the environment, enabling us to visit the places and meet the people whose stories must be shared.
“Among the route, we will visit eight parks that are managed by African Parks. Here, we will meet the men and women on the ground who dedicate their lives to protect the continent’s wildlife. Using film and storytelling as our medium, we will share their stories with as many people as possible. Raising awareness is crucial to overcome the challenges that conservation is facing. Join our mission and spread the word!”
You can find out more about the Cycling 4 Wildlife on their website here.
