Short Story
I am Wade Bartlett, a husband, father, surfer, runner & adventurous guy.
In 2016 I completed 3 Ironman Events despite not having a running background.
I love trail running in the bush so have done a few KZNTR trails along with a few Marathons and most recently completed my first Comrades in 2023 and am looking forward to running through Babanago Game Reserve.
I am passionate about nature and our wildlife. Our wildlife, especially the Rhino are at risk, and I for one would love to be able to show my grandchildren and future generations these magnificent animals in the wild.
I have the utmost respect for the Rangers who dedicate their lives and put themselves at risk for our wildlife. The funds raised will be going towards helping Project Rhino and Babanango Game Reserve to empower their rangers with essential resources, training, and equipment needed to combat poaching, enforce conservation laws, and promote sustainable practices.
Join me by activating generosity by donating a once off amount now.
Story
Babanango Game Reserve, located in the heart of Zululand, Kwazulu-Natal, is a showcase for one of the most ambitious rewilding projects in Southern Africa in recent years. Set among the breathtaking topography of the upper White Umfolozi River Valley, the reserve occupies a vast wilderness area of over 20,000 hectares that is steeped in Zulu history and layered upon geological features that date back to the beginning of time. The rugged mountains and valleys provide refuge for an extraordinary diversity of birds, plants, insects, reptiles, and mammals, including the elusive aardvark and aardwolf.
Visitors to Babanango Game Reserve can be assured of an unrivalled safari experience due to highly knowledgeable guides and a range of activities to choose from. Significant historical battle sites, such as Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, are located close by.
Project Rhino was launched on World Rhino Day, 22 September 2011. It is a rhino-focussed association that brings together a provincial government conservation body, private and community-owned reserves, rhino owners, leading conservation NGOs and anti-poaching security specialists in the common aim of fighting wildlife crime.
Together with South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Project Rhino member reserves are collectively responsible for the protection of the world’s largest rhino population, as well as the most genetically diverse white rhino population. Devastatingly, our rhino have become a target for highly organised poaching rings and crime syndicates, fuelled largely by an ongoing and unfounded demand by traditional Eastern medicine. Rhino numbers have plummeted – more than 8,000 have been lost in RSA in the last decade – whilst the costs of keeping the remaining populations safe have increased astronomically.
