AN all-women South African expedition over 50 days, visiting four countries and covering 9000km, will set out on a conservation mission in September to raise awareness about human-wildlife conflict.
Headed by Morningside adventurer and humanitarian, Carla Geyser, the Journeys with Purpose: Rise of the Matriarch expedition will see an all-women crew traversing South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe armed with purpose and passion.
Geyser, the founder of the NPO, Blue Sky Society Trust, has been involved in conservation and community upliftment initiatives since 2012.
“I firmly believe that one person can make a difference in this world and I want to be that person,” she said.
Carla earned a solid reputation as a conservation trailblazer in 2016, when she led South Africa’s first all-female expedition from South Africa to Kenya to help stem the tide of poaching. The Journeys with Purpose: Elephant Ignite Expedition brought together 13 women who embarked on a 100-day journey to Kenya, raising funds and awareness among communities along the way. The team returned home triumphant, having covered more than 15 000km, visited 37 wildlife organisations, distributed 20 000 educational booklets to children, and raised nearly R300 000 for various conservation projects.
ALSO READ: Tears of joy as learners receive school shoes
Replicating this magic formula, Geyser now plans on taking her conservation message on the nearly two-month 4×4 journey that will combine adventure travel with ecotourism fundraising. The team will engage with local communities especially children on the human-wildlife issue and distribute 30 000 educational booklets, connect with anti-poaching groups, visit conservation groups and schools, and meet with incredible women who are doing remarkable things at a grassroots level to assist in conservation efforts.
Funds raised during the expedition will benefit four causes, namely, Elephants Alive (South Africa), Rare and Endangered Species Trust (Namibia), Eco-Exist Project (Botswana) and the Soft Foot Alliance Trust (Zimbabwe).
Lungile Dimba, Education Administrator at WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa), and Blue Sky Society Trust’s volunteer and part time employee Celokuhle “Smax” Biyela have been sponsored by The Tanglewood Foundation, an environment advocacy and conservation group based in New Zealand, to join the expedition team.
Excitement aside, Geyser acknowledges that a journey of this nature requires more than meticulous planning and a dedicated crew.
“It’s a daily emotional rollercoaster: setting up camp, driving long distances, cooking and cleaning chores, dealing with the impact of hearing devastating stories about wildlife failures and the adrenaline of listening to those that speak of successes. I have to make sure that every woman joining us is aware of this. There’s more to the planning phase than individuals sourcing sponsors; it’s about heading out with the correct mind-set and being open to all that Mama Africa throws our way.”
Listing wildlife and conservation heroes Kingsley Holgate, Lawrence Anthony, Dame Daphne Sheldrick and Jane Goodall as among her role-models, Geyser’s love affair with the outdoors began when she was still at school at Pietermaritzburg Girls High. “I remember always wanting to go out there and join Greenpeace to save the whales. I ended up working on a game farm in Mpumalanga and this ignited a fierce passion to protect the natural beauty of our continent.”
Following through on this vision, Geyser founded the Blue Sky Society Trust in 2012, an organisation dedicated to conservation, wildlife protection, community upliftment and ecotourism in Africa. “Every act of kindness can have a positive ripple effect, and even the smallest contribution can make a big difference,” she said. “I firmly believe, with all my heart and soul, that if we all do our thing every day, if we all work together, then we are unstoppable. Life is tough all around but we have to at least try. It’s the best we can do.”
Business, organisations or individuals can get involved. Visit: https://www.blueskysociety.org/
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
