UMHLANGA resident, Grant Melville, has always had a passion for wildlife. Besides working with KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, he has 15 years of hiking and bush experience, he has also been a SANParks honorary ranger since 2012.
In 2017, Melville, along with two seasoned hikers, Ian Shooter and Jeffery Mthabela, helped raise an incredible R400 000 trekking through the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Mountains dubbed the ‘Climb for K9 Drakensberg Grand Traverse’. The trek served to raise awareness about poaching and the important work that the SANParks K9 units are doing to curb and counter poaching of the country’s wildlife.
Now with two of the most important dates on the environmental calendar, International Coastal Clean-up Day (21 September) and World Rhino Day (22 September), Melville will be taking on the ‘OLLI Zink Rox Non Stop 24 hour rhino awareness beach challenge’.
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He will attempt a non-stop hike from Zinkwazi main beach to uMhlanga beach, covering a total of 70 kilometres in 24 hours this coming weekend.
Starting at Zinkwazi main beach on 21 September at 5am, he will trek through Blythesdale, Tinley Manor and Sheffield Beach, stopping at the Salt Rock Hotel, and then proceed through Chaka’s Rock, Ballito, Zimbali beach to Westbrook, La Mercy and eMdloti, expecting to arrive at uMhlanga beach (Durban View Park) on 22 September around 9am.
“As someone who cares deeply for the environment I decided to support the One Land Love It (OLLI) family, a registered Non-Profit Corporation (NPC) who create awareness for rhino conservation and help raise funds to put an end to poaching. With two of the most important dates on the environmental calendar coming up this weekend I saw it as an opportunity to create awareness of the plight of our rhinos and how the ocean is being negatively affected by overfishing and pollution.
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“For me in whatever I do it is about promoting an ongoing awareness and fundraising for SANParks K9 unit who are having a fantastic effect on working to stop rhino poaching. I don’t mean to sound cliche but we all have one planet and we need to do everything in our power to save it,” he said.
Melville said he is confident about completing the two day trek in good time.
“Two years ago I trekked across 230 kilometres across the Drakensberg mountains so I think this trek will be a little easier,” he quipped. “Mentally I’m ready and prepared for the challenge ahead and I just hope to see as many people support me through the trek and hopefully meet me at the finish line on Sunday at the Durban View parking lot next to Malindi Apartments at around 9am,” he said.
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