PROFILE LIFESTYLE Holgate team heading east

GIVING OUT MOSQUITO NETS AND READING GLASSES Sixteen countries in 10 weeks – all for the love of people and nature.

Elephant Art programme to run alongside its rhino conservation programmes that promote guardianship ideals.

“We cannot allow natural heritage to disappear. What’s great is the children take ownership of the animals when we take the art competition to them. When they have crayons and the opportunity to learn something, those living close to parks are especially affected, and they start to grasp the situation,” Holgate says.

Usually, they do the big presentation and return a week later to judge the competition and hand out prizes (often with a soccer match with more prizes).

The Rite to Sight is equally important, helping especially the elderly. Now on their 33rd humanitarian expedition, Holgate has marvelled at what happens when someone receives a pair of spectacles.

In areas like Kenya, beadwork is a means of income for many families, but it becomes near impossible for many once their eyesight starts failing. The programme allows older women to continue providing for their families.

“It allows them to continue threading needles and weaving mats,” Holgate says.

Over the years they have learned to keep it simple. All the frames they distribute are black.

Their eye-testing method is streamlined. First, a person’s age is established before the eye test begins by having the patient use hand gestures to copy what they see on the test poster. Once they can no longer follow visual cues, their vision strength is established and they’re immediately handed their spectacles.

But it’s malaria prevention that is at the core of their work. In Africa, a baby dies every minute of malaria and to reduce the prevalence of malaria, the Kingsley Holgate Foundation distributes long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to pregnant mothers and children under the age of five.

While the team’s Land Rovers are packed tight with boxes marked for each country they’re visiting, Holgate’s take on the most important thing they are taking with them is a lot more philosophical. “What’s the best thing you can travel with in your Land Rover? It’s an empty seat,” he says. In each country the team meets a local guide who travels with them. It’s an opportunity to get to know the needs of the area as well and gives them a translator who helps drive home each part of their work.

The East Expedition started at Kosi Bay (at the most eastern tip of South Africa) and ends at the Horn of Africa (the most eastern tip of the continent). The team know it’s a tough journey with very real dangers – but they do it because as Holgate says; “Why not use adventure to save lives?”

If you have resferber, keep track of their journey on Twitter at @LandRoverZA

We cannot allow natural heritage to disappear. What’s great is the children take ownership of the animals when we take the art competition to them.