Women trek to save animals
RELIEVING the plight of Africa’s wild animals inspired Durban conservationist Carla Geyser to embark on her second all-women expedition, this time through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Geyser of Morningside, Durban, and 12 like-minded women, including East Coast Radio presenter Erin Dickson, are to set off on a 9000km journey that’s expected to last 50 days from September 16.
During their expedition, named “Journeys with Purpose: Rise of the Matriarch”, Geyser and company plan to crank up conservation awareness and work with other conservationists from around the world to protect wild animals.
Accompanying them on various legs of the journey will be American travel blogger Emily Scott, east Africa’s Bronwyn Laing, Belgian photographer Petra Imschoot, Smax Biyela and Lungi Dimba from the KZN branch of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa.
Geyser, 54, the founder of the non-profit Blue Sky Society Trust in 2012, said: “This is an initiative by an all-women conservation team of conservation ‘she-roes’, who are intent on doing their bit to help save our piece of the planet.”
She described her previous voyage through Africa as “incredible” and anticipates a similar experience.
“I am passionate about Africa and wildlife. Tourists visit Africa to see our beautiful animals.
“If we don’t protect them and raise awareness plight, who will?”
She said that on her last trip to Kenya, the mission focused on raising awareness of elephant poaching.
“We got to meet those at the heart of conservation who were doing a great deal to protect wildlife. of their
“We also got to meet Sudan, the world’s last male northern white rhino who died earlier this year,” said Geyser.
She said those who went returned satisfied with their efforts after covering more than 15 000km, interacting with 37 wildlife organisations, distributing 20000 educational booklets to children and raising nearly R300 000 for conservation projects.
Geyser said that the journey was a “reality check” because it sparked in her the desire to continue embarking on such missions.
Even though all the participating women would pay their own way on the upcoming journey, other costs still had to be covered, she said.
These related to marketing, documenting the journey and printing educational brochures.
“We plan to print 30 000 brochures to distribute this year. Although the team is leaving next month, we are still able to accommodate businesses, organisations and individuals that want to get involved in a meaningful way,” said Geyser.
“As noble as this undertaking is, we can’t do it alone. We need the support of others,” she added.