On Saturday 28 May 2016, together with our partners (Misty Mountain, Project Rhino KZN, Forest Ventures and Cadence Cycling) we hosted the Hope for Horn Mountain Bike Challenge.

This one-day ride of 200 kilometres was aimed at raising financial support and awareness for the plight of the rhino. The event began at Misty Mountain and ended at HESC on Kapama Private Game Reserve.

As the sun started to set, a camp fire was lit where Kingsley Holgate shared some of his adventures through Africa with everyone, with nature’s ‘soundtrack’ of lions roaring in the background.

Eleven cyclists participated, and everyone was very excited and proud to have completed this endurance challenge. In total, the cyclists raised about R5 000 for the Rescued Rhinos @ HESC. A special ‘Thank You’ to Pick n Pay Hoedspruit for donating water and Powerade for our cyclists.

One of the cyclists, Dennis Lawrie, said: “I have a serious passion for outdoor challenges, adventure and wildlife. Mountain biking has allowed me to experience this all over the world, but the Hope for Horn ride remains a favourite, taking me 35 years back to my old stomping grounds. It will always be amazing to run and organise the event for both conservation and HESC, who have endless energy and passion for our endangered wildlife and rhinos in particular”.
Our accounts administrator, Dezi du Plessis, ran the prestigious Comrades Marathon in an effort to raise funds for the rescued rhinos at HESC. She completed the marathon in 11:43:15. Although no money was raised, we are proud of Dezi’s effort and hope that her participation at brought about an awareness of the rhino poaching crisis.
We are so grateful to Dezi and all the cyclists who challenged themselves to ‘Run and Ride for Rhinos’.