Having created Wildlife Worldwide back in 1992 after having spent some wonderful time as a walking safari guide in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley I am delighted to be putting my energy and effort behind the incredible work of the TUSK and #Ride4Rangers to raise money for the African rangers who are working so hard to protect Africa’s wildlife – in spite of the incredible hardships they are enduring due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

In Africa, the collapse of tourism has had a devastating economic impact, threatening the livelihoods of millions of people, as well as the future of the continent's iconic wildlife.

Money to pay rangers in some of worlds' flagship wildlife areas in Africa is simply not there. Conservation South Luangwa which protects the spectacular wilderness in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley, is struggling to pay the salaries of the rangers who are the first line of defence. The rangers are enduring drastic cuts in salaries and resources due to the  devastating economic impact of the COVID pandemic, but they are still working tirelessly to safeguard the continents iconic wildlife.

During the month of September, a team of us at Wildlife Worldwide have pledged to ride 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometres) – the length of Africa – to raise money for #Ride4Rangers. The money that we raise will go directly towards supporting the salaries and deployment of African rangers during this crisis and much of this will go to Conservation South Luangwa. And, through an fantastic travel industry initiative, supported by Tusk, every penny will be match funded. So, whatever I raise will be doubled, massively increasing the impact of every single donation.

The overall aim of Tusk is to put U$10 million into the field to support rangers over the course of the next nine months – and as you can imagine, I want to do my bit.

Here’s how your support could help…

£150 could purchase a full patrol kit for a ranger in South Luangwa
£180 could fund a community scout salary for a month
£250 could provide rations for a 3-week, 6-man, rotational patrol team
£500 could sponsor fuel to deploy anti-poaching patrols for one vehicle for one month