The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating effect on Africa’s people and wildlife.

Tourism, the key source of funding for communities and wildlife organisations, has been turned off with many planned trips postponed until 2021. Funds to help support local communities and wildlife protection programmes have essentially dried up - and rangers, the first line of defence, have been impacted terribly.

Prized wilderness areas, such as Tanzania’s Serengeti, South Africa’s Kruger and many more are struggling to pay rangers’ salaries. They are critical to the safety of already highly endangered wildlife. The loss of park and conservancy fees from visiting tourists means budgets have been severely impacted.

Across Africa, wildlife rangers battle daily against illegal poaching and without them many species like elephant, rhino, lion, giraffe and pangolin would be at even greater risk of extinction. The African travel industry is joining forces to ensure wildlife and their environments are protected.

Safari Consultants is proud to be joining the #Ride4Rangers initiative. The Safari Consultants team will be walking/running/cycling from Cape Town to Victoria Falls - a distance of 1,200 miles (1,930 km) over 14 days. The challenge - from August 10th to 23rd - is a virtual one, but the end goal is to make a huge difference to the African people and places we love so much. Every pound raised will make a significant difference.

African conservation charity Tusk’s initiative to support 5,000 rangers over the next 6-9 months has been kicked-off with generous match-funding, doubling the impact of every pound donated. All funds raised will be distributed by Tusk across some 60 reserves and protected areas throughout Africa.

Here’s how your support could help!

£ 100 could purchase a GPS enabled camera to monitor wildlife

£ 200 could fund a Lion Guard Ranger’s salary for a month

£ 250 could provide materials needed to build a predator-proof livestock enclosure

£ 500 could sponsor a four man anti-poaching team in the field for a month

Thank you in advance for your support and generosity. We will provide regular updates on our progress.