Short Story
Hi there, I’m Genna.
Despite a late exposure to the trail running scene in 2018, I quickly fell in head over heels and competed my first Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon in 2019 with my running partner Sandra Berning. I loved it so much I haven’t been able to stop running since.
I am always grateful for an opportunity to take something I am passionate about and use it to not only challenge myself but to also find a way to give back to causes that I believe truly deserve every ounce of support we can possibly give.
Two years ago Sandra, my running partner and her husband, James started a fundraiser for Project Rhino called Bay2Bay. James, had a crazy accident that completely smashed his ankle which has put a hold on their epic endeavour.
Inspired by their efforts and to honour their commitment I am picking up the torch to help raise funds for Project Rhino, Babanango Game Reserve and our Rangers until they can get back on the trail.
I am hoping to raise over R50 000 by running 100km over two days through the Babanango Game Reserve in order to raise funds and awareness of both Project Rhino and the incredible rangers who dedicate their lives towards ensuring the preservation of our amazing and unique wild life and reserves.
Join me by activating generosity by donating a once off amount now.
Story
Babanango Game Reserve, located in the heart of Zululand, Kwazulu-Natal, is a showcase for one of the most ambitious rewilding projects in Southern Africa in recent years. Set among the breathtaking topography of the upper White Umfolozi River Valley, the reserve occupies a vast wilderness area of over 20,000 hectares that is steeped in Zulu history and layered upon geological features that date back to the beginning of time. The rugged mountains and valleys provide refuge for an extraordinary diversity of birds, plants, insects, reptiles, and mammals, including the elusive aardvark and aardwolf.
Visitors to Babanango Game Reserve can be assured of an unrivalled safari experience due to highly knowledgeable guides and a range of activities to choose from. Significant historical battle sites, such as Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, are located close by.
Project Rhino was launched on World Rhino Day, 22 September 2011. It is a rhino-focussed association that brings together a provincial government conservation body, private and community-owned reserves, rhino owners, leading conservation NGOs and anti-poaching security specialists in the common aim of fighting wildlife crime.
Together with South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Project Rhino member reserves are collectively responsible for the protection of the world’s largest rhino population, as well as the most genetically diverse white rhino population. Devastatingly, our rhino have become a target for highly organised poaching rings and crime syndicates, fuelled largely by an ongoing and unfounded demand by traditional Eastern medicine. Rhino numbers have plummeted – more than 8,000 have been lost in RSA in the last decade – whilst the costs of keeping the remaining populations safe have increased astronomically.
