#olli addo elephant national park finale
CONTENTS:
LAST DAY...
ARRIVAL AT ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK
WELCOME AND SIGNING OF THE SCROLL AT ADDO WATERHOLE
FORMALITIES AT THE ADDO LAPA WITH KINGSLEY HOLGATE
#OLLI RHINO RIDE FROM PATERSON
arrival at addo elephant national park
13 February 2016
Wayne Bolton and the #OLLI Support Team arrived at Addo Elephant National Park on the 13 February 2016 after two and a half months on the road. They travelled to all 19 SANParks National Parks with Wayne travelling 6000kms on his mountain bike carrying the Scroll of Unity in Conservation which was first signed by Glen Phillips of Kruger National Park on the 27 November 2015 and finally signed by Dries Engelbrecht at Addo Elephant National Park on the 13 February 2016. Wayne was supported by his children, Daniel and Laura, and two friends, Dave Pattle (Rhino Art) and Andrew Stewart, who accompanied him from Karoo to the finish. The rest of the support team included Wayne's parents, Dave and Val Bolton (of Durban), Wayne's wife Nikki, her father, Martin Snyman, and Melissa Farquhar (his "favourite child"). From Paterson the team was joined by a group of 35 cyclists who cycled in support of #OLLI... doing their part to show their desire to make a difference.
A group of well-drilled, disciplined Rangers greeted Wayne as he cycled into the park and ran ahead of Wayne singing as they preceded him to the waterhole. Due to a "Bush Note" sent out by Kingsley Holgate to Landrover owners, a guard of honour was formed with Landrovers along the route, SANParks Staff (including Dries and Henriette Engelbrecht, John Adendorff and Fayroush Ludick) SANParks Honorary Rangers were out in force and many others joined to welcome Wayne home including Kingsley Holgate and the Rhino Art team, Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, #OLLI Sponsors, Claire Venn and Steven Lancaster (#OLLI PR).
Here follow some of the highlights in picture galleries...
LAST DAY...
Conquering Olifantshoek Pass
ARRIVAL AT ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK
What a spectacular reception...
WELCOME AND SIGNING OF THE SCROLL AT ADDO WATERHOLE
After walking through the SANParks Rangers Guard of Honour where each Ranger stood to attention as Wayne passed by - a very proud moment for Wayne - the Scroll of Unity in Conservation received its final signature from Dries Engelbrecht (the SANParks Frontier Cluster Regional Manager) witnessed by John Adendorff (Conservation Manager) and SANParks Staff, Rangers and Honorary Rangers including Henriette Engelbrecht and Fayroush Ludick). Others present included friends, family, supporters, Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (Titus Chuene, NMBT Marketing Manager and Reuann Smith, Public Relations and Communications), Kingsley Holgate and the Rhino Art Team, Claire Venn and Steven Lancaster (OLLI PR).
FORMALITIES AT THE ADDO LAPA WITH KINGSLEY HOLGATE
#OLLI formalities at the Addo Lapa were made all the richer for the contributions of many. Fayroush Ludick (SANParks Communications) organised a wonderful event supported by Steven Lancaster (OLLI PR), Reuann Smith (NMBT) and Dave Pattle (Rhino Art) - Kingsley Holgate and the Rhino Art Team.
SANParks Rangers looked impressive as they stood together, Claire Venn sang the theme song she wrote for #OLLI "One Land" with passion, Maskandi Artists - Qadasi & Maqhinga - treated everyone to their authentic soulful African music, Boet (of Boet and Swaer) entertained and Kingsley Holgate spoke from the heart about loving Mama Africa and making your passion an adventure. Sheelagh Antrobus (KZN Project Rhino) presented Wayne with his "Pebble" (KIngsley's inspiration), the SANParks Honorary Rangers Vice-Chairman Eldridge Coskey welcomed Wayne home and Wayne was presented with a plaque of recognition for #OLLI (Carl Gustafson). Clarendon Park Primary School collected R12 000 for #OLLI's two beneficiaries while Wayne was cycling and this was presented to Wayne by Pam Harth (Clarendon Park Teacher and SANParks Honorary Ranger). Dries Engelbrecht (SANParks Frontier Cluster Regional Manager) thanked Wayne for his contribution to conservation and SANParks and presented him with Kudukop.
It was a wonderful celebration of #OLLI and brought together many who have the same passion for conservation and the desire to make a difference!
#olli rhino ride
Paterson to Addo Elephant National Park
35 Cyclists joined Wayne in support of #OLLI and cycled with Wayne as arrived at his last National Park on the 13 February 2016. It was a festive ride between the Addo Elephant Main Camp and Nyathi Sections with the pleasure of having John Adendorff's fly by (Conservation Manager).
thank you...
There are so many folk who have partnered with #OLLI Expedition 2015/1016
financially and in kind, with encouragement and support.
We are sincerely grateful for the collaboration of family, friends and sponsors!
In particular we would like to thank those who contributed to making the #OLLI Finale
a celebration of the culmination of an extraordinary journey...
the foundation of more to come...
We would like to especially thank...
Fayroush Ludick (SANParks Communications) and Steven Lancaster (#OLLI PR)
The SANParks Staff including Dries Engelbrecht and John Adendorff and the amazing SANParks Rangers
Reuann Smith (Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism)
Dave Pattle, Kingsley Holgate and the Rhino Art Team
(Sheelagh Antrobus, Boet, Grant Fowles, David Jenkins and Maqhinga Radebe (Qadasi band))
Claire Venn (#OLLI Supporting Artist)
SANParks Honorary Rangers
We also thank...
Our ordinary family and friends who added the extra and achieved something extraordinary!
Above all..
We feel immensely privileged to have experienced the extent of God's creation
in this incredible country that we call home and the hospitality of wonderful South Africans.
The success of this expedition, the experience of this journey and the faithful provision of our needs
are all because of His hand over us and we feel humbled and tremendously blessed!
We all have a responsibility to protect and preserve that which He has put in our care!
"What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas." Psalm 8:4-8
Partners of the 'celebrating Women in conservation' campaign
environmental crime hotline 0800 205 005 or the SAPS number 10111
Report any suspicious activities around wildlife!
