Kingsley Holgate departs on humanitarian mission distributing malaria nets

Kingsley Holgate and his wife, Gill, have set off for the All Afrika Expedition that will take them to the last five countries in Africa that they have yet to explore.

Kingsley Holgate, Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, author, humanitarian and modern-day adventurer, is one of South Africa’s best-known adventurers.

The All Afrika Expedition will take them to Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea. Gabriel and Warn winches, part of the JSE-listed Control Instruments Group, are part-sponsors of the expedition.

On the journey they will raise awareness about malaria prevention, its treatment and distribute malaria nets to those in need.

In addition to exploration of the continent, this will be the second expedition that Kingsley has completed under the banner of United Against Malaria, distributing malaria nets to communities in need in malaria endemic countries.

United Against Malaria is a partnership of football teams, corporations, celebrities, health and advocacy organisations, governments and individuals who came together ahead of the FIFA 2010 World Cup to address malaria, a preventable disease which by the end of last year and despite great progress, was still killing a child in Africa every 45 seconds.

This translates to a drop from 1-million deaths a year to approximately 700 000, but there is still a lot that needs to be done to reach the Millennium Development Goal of bringing deaths from malaria to near zero by 2015.

Kingsley’s Background:

With his family and team, they have completed a number of successful humanitarian expeditions to all but five of the countries that make up the continent of Africa.

Kingsley Holgate said, “With my family and team, we’ve been privileged to have completed a number of successful humanitarian expeditions to all but five of the 47 countries that make up the continent of Africa.”

“Now the challenge is to make malaria prevention history by completing the entire continent. The gives us, the opportunity to embrace and connect with every country in Africa.”

The first stop on the All Afrika Expedition will be Obuasi in Ghana where the Holgates and AngloGold Ashanti will host a soccer game, art competition and net distribution with local communities.

From Obuasi, the team will cross the Ashanti region, Ghana’s traditional and cultural heartland to visit the Ashanti capital of Kumasi. Heading North, the expedition will traverse the regions of Brong-Ahafo, Northern and Upper West, to include the regional capitals of Sunyani, Tamale and Wa, and then cross to Burkina Faso’s capital city of Ouagadougou.

The expedition across Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad will take in the ancient empires of the Sahel region, the great Sahara Desert trade routes, the Niger River, historic Lake Chad and fascinating tribes such as the nomadic Tauregs, the Hausa, Zarma, Gobir and Fulani.

The ALL AFRIKA EXPEDITION challenge will cover the Central African Republic, a land-locked nation that is bordered by the countries of Chad, Cameroon, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.

Finally, while in Equatorial Guinea, the Holgates plan to visit the capital of Malabo on Bioko Island and mainland Rio Muni, to include the port town of Bata, the Monte Alen National Park, and the beautiful island of Corriso, before flying back home to South Africa.

Also view:

• Gabriel in humanitarian expedition into Africa