Kingsley Holgate Foundation distributes mosquito nets in Africa to help prevent malaria
Benefiting mainly pregnant women and children under the age of five, it is projected that each mosquito net protects at least three children.
The Kingsley Holgate Foundation has completed leg two of its Afrika Odyssey Expedition, travelling across 13 African countries to distribute 7 643 long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
Benefiting mainly pregnant women and children under the age of five, it is projected that each mosquito net protects at least three children.
This means that the Kingsley Holgate Foundation, during their current expedition, has potentially kept almost 23 000 African children safe from malaria, a disease that claims the lives of approximately 1 320 children every day.
Famed South African explorer Kingsley Holgate founded the ‘Kingsley Holgate Foundation’ which aims to “save and improve lives through adventure” through “humanitarian expeditions that make a difference”.
In the six months since June 2023, the expedition team, using a pair of Defender 130 models, has travelled more than 40 000km through South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
Ross Holgate, expedition leader and son of Kingsley Holgate, said: “That’s more than 6 000km a month on some of the most treacherous roads on the continent. This would have been a real challenge for most overlanding vehicles, but our expedition Defender 130s – nicknamed Moyo (heart) and Isibindi (courage) – have performed flawlessly.”
“The incredible capability of the new Defender continues to amaze us at every turn, as well as all the people we come across on this journey. Thanks to the Defenders’ unsurpassed all-terrain performance, Moyo and Isibindi easily tamed all types of tricky situations we encountered – from the desert sands of Angola to the flooded swamps of the Congo.
“Defenders’ powerful engine allows the vehicle to be laden to capacity with humanitarian aid items, camping gear and months’ worth of supplies. The extra loading capacity of the Defender 130 makes it the ultimate combination of space, safety and comfort for the modern expedition vehicle.”
Following a brief respite during the festive season, the Kingsley Holgate Foundation team will now head to the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria and Benin, for the second half of the Afrika Odyssey Expedition.
In addition to distributing mosquito nets, the team also provides reading spectacles to poor-sighted individuals in the countries they visit and conducts community conservation education campaigns aimed at youths.
For updates on the Afrika Odessey Expedition, follow the Kingsley Holgate Foundation’s Facebook page.
WHO IS KINGSLEY HOLGATE?
Kingsley Holgate is a South African explorer, humanitarian and author. A fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, he has been described by Getaway Magazine as “the most travelled man in Africa” and has modelled himself on David Livingstone. Holgate has also written several books about his expeditions and fronted several National Geographic documentaries.
He also worked on the TV series Shaka Zulu.
Holgate was born in KwaZulu-Natal on 28 February 1946 and thus celebrates his 78th birthday today.
Holgate founded the ‘Kingsley Holgate Foundation’ which aims to “save and improve lives through adventure” through “humanitarian expeditions that make a difference”.