GVI Karongwe are setting themselves a super
challenge to aid in the purchase of a new vehicle for our anti-poaching team.
The vehicle will be used to help our dedicated team conduct anti-poaching
patrols to ultimately deter poachers from entering the reserve, keeping our precious
horny friends free from harm.

In order to reach our goal, we have had to
brainstorm and clash our horns to come up with an event like no other. And here
it is... the volunteers and staff of GVI Karongwe will be pushed to their
limits when we set an entire week of rhino themed tasks for them... aptly named
the Week of Challenges!! The grueling week will run as follows...

Monday: A new baby rhino never strays far from the protective side of its
mother. Just as they would stick together
in the wild, volunteers and staff will be paired up and tied to their mate for
a day. Toilet trips are exempt from the union, but all other day-to-day
activities must be completed with your fellow buddy. 

Tuesday: White rhino are walking the fine line between near threatened and
vunerable. It is a hard balancing act to try and keep them closer to the
‘healthy population numbers’ end of the scale, but with antipoaching efforts
increasing we can help to ensure their numbers do not decline further. Volunteers and staff will also see how hard
it is to keep the balance by balancing an egg on a spoon whilst on a game
drive. Something tells us this they won’t find this easy at all!

Wednesday: The most distinctive and impressive feature of rhino is surely
their horn. Volunteers and staff will
spend an entire day proudly wearing a rhino’s greatest asset, a horn. This
includes during whilst eating meals and while on game drive. We’re hoping we
will spark interest of other tourists who may further help towards our cause.

Thursday: Rhinos love nothing more than to wallow in a squishly puddle of
mud. I guess you could call it a rhino shower! But today their favourite wallow
was occupied by a herd of elephants so they are going to have to go smelly. It will be a very smelly house after the
volunteers and staff will save water by skipping showers for a day.

Friday: Winter has hit hard and there is no food to be seen, the rhinos
will go hungry for a day, but luckily a watering hole nearby will supply them
with fluids! Volunteers and staff will
fast from sunrise to sunset, the hours during which rhino typically feed. They
will have access to as much water as they want and of course sweets to keep
their sugar levels up!

This week will surely be a challenge
especially on top of our normal routine here on base. We will need all the
support we can get!

Watch this space for pictures and updates
from the event, its going to be our biggest fundraising event yet!