This November I’ll be trekking 100km through South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains with a group of women from around the world. Six days on foot, moving through altitude, uneven terrain and the stillness of the mountains.

It’s not a challenge I ever imagined myself doing. But with a big birthday approaching I wanted to do something that mattered. Something that made me pause, stretch, reflect and give back. This trek is completely self-funded so every donation goes directly to the work on the ground.

We are raising funds for the Black Mambas, the world’s first all-female unarmed anti-poaching unit, and Helping Rhinos, an international NGO that protects endangered rhinos and their ecosystems while creating opportunities for the communities around them and empowering the women who safeguard them.

Why I’m Doing This

My work sits at the intersection of climate, innovation and long-term change. I spend a lot of time talking about systems—what needs to shift, what needs to scale, what needs to be built. But I’ve always believed in supporting the people who are doing the real work. The ones on the ground, building trust and showing up without fanfare.

The Black Mambas patrol more than 20 kilometers a day through the bush, unarmed, looking for signs of poachers, removing snares, protecting rhinos and building ties with local communities. They also run conservation education programs in schools, helping shape how the next generation sees the natural world. Since 2013 they’ve helped reduce poaching by more than 60 percent in their area. And they’ve done it with commitment, resilience and a deep connection to the land they protect.

Why Rhinos

Rhinos are a keystone species. They help shape their ecosystems and support biodiversity in real physical ways. But there are fewer than 27,000 left in the wild. Poaching, habitat loss and climate stress are pushing them toward extinction.

When we lose species like rhinos we lose much more than wildlife. We lose balance. We lose stories. We lose the possibility of a future that still holds some of the wild.

Where the Funds Go

We’re aiming to raise $50,000 USD as a group. All donations go through Helping Rhinos to support:

The Black Mambas’ daily patrols, training and essential equipment

Environmental education programs in local schools

Habitat protection and conservation-based livelihoods for communities

If You're Able to Support, Thank you. Any bit helps.

It all goes straight to the people doing the real work on the ground.

With gratitude,

Donna