Are you following the Wild Again For 19 challenge? For 19 days, Josh and Amy Attenborough (The children of Trustee David) are bracing the wilderness of big 5 territory in Manyoni Private Game Reserve to raise awareness for wild spaces that need help over the Covid-19 pandemic, which has crippled the tourism industry due to the loss of tourists visiting game reserves.
During their 19 days in the wild, they will be carrying what they need on their backs, sleeping out in the bush, and only coming into contact over radio for water drops and to swap out dead radios/phones for recharged batteries. They capture their daily adventures which we convert into a short video, and upload on here for you all to join in on the magic of the bush from the comfort of your home. They are fundraising to support the community and conservation projects of Zululand Conservation Trust which is committed to the conservation of endangered species in endangered spaces whilst empowering and supporting local communities that live on the border of these areas.
If you would like to make a donation, click here and choose the cause Wild Again for 19 from the drop down…
See the videos below for a taste of the adventure.
Day 1
Amy and Josh started their first day with two incredible encounters with white rhinos, a species that is essentially at the heart of the fund raising initiative they have embarked upon.
1 day down, 18 to go, with heavy backpacks and more ticks than they imagined!
Day 2
Night 1 was very interesting, with Josh on watch hearing what sounded like something being killed by a leopard. Just after dawn, they set off to try to find it… Then later in the day they had an unexpected encounter with two completely different large felines…
Day 3
The cold front that has been rolling across the country hit Amy and Josh in their campsite, with a howling wind turning the place into a sudden hazard. A hasty change-of-camp in the blackest night was required, with a nerve wracking walk to a new spot.
Day 4
The wind has died somewhat, allowing the night sounds to travel further; both Josh and Amy hear one of Africa’s most enticing sounds while on watch next to the fire. Spirits are high after some amazing wildlife encounters on Day 4…
Day 5
If you were only eating 2 Choc nuts, 10 actual nuts, 1 date and a handful of oats with chia seed per day, and had been traversing a game reserve on foot with a heavy pack, getting bitten by ticks and only getting a couple of hours sleep per night, with the temperature just above freezing, well… things might start taking their toll on you too.
Hunger starts to set in for Amy and Josh by the end of Day 5, but they remain positive, surrounded by the wilderness they are ultimately raising funds to help preserve.
Day 6
Hunger is really starting to take its toll on Amy and Josh, as a general lethargy has started setting in that threatens to overwhelm their days. The temperature hovering only just above freezing at night is also an energy sapper, as with minimal food it’s difficult for the body to produce enough heat to warm itself. Nevertheless, they push on…
Day 7
Unseasonal rain merely compounds the difficulties for Amy and Josh as hunger and fatigue continue to grow. One week in now, and they are being properly confronted with just how difficult a task it is going to be to be out in the wilds for 19 days on so little food and minimal sleep. Let’s hope Day 8 brings them some reprieve…
But why?
If you have been following Amy and Josh Attenboroughs journey on the Wild Again For 19 challenge, and you have seen them battling through the cold, the ticks, the hunger and now the rain – you might be asking yourself; “Why are they putting themselves through this??”
Well, this is all in the name of conservation and supporting the wildlife industry that has been one of the hardest hit industries due to the national Covid-19 lockdown regulations in South Africa.
Day 8
Winter in Kwazulu Natal is usually a time of clear skies. Not so right now, as Josh and Amy discover while an even more extensive downpour than on day 7 sees them desperately seeking shelter in a treehouse with no roof, where they manage to huddle under a groundsheet, which helps. A bit.
Day 9
It’s been 13 years since Manyoni Private Game Reserve received this much rain in June, which is meant to be their dry season. 42mm so far, with 11 days still to go in the month, and although that may not sound like an exorbitant amount of rain, when you’re sleeping out in the bush with the bare minimum of gear and almost zero rain protection, 42mm is enough to make you seriously question why you’re out there in the first place, as Amy and Josh are rapidly discovering.
They continue to be bombarded by all the weather Manyoni can throw at them as they hit the halfway mark in their 19-day adventure.
Day 10
After 110km of walking, freezing temperatures, rain, and some epically close wildlife encounters, Josh and Amy are officially past the halfway mark in their challenge to raise funds for the Zululand Conservation Trust.
Hunger and lack of sleep continue to grind them down, but thankfully a break in the weather has given them a welcome reprieve.
Manyoni Media team flew over Josh and Amy whilst out in the field looking for cheetah and got some cool shots which they have included in today’s video.
Day 11
We need to raise R250 000 to get Amy and Josh their Jet Fuel; Peanut Butter!!
So far, thanks to all your support, we have raised R187 726,46!! Help us get to the ¼ of a million mark and give them the much needed fuel they need!! TO DONATE: go to https://zululandconservationtrust.org…, click “donate”, and choose the cause Wild Again for 19 from the drop down.
