Keep your eyes peeled for the OLLI team

Add as a preferred source on Google

AN intrepid wildlife cyclist is pedalling his way through Zululand.

Creating awareness of rhino poaching and the need to conserve nature are the prime motivations of the OLLI (‘One Land, Love It’) Frontier Rhino Ride being undertaken by Wayne Bolton.

Wayne and his support crew from the Eastern Cape crossed the uThukela River at around midday on Wednesday.

After sleeping over in Mtunzini, their first wildlife stop was Thula Thula Private Game Reserve where they were greeted by Francoise Malby-Anthony, staff and reserve visitors.

After explaining the purpose of the ride, Malby-Anthony signed a pledge, before she added a 13th ring to OLLI’s horn, symboling ‘joint custody’ of our wildlife.

The group were then treated to a game drive on the reserve.

After a welcome rest, OLLI travelled to the Dukuduku Gate of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park outside St Lucia where they met with Park Manager Tony Conway and Director Park Operations, Sizo Sibiya and staff.

OLLI has visited 10 game reserves in the Eastern Cape and will visit a further 11 in KZN before reaching the Mozambique border on 1 August.

The expedition will then return to Durban and ride from the Wilderness Leadership School started by Dr Ian Player, with rugby player John Smit meeting them along the way, to the Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom on Wednesday, 2 August.

Smit will be hosting a breakfast on Thursday morning at the casino.

Conservation and adventure in his blood

Wayne is an avid outdoor fanatic and besides having his wife Nikki and children Daniel and Laura all Honorary Rangers with SAN Parks, he is also a qualified Field Guide Association of SA Level 1 Field Guide for the Kruger and Addo Parks.

His spirit of adventure is illustrated with six Dusi Canoe Marathons, the Comrades Marathon, Fish River Canoe Marathon, Argus Cycle Tour and various marathons both running and canoeing under his belt.

The OLLI 2017 ride is raising funds for a rhino orphanage called Care for Wild Africa, in Mpumalanga.

In 2015 Wayne cycled to the entrance of each South African National Park in an epic 6000km ride.

He says, ‘My family, friends and I are embarking on the OLLI Frontier Rhino Ride in July 2017 to demonstrate the need to act.

‘We hope to draw attention to the need for urgent civilian intervention and at the same time raise funds to support the largest rhino orphanage in the world, Care for Wild Africa.’