Transfrontier Africa - Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2024

Transfrontier Africa is taking on the Wildlife Ranger Challenge to raise awareness of the vital role our 35 rangers play in protecting South Africa's Olifants West Nature Reserve, and supporting an estimated 154 livelihoods.

Olifants West Nature Reserve

Amount Raised:

$5,051

84%

Completed

Target: $6,000

19 Donations

Our Story

Rangers are Africa’s unsung heroes. They hold diverse roles as conservationists, teachers, community support workers, leaders and much more.

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge, organised by Tusk, is a celebration of solidarity, connection and camaraderie for the ranger profession. Culminating on 21st September 2024, the campaign raises vital funds for Africa's biodiversity guardians.

Transfrontier Africa- Olifants West Nature Reserve started The Black Mambas All Women Anti-Poaching Unit in 2013 and this year we are celebrating 10 years of operation in our protected areas as a fully formed, officially recognized and registered unit.

The Black Mambas rangers tackle Illegal Wildlife Trade and Poaching holistically: non-violent approach and education of communities. The rangers conduct patrols, remove snares from the bush to prevent bushmeat poaching, do observation posts, inspect contractors buildings, do roadblocks to prevent IWT, and work at the rural schools and our own resource centre in Maseke as educators and mentors for the local children and Bush Grannies.

The WRC grants we have received helped us in paying our rangers and community officers salaries, inspired us to train some of our rangers as Ranger Fitness Instructors and helped our rangers see themselves as part of the Global Ranger Community.

Give today and the Scheinberg Relief Fund will match every dollar donated, amplifying your impact.

Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2024 - last chance to donate!

Sep 30, 2024, 10:14:25 AM

#WildlifeRangerChallenge 2024 It has been a tough one. This year has been way to busy. Some of our teams did not have enough time to train due to work commitments, yet they ran the race brilliantly, and gave it all they could in the given circumstances. We are not in the top 3 this year, and It only means there are so many strong, committed, amazing teams out there who did their best too. We are happy to share your excitement of being the winners. You deserve it, rangers! Thank you everybody for your support, we are hoping to see you by our side in 2025. If you have an opportunity to donate to assist our work on the ground in Olifants West Nature Reserve, you can do it here 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝟏𝟐.𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐒𝐀𝐒𝐓. Warm thank you to everybody who has donated to support us! 📷 Southern African Wildlife College

Wildlife Ranger Challenge 2024 - last chance to donate!

Team 3 and its Captain Stoffies

Sep 30, 2024, 9:40:23 AM

It has been a tough one. New team members who never ran the challenge, did not have a enough time to train due to work commitments, yet they did it brilliantly. We have not come 1st, or 2nd, and even 3d. What does it mean? It means there are so many strong, committed, amazing teams out there who did their best and we are happy to share your excitement of being the winners. You deserve it, rangers! Thank you everybody for your support, we are hoping to see you by our side in 2025.

Team 3

Sep 25, 2024, 4:50:31 PM

We did it! Team 3 completed the race in 3 hrs 24 min!

Team 2 OW

Sep 25, 2024, 4:49:56 PM

We did it! Team 2 completed the race in 3 hrs 28 min!

Team 1 SAWC

Sep 25, 2024, 4:49:17 PM

We did it!!! Team 1 completed the race in 4 hrs 19 min!

Team 1 is running the regional challenge at Southern African Wildlife College!

Sep 18, 2024, 5:01:39 PM

Team 1 have been invited to run at Southern African Wildlife College!! Who are these lucky Mambas? Sergeant Naledi Malungane and the Captain of the team, is a graduate of SAWC's Braveheart Ranger Leadership Course. She graduated in 2022 and was awarded as the best practical learner among the students in her class. Also, she was the ONLY woman in her class back then! We are proud of you, Naledi. 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐄 to secure our anti-poaching work in 2025! Thank you Southern African Wildlife College for the invitation and for organizing the regional event within the challenge. P.S. By the way, the name Naledi in Shangaan means "Star"⭐️ Photo: Lewyn Maefala/Transfrontier Africa

Team 1 is running the regional challenge at Southern African Wildlife College!

Training, training...sit ups!!

Sep 17, 2024, 11:43:08 AM

OK, it is a week to go now until the Big Day. On the 21st of September we are heading off to do 12 km ruck run together with other African rangers across the continent. Why we are doing it? To raise profile of the ranger profession, raise necessary funds to secure our work in 2025 and build a good network of rangers. For now, we have done our sit-up mini challenge, did 187 butterfly sit ups in total. We might not be the first among all African rangers, but we are consistent in our presence every year to support women rangers and all rangers out there. If you have an opportunity to help us, please donate and we can assure you every cent goes to our work in the field and also to cover our salaries in 2025. DONATE HERE: Tusk can confirm and all the audited financials can be found on Transfrontier Africa website. Thank you!

Looking and finding snares.

Sep 9, 2024, 7:41:29 AM

Amidst preparations for the Challenge, we keep on doing what we are here to do - patrolling, monitoring, safeguarding and protecting. Found a few snares recently. Hot spots emerge all of a sudden and we need to keep an eye on what is going on there. Once one area is clear, we keep on monitoring it to make sure it stays snare-free, and at the same time, look out for the new spots that might appear on the landscape. The WRC is the one of the major fundraising events of the year, and it is thanks to this challenge and its organizers and sponsors, we managed to carry on our duties right through the pandemic and hoping to carry on in 2025 as well. Thank you for your support! Your contribution matters a lot. We wish you really knew how much.

Carry on, Sergeant!

Aug 12, 2024, 3:51:39 PM

Obstacle course is part of our fitness training for the WRC-2024. Its tough. Especially if you have to do it a few rounds. Sergeant Naledi is a tough cookie. Who would doubt. Support our initiative by donating to The Black Mambas All Women APU:)

Linda Crawford's fundraiser

Aug 2, 2024, 10:16:42 AM

Help Linda Crawford to raise funds for The Black Mambas during The #WildlifeRangerChallenge 2024!! Lindas goal is to walk a total of 160km(100miles) before the end of 2024. 1. Patrol on foot in a big five area with the Black mambas on 2 separate days 10km(6.25m) per day by the end of June 2. 5 days hiking in the Scottish Highlands at Inchnadamph ( meadow of the stags)11-16km(7-10m) per day in hilly terrain 24th -31st August 3. 21st Sept walk 21km (13m)in support of those taking part in the World Ranger Challenge 4. Finally to carry out a number of day hikes in the UK bringing it to a grand total of 160km/100miles) 5. You can pledge your money to support Linda Crawford to raise money

Activity: Hike Distance: 10 km

Wildlife Ranger Quiz!

Aug 2, 2024, 10:14:38 AM

Preparations for the #WildlifeRangerChallenge 2024 continue! We have taken part in the Wildlife Quiz mini-challenge and came 4th out of 60 teams across African continent! Congratulations to all the Mambas teams!