Rhino Peak Challenge 2020

UPDATE:

Thank you for your support! Heloise raised R16,260, and the event raised R932,423 in total! That’s a new record. It’s especially impressive considering the struggles we’ve all faced in 2020. Every cent is appreciated.

The Running Man Adventures team has put on the Rhino Peak Challenge on World Rhino Day each year since 2015.* This year, TRAIL mag editor Heloise Hunter will be taking on Rhino Peak Challenge on 12 December.

Her tasks are:

1. Raise R10,000 in donations towards rhino conservation.
2. Summit Rhino Peak (3,051m) in the Southern Drakensberg.

Rhino Peak Challenge beneficiaries

The funds raised will be used for rhino, vulture, and crane conservation projects by:

• Endangered Wildlife Trust
• Wildlife Act
• Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

Not sure how much to give? Depending which you can afford:

• R56 in support of the 5,600 critically endangered black rhinos left in the wild.
• R180 for the 18,000 threatened white rhinos left in the wild.
• R305 because she will be ascending a Drakensberg summit 3,051m above sea level.

Donate your chosen amount to GivenGain or:

Drakensberg Conservation Initiative
First National Bank (FNB)
Account No 62755725771
Branch Code 221025

And use the reference Heloise/RMA to be sure that your donation contributes to her R10,000 goal.

International branch code: 250 655
Swift code: FIRNZAJJ

If you’re considering doing a larger donation, you can request a Section 18A tax certificate! 

Rhino Peak Challenge origins

According to their website, it all started five years ago.

“On World Rhino Day, the 22^nd of September 2015, a small group of South Africa’s finest trail runners were asked to ascend the iconic Rhino Peak in the Southern Region of the Maloti Drakensberg World Heritage Site. While establishing new FKT’s (Fastest Known Times) for the Rhino was a partial objective the main focus was to raise awareness, in a unique way, to the plight of Rhinos as well as the other endangered habitant of the Rhino Peak itself, the Bearded Vulture. These two very different creatures are a powerful symbol for South Africa’s threatened species and having these elite runners doing something special on the only Peak over 3000m in the world that resembles a Rhino sent an unprecedented message on behalf of the conservation community.”

Heloise doesn’t intend to set an FKT (fastest known time) but to exert herself for the good of the planet, and KZN’s precious wildlife.

*You may be thinking “World Rhino Day was on 22 September 2020!” and you’re correct! But the global pandemic caused most trail running events to be cancelled or postponed. Rhino Peak Challenge was postponed to 12 December.