Biking for a Better tomorrow (Children in the Wilderness)
Over the years Children in the Wilderness have been able to share and appreciate a beautiful part of the world, forming wonderful relationships with guests, sponsors and partners, resulting in a unique and memorable adventure. They ran the first CITW program in 2001 and the potential was realised, and a plan/strategy put together to raise funds to support the program rather than being reliant solely on donations. The first fundraising event was a road ride from Johannesburg to Durban in 2005.
Since Wilderness Safaris and CITW operate in remote wilderness areas, the plan was to find an area to host fundraising mountain bike events. Riding through Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, riding the tour and mountain biking for a purpose. The events in the GLTFCA also followed a different layout. Riders kept to the main tracks and were divided into groups where each group had their own support vehicle. This vehicle would stay with their group the entire day; feed them, water them and give them a lift if need be.
Each year riders are privileged to take part in one of the most unique mountain bike events in the world, one that takes them along ancient game paths in remote, beautiful wilderness areas. They can breathe the fresh air of the wild and enjoy time on their mountain bike, building lifelong friendships with people from all around the globe – and contributing to a worthy cause.
In 2008 the event moved to the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA) where they started in Botswana, and then rode into South Africa.
In 2009, they included Zimbabwe so that all three countries forming part of the GMTFCA were included in the route. Since 2009, the tour has remained in the GMTFCA area, however each year, new camps and routes were chosen to ensure the route was exciting
It is the children of the children in the wilderness program who are the reason we ride this event annually, and the smiling faces of the kids who participate in the camp program or the school Eco-clubs, the serious students benefiting from the scholarship and the young “Guides in training” feverishly identifying a bird in their books.
Thanks to Wilderness Safaris, Children in the Wilderness and all the volunteers who dedicate their time, passion and energy in to making this an experience of a lifetime.
A rendering of their experience by Tarwyn Courtenay – SATIB Insurance Brokers Brokers
