The Bolton’s (including in-laws) are teaming up as an ordinary family to cycle 6000km over 80 days between all 19 national parks managed by South African National Parks (SANParks). Funds raised will go to caring for orphaned rhino calves and counter-poaching initiatives.
Recognising International Rhino Day today they are announcing the intentions for the One Land Love It Expedition 2015 (OLLI). Father Wayne Bolton will be the chief cyclist, combining guts, stamina and strength to cycle the entire distance. These are the qualities shown by all involved in the fight for our rhino and all endangered species from the classroom to the fields and parliament.
Wayne will be joined for some of the cycle legs by his children, Daniel (22) and Laura (19). Laura is representing the rhino orphans and is “very excited to be part of this journey of joint custody for my future and our heritage”. Nikki Bolton, her father and Wayne’s father will be the support crew tracking Wayne around the country, carrying spares and preparing communities for his arrival. Having his family involved highlights the importance of joint custody in a successful campaign.
Sun Boardwalk managing director, Brett Hoppe, has expressed enthusiastic support for this initiative by offering to host the Black Tie Event as the main fundraiser for One Land Love It Expedition 2015 on Thursday 29 October 2015. “Sun International’s commitment to our natural heritage is integral to our business. This initiative by an ordinary family in our community deserves this kind of support from the Sun Boardwalk, and we encourage others to get involved with us and the Bolton’s.”
The glamorous Black Tie Event will be addressed by South Africa adventurers Braam Malherbe (one of only two men ever to run the length of the Great Wall of China and a highly sought after international speaker) and Vasti Geldenhuys (who paddled the Atlantic Ocean from South Africa to the USA). These two epic athletes put into some perspective that Wayne’s cycle is “only” 6,000km. It highlights that ordinary people can achieve the extraordinary when good people stand up and do something together.
Ashley Dowds, a relative of the Bolton’s, will be the gracious host of the event. Ashley is no stranger to the corners of South Africa through the successful multi-season show “Going Nowhere Slowly” and is a committed conservationist. Claire Venn, a local song writer with a honeyed voice, will provide live music entertainment as guests enjoy the evening.
Tables of 10 for the event cost R5,000 each and can be booked through nikki@oneland.co.za. Individuals and couples are also welcome to book at R500 per person. There will also be a short, exciting auction to raise funds for the beneficiaries.
Titus Chuene of the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT), says they have already booked their tables for the Black Tie Event and committed their support to OLLI’s Expedition. “NMBT is very excited about how this expedition is being carried out and organised by residents of Nelson Mandela Bay. These expeditions that show our joint commitment to our natural heritage (which we are announcing in Heritage month). This journey starts here with the Black Tie Event. And more than this, it is ending here on the doorstep of Nelson Mandela Bay at our very own Addo Elephant National Park. There are so many things to like and support about this expedition and we are happy to be associated with it and give it our full support.”
All funds raised will be distributed to the SANParks Honorary Rangers and Care for Wild Africa, a rhino sanctuary near Nelspruit.
The SANParks Honorary Rangers are volunteers who work daily to enhance the sterling work done by full time rangers and staff in SANParks. Proceeds will go towards procuring counter poaching equipment for these men and women on the ground. SANParks Major General Johan Jooste, brought in to oversee the overall anti-poaching operations in Kruger National Park, notes just how valuable these fundraising efforts are for the organization: “As custodians of our wildlife we are so appreciative of people and organisations who choose to support established and effective initiatives such as ours. These funds help us access equipment to protect our wildlife and ensure that those that are injured by other means, natural and man-made, can be given appropriate care and rehabilitated.”
Care for Wild Africa is currently caring for 25 orphaned rhinos. Each rhino costs on average about R10 000 a month to maintain and rehabilitate. These orphans are raised with the minimum of human interaction required to be able to release them back into their natural habitats with the appropriate relationships amongst themselves.
On his expedition Wayne will interact with various communities. These opportunities will bring focus and ideas as to how local communities can work with SANParks through their current programmes such as “People in Parks” and promote tourism, nature and our beautiful land as a constructive income opportunity. For communities to support the efforts of our national parks is of paramount importance.
As a citizen of Nelson Mandela Bay, efforts for fundraising will be focused here. Wayne runs his own business in Port Elizabeth with branches in Johannesburg and Cape Town. His wife is employed in the business and his two children study at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). They will each be joining him on parts of the 80-day expedition, as will Wayne’s father and father-in-law in the support team – a “joint custody adventure” of sorts where we see a family of three generations working together as responsible citizens to make a difference.
We invite the community to contribute to Wayne’s adventure on his bicycle by donating through the official expedition website (www.oneland.co.za), or by contacting him on 082 456 8084.
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- Samro brings senior Leadership team to Cape Town for #MEX26 - 2 October 2026
- Serious Social Investing Conference 2026 Focuses on Doing More With Less - 2 October 2026
- How AI Is Helping Detect Eye Problems Earlier - 2 October 2026
- What Are the Limits to Upload and Analyse an Audio File Using AI? - 2 October 2026
- St. Petersburg Hosts Information Tour for Tourism Industry and Media Representatives - 1 October 2026
