This week revolves around running; from cheetahs, the finest sprinters, to elephants that can cover vast distances at a leisurely pace, everything is mobile and must be. Spend time in the bush, and within minutes, something will dash past.
Dik Dik dart away into the bushes surrounding the camp at Mara Plains, and a leopard observes where it has gone. Lion cubs run and leap up in play, while lechwe stampede across the water at Duba Plains, splashing through the iconic Okavango Delta. It is difficult not to be impressed and swept up in the energy, wanting to run as well.
Everything is running for something; some want to stay alive, while others want to take advantage of their speed to capture their prey.
Recently, our Biodiversity Rangers completed the Ranger Challenge half-marathon; several of them are women we recruited from villages where running is largely avoided. These female rangers embraced the challenge and have entered other running events. Each year, we support the Maasai Olympics in Kenya, where the contestants train and run for a year to compete
One of the delights of visiting ol Donyo Lodge is going horse riding beside giraffes as they lope along almost playfully.
This coming weekend, Tracy Bamber, our Great Plains Chief Commercial Officer, will take part once again in the Comrades 90km Ultra Marathon for the 17th time. Her sweat and tears (but hopefully no blood) are donated to the cause as she raises money for the Great Plains Foundation. Since she joined us, agents, operators, and friends from around the world have supported her with donations to the Foundation, totalling just under $50,000.
Running for life, to provide meals for children in the Great Plains School Food Program in Kenya, where we have now served over 6.2 million lunches in three years. Running for life in a different way.
In the spirit of the internationally recognised day, we should all take a run, long or short. If it is in the bush, be sure to look over your shoulder from time to time!
