DURBAN North resident Michaela Geytenbeek has always been passionate about nature as well as giving back to communities and children in need.

This was one of her motivations to embark on a physically gruelling, ambitious and adventurous fundraising initiative by completing all the marked Drakensberg passes along the way and summiting the six iconic peaks that form part of the Drakensberg Grand Traverse (DGT) under the banner ‘Walking Home’.

What that entails is completing 107 passes, hiking 588km, and conquering 60 173 meters of elevation gain, equivalent to climbing seven Mount Everests, all within 40 days (weather permitting).

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She will be joined by Pretoria resident, Arno Pouwels, and a community of trail walkers who will be providing back-up and much-needed support for the duo.

While sharing the mountain’s story they will be raising funds for a project called, Community Embedded Environmental Education, which aims to empower underserved Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers to incorporate environmental education and nature in the daily practice of their ECD Centres.

“It is getting closer now but we plan to start our hike on March 20. I’ve always been obsessed with the Drakensberg passes since I was a little child. I think they are the most beautiful escarpment and I’ve also been fascinated about doing all the passes. Then I had this wild thought thinking ‘what if we do all the passes in one go?’.

“I mulled over it for a few years and then last year in April I drew up a map of all the passes and linked them. And the idea to give back to ECD Centres who I work with made this a must-do fundraiser. I met Arno on a hike last year and all of the dots connected which has led to this,” she said.

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Geytenbeek has been using Virginia Bush Nature Reserve to train for the fundraiser and explained her work with the Kinship Programme, an after-school initiative that facilitates immersive learning in nature for children, will help with the fundraising project.

Geytenbeek and Pouwels are hoping to raise R400 000 and recently surpassed the R40 000 mark.

If you would like to donate or help the project, visit www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/walking-home or follow the Instagram page for expedition updates under the handle @walkinghomesa

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