Nicho will be climbing Everest dressed as a rhino

Since childhood, Nicho du Preez (19) has not been afraid of anything.

His family says that he always accepted any challenge.

This year yet another adventure awaits the young adrenaline hunter.

“It did not take much convincing to get me to sign up.

“I am always ready for any adventure anywhere anytime,” Nicho explained.

He will join Nomadic Adventures in support of the Lawrence Anthony, Earth Organization.

Nicho studies Zoology at the University of Pretoria.

His love for animals and the environment is the drive behind his support for rhinos.

“I love working in the veld and I want to make a difference by applying what I have learned.

“Awareness for rhino conservation could be seen everywhere and it almost started to go a little bit better.

“It seemed as if less rhinos were being poached, but it is still a big problem and even getting worse,” Nicho said.

He heard about the Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization at his university residence, Olienhout.

Every year one or two students from Olienhout residence join the fight against rhino pouching.

This year Nicho will be the only student leaving for Mount Everest.

All funds raised will be donated to Fundimvelo Thula Thula, Rhino Orphanage.

Nicho will hike up part of Mount Everest from 2 to 16 April.

“We will land in Lukla.

“The flight into Lukla is a lifetime experience in itself.

“The airfield is one of the most dangerous airports in the world,” Nicho said.

Lukla Airfield is on a slope and the difference between the two ends of the runway is about 60 meters.

After lunch they will begin the trek for a few hours along the Dudh Kosi River to the village of Phakding which is 2 610m above sea level.

The highest above sea level they will be, is at Khongma-La which is 5 535m above sea level.

They will trek from Lobuche to Chhukung via Khongma.

Temperatures drop to -15 degrees Celcius during April on the mountain.

“Even being at the base camp is dangerous which is 5 380m above sea level.

“Many avalanches has hit base camps before and people died.

“We can not climb too far and too high in one day, because of the danger of altitude sickness.

“On levels that are high above sea level, it feels as if you are breathing through a straw.

“I also had to buy a lot of specialized gear for the extreme weather conditions,” Nicho explained.

Because Nicho is doing the hike in support of the Lawrence Anthony, Earth Organization, he will be hiking in a branded full-bodied rhino costume.

This diverse group hopes to stand at the base of the world’s highest mountain, making a statement against rhino poaching.

“I would like to motivate others to also join in the adventure and the fight against rhino poaching.

“It is an experience of a life time and it is for a good cause,” Nicho said.

Even though he has a sponsor, he had to sell his motorcycle to have enough money to go on his Mount Everest adventure.

Nicho is taking a small wooden carved rhino with him that he will take a photo of on the highest point to where he will be trekking.

He will name the rhino after their mountain guide, Nirkumar Rai, who will be celebrating his birthday while they are on the mountain.

There will be 10 people in the group and all of them will be hiking to raise money for Rhino conservationists.

Nicho would like to thank everyone that made it possible for him to climb, especially his sponsor, C track Zambia.

Anyone who would like to join in the next Mount Everest venture against rhino poaching, can contact Nicho at 079 928 5375.