Insimbi Legacy Projects is an NPO situated in the Limpopo province. Their primary objective is to raise funds for anti-poaching rangers and rhino fodder in the winter months. The organisation made a brave move by inviting the public to join them ‘boots on the ground’ as paying volunteers to create more movement and high visibility on the property. “Our journey with rhino started in 2003 when rhino poaching was still unheard of and our rhino roamed the bushveld blissfully unaware of what the future held for them,” says Boksburg businesswoman and ambassador of Insimbi Legacy Projects, Sharon Janse van Rensburg. “In 2014 rhino poaching reached a climax and more than 1 200 rhinos were brutally killed for their horn. In the same year, our rhino became part of the statistic.
precious gentle giants.
We lost three rhinos in one night, Insimbi (meaning steel in Zulu) and Shambula, who was heavily pregnant at the time.” The organisation had to make a decision – sell the rhino or fight back. They decided on the latter. They ensured they had the best anti-poaching unit protecting rhino, invested in technology such as drones, collars, trail cameras, telemetry and Adventure with a Cause (AWAC) was introduced.
“This has proved to be a very successful programme and like-minded people have joined us, which does not only help financially (to pay the anti-poaching rangers) but also by being boots in the bush and having the extra eyes and ears on the ground.”
An AWAC weekend is normally over two nights and three days. The weekend consists of night patrols under a full moon, rhino monitoring, survival, navigation, amazing sunsets, delicious food and making new friends. Insimbi also offers packages to corporates, which can be adjusted to their needs. “Rhino conservation and fund-raising is difficult in normal times and then the COVID-19 pandemic came and hit us like a rock on the head. No rhino weekends and no income meant increased risk of poaching in unstable times that put the rhino in a different safety category,” says Sharon. “How do we protect our precious gentle giants in these difficult times?
We’re grateful to say that we had so many generous donations from wonderful humans from all over the world.” For more information email sharon@insimbilegacyprojects.co.za, visit www.insimbilegacyprojects.co.za or follow them on Facebook.
