Two men and a trailer
How a chance conversation over a garden wall became a bike safari inside Addo Elephant National Park, and over R1 million for conservation.
During Covid, Clive Gibson of the SANParks Honorary Rangers, Addo Region, was racking his brain for ways to raise money for conservation in the national parks while tourism was on hold.
One evening he spotted a vehicle loaded with tents, showers, motorbikes and bean bags parked beside his lawn. He went over to ask what it was for, and met Mike Glover, owner of Red Cherry Events. Mike was on his way to the Transkei to build a tented camp for an event called Transkei Trek.
Clive jumped at the idea of doing the same inside Addo Elephant National Park, and the two started making plans. Clive took the idea to Nick de Goede, then Park Manager of Addo and a cyclist himself, who knew the area well. They went looking for places that were unique, unexplored and exclusive.
Nick and Clive picked out Nyati, Darlington and Kuzuko as venues for a tented camp. Red Cherry Events inspected them, and the Honorary Rangers cleared the sites to make room for a glamping village.
In the first three years, with Red Cherry Events and SANParks, they hosted 5 guided tours inside the park and raised just over R100 000 for the SANParks Honorary Rangers, Addo Region. That was only the start.
Over R1 million raised
raised for the SANParks Honorary Rangers in more than five years of riding through Addo.
Five years on the road
What began as a lockdown fundraiser is now a fixture on the Eastern Cape calendar, and a steady source of money for the people who look after Addo.
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The idea
Two men and a trailer
During Covid lockdown, a chance meeting over a garden wall between Clive Gibson of the Honorary Rangers and Mike Glover of Red Cherry Events.
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The sites
Nyati, Darlington and Kuzuko
Park Manager Nick de Goede helps choose venues the public never sees. The Honorary Rangers clear the ground for a glamping village.
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2021
The first riders roll out
The first guided tours ride inside Addo Elephant National Park, escorted by armed rangers.
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First 3 years
R100 000 raised
Five guided tours raise just over R100 000 for the SANParks Honorary Rangers, Addo Region.
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2023–2026
Darlington and Nyati
Best of Darlington Dam and Best of Nyati become fixtures, with riders coming back year after year.
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Today
Over R1 million raised
More than five years on, Tour de Addo riders have raised over R1 million for conservation in Addo.
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2027
Three trips, one mission
Two Darlington Dam trips in April and Best of Nyati in August. Every entry keeps the work going.
Why it works
Tour de Addo only happens because three groups pull in the same direction.
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The Honorary Rangers
The SANParks volunteer organisation, a registered non-profit of close to 2 000 unpaid members. They help clear and prepare the camp sites, ride with the group, and put every rand raised to work in the park.
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SANParks and Addo Elephant National Park
The park opens roads and areas the public never sees, and its armed rangers keep riders safe among the Big 5, on the bike and in camp.
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Red Cherry Events
Mike Glover’s team builds the glamping village, runs the convoy, feeds everyone and handles every booking, so riders only have to turn up and ride.
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Our riders
Many come back year after year, bring their friends, and choose Tour de Addo because their entry does some good. Every one of them is part of the R1 million.
Every rider is on the mission
Your entry isn’t just a ticket. A portion of every rider’s entry, together with a donation from our title sponsor M&G Investments, goes to the SANParks Honorary Rangers, and that money goes straight back into Addo Elephant National Park.
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Game fences
Putting up and repairing the fencing that keeps Addo’s wildlife protected.
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Rangers in the field
Helping keep rangers employed, equipped and out on patrol.
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Park infrastructure
Building the facilities and equipment the park needs to keep running.
R1 million+ raised for the Honorary Rangers in more than five years of riding. 2027 is the next leg.