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Story by Gary Burgess
Kingsley Holgate is
probably the greatest living African adventurer. Rather an
imposing figure, described by his son, Ross as 'Six foot four with
a huge tummy and a big beard, sometimes barefoot; a bit of an
enigma', he is known to many as 'The Old Grey Beard of African
Adventure'. Most explorers lead a solitary life away from home,
but not Kingsley. Accompanied by wife, Gill and by right-hand-man
and son, Ross, he has travelled from Cape to Cairo using only
waterways, navigated the mighty Zambezi from mouth to source,
followed the footsteps of great explorers like Livingstone,
Stanley, Speke and Selous and traveled around the world following
the Tropic of Capricorn using only Land Rovers and boats. Together
the family have faced threats both from the natural world and
war-torn Africa, but always manage to emerge having succeeded in
the aims of their expeditions.
The Holgate's expeditions have also
supported worthwhile causes. Between them the family of three have
suffered malaria 63 times so they mostly focus on distribution of
mosquito nets to pregnant mothers and young children in an effort
to reduce the effect of Africa's largest killer (malaria is still
responsible for more deaths in Africa than AIDS). This time, as
they endeavour to become the first to travel the approximately
50,000 kms circumference of the continent using only
Land Rovers and
boats, they aim to perform cataract operations, provide reading
glasses, deliver books and stationery to schools as well as
distribute one million mosquito nets.
Imagine our excitement then, when
via the Land Rover Owners Club of South Africa, we heard that the
Holgates were planning to start their next adventure in April with
a world record attempt for the longest Land Rover convoy
(previously 261, set at Towcester Racecourse in our home county of
Northamptonshire, England) and were inviting any Land Rover - and
owners - who could make it.
The gathering of hundreds of
Landies was amazing and, in spite of sporadic heavy showers which
sent even the most die-hard among us scuttling for the safety of
our vehicles, the atmosphere was brilliant. Everyone was swapping
trip stories, driving tips and advice on vehicles and equipment.
As you'll probably see from the photo below, there were
Freelanders, Discos and Rangies, but mostly Defenders and Series
Landies - a real LR festival. It soon became obvious we weren't
all going to fit in the allotted parking area (there were just
over 100 vehicles squeezed in) and the later arrivals were soon
stretching back towards the park gate.
The convoy was due to set off at
ten after the Holgates had performed their usual
start-of-expedition ceremony - filling a Zulu calabash with water
from the point of departure (just over the hill in the above
photo), to be emptied at the end of their journey. A buzz of
anticipation moved through the assembled mass as the time
approached. Amazingly, considering the number of vehicles and
logistics involved, we at the back of the convoy (damn us arriving
so early) were on the move by about twenty minutes later. Soon
after, we ground to a halt for no apparent reason. There weren't
many complaints though, as half the male contingent poured off the
road in search of a bush to nip behind! We later found a photo of
Kingsley and the convoy in a national newspaper, and realised we'd
stopped for a photo opportunity.
To ensure that all rules were
complied with, there were of course, representatives from the
Guinness Book of World Records monitoring the convoy. Two really
important requirements were that the convoy vehicles be no further
than two vehicle lengths apart, and that the convoy be monitored
over a minimum distance of 3.2 kms (we assume the GBWR require a
distance of 2 miles). Although we covered a total distance of just
over 100 kms, we had two flagged, predetermined stretches of
3.2kms in which to attempt the record. One was near the middle of
the Cape Peninsular, the other as we weaved around Chapman's Peak
Drive.
After Chapman's Peak Drive, most of
us pulled into Hout Bay so the ladies could swamp Wimpy and
deservedly 'ease springs' after crossing legs for over five hours!
The speed picked up as we no longer had to stay as close as we had
for the record attempt, and we flew (by Landy standards) through
Cape Town and up to De Grendel wine estate for the Land Rover
Jamboree and a chance to support the cause by buying DVD's,
T-shirts and other memorabilia.
A few presentations to Kingsley and
speaches of thanks to all the Holgates' sponsors, and it was time
to hear if we'd complied with the Guiness Book of Records'
criteria, and to be told the number of vehicles in the convoy.
Well, you guessed it, we did it! A total of 347 Land Rovers of
varying shapes, sizes and ages spanning about 50 years drove in
convoy for at least two miles at no more then two vehicle lengths
apart - an amazing achievement and a fitting send off for Africa's
greatest adventurer
Full story and more pictures
All photos by
Wildside Photography
Kingsley Holgate's Land
Rovers
Outside
Edge Expedition |
