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Well-known traveller and Land Rover ambassador, Kingsley Holgate, and his team are back home in South Africa under lockdown. Still, they are readying for their next adventure through Africa to help and assist communities in need.
Their mission for the past 16 years has been to battle malaria across the African continent, delivering insecticide-treated mosquito nets to some of the most affected regions. Though their focus is mainly on pregnant women and children under the age of five-years-old, they still make it their mission to aid anyone they come into contact with.
To date, more than 420 000 nets have been distributed, and over 450 000 homes have been sprayed.
Today, April 25, is World Malaria Day, and Land Rover, together with the Kingsley Holgate Foundation, wants to stress the importance of it.
Ross Holgate handing over insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Image: MotorPress
The Covid-19 issue
While the team is eager to get going on their next adventure, they realise the importance of staying indoors during the lockdown period.
Ross Holgate, Kingsley's son, and expedition leader said: "The devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on a global level cannot be underestimated, but we must also keep up the fight against malaria in Africa. We will share the resources and logistical support of our malaria prevention programme to raise further awareness and education in the battle against Covid-19 in Africa in the months ahead."
READ: Here's how the motor industry is aiding the combat against Covid-19
"Fighting malaria has been a passion of the Kingsley Holgate foundation since 2004, borne out of our personal experiences of what it is like to contract malaria and its deadly impact. We consider ourselves an ordinary bunch of adventurous Land Rover enthusiasts, but with extraordinary empathy for Mama Afrika and her people."
Ross Holgate with an African tribe. Image: MotorPress
Discovery of choice
Holgate and his team have been working with Land Rover for almost two decades, and their modes of transport have been one of the world's toughest 4x4s: the Land Rover Discovery. Land Rover gave a few of its 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel models to Kingsley and his team. Power in these SUVs are rated at 190kW and 600Nm, while an eight-speed automatic gearbox sends power to all four wheels.
The advanced off-road system is also one of the main reasons Kingsley prefers this over any other 4x4 on the market. That and the fact that his family owned Land Rovers for as long as he can remember.
In total, more than 1.5-million kilometres have been covered over the last 16 years in their humanitarian quests. As of right now, Land Rover and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation are planning their next African expedition, with more news communicated in due course.
Kingsley Holgate with an African tribe. Image: MotorPress
Compiled by: Charlen Raymond
