AWARD-WINNING professional guide, Samuel Nkomo, has urged the public to join him in the 500km Rhino Awareness Campaign Walk from the Matopos National Park to Victoria Falls. NONHLANHLA SIBANDA OWN CORRESPONDENT
Nkomo is set to start the gruelling walk on Sunday and is expected to arrive in the resort town on October 18.
Although Nkomo’s journey will begin on Sunday, he is set to spend six days walking around Bulawayo raising awareness until September 20 when he will join conservationists for the World Rhino Day celebrations at Petra Primary School.
Soon after the official commemorations, Nkomo would embark on the walk to Victoria Falls.
Nkomo said the public should join him even if they drop out at certain distances as the event is for a worthy cause.
“The basic reason for undertaking this walk is to enhance and increase wildlife conservation awareness in the country and to international communities.
“Anyone who wants to walk with me is welcome to do so. However, you will have to be totally self-sufficient during the walk. “There will be no food, accommodation or transportation provided for you. Please bring a hat, sunscreen, water and anything that you might need for the walk,” Nkomo said at the final briefing attended by sponsors and conservationists at the Bulawayo Club.
“While growing up, my grandfather always told me that none of us inherited wildlife from our grandparents, but it is loaned to us by our children.
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“It is from this background that I wish future generations would also be able to see animals in the wild and not in books like dinosaurs,” he said.
“I dream of taking the walk to China one day to make China aware that trading in rhino products is detrimental to the survival of the species in Zimbabwe.”
The walk will start from Cecil John Rhodes’ grave at the Matopos National Park and Nkomo is expected to be joined by families and children.
He will walk along the high-way to the Victoria Falls with scheduled recesses to enable him to engage villagers on issues of conservation.
Nkomo will pass through the Hwange National Park and the Painted Dog Conservation Centre along his route.
