As part of The Mammoth Ride, a fundraising initiative for Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (HERD) Trust, motorcycle enthusiast, Kyle Malyon, of Johannesburg, will travel approximately 7 000 km through all nine provinces. He will make an overnight stop in Jeffreys Bay on March 26, where he hopes to interact with locals to share his story.
With a large tattoo of four elephants on his right arm, Malyon has always liked elephants, but it was only after reading An Elephant in my Kitchen, by South African authors and conservationists Françoise Malby-Anthony and Katja Willemsen, that he decided to look for a charity that works with elephants to contribute to their good work.
After doing some research, he learnt about the HERD Trust and liked what they were doing for elephants.
According to the trust’s website, it was established at Kapama Private Game Reserve in Limpopo in 2021, as an elephant orphanage.
At the elephant orphanage, young, orphaned calves are rehabilitated and welcomed into the herd on site, where they are accepted unconditionally.
Since HERD Trust is dependent on public funding to cover their operational costs to care for and support elephant orphans and the rescued herd, Malyon began thinking of a way to raise funds and eventually decided on a 7 000 km ride across all nine provinces from March 17 to April 6, which he dubbed The Mammoth Ride.
Through the initiative he hopes to raise between R30 000 and R50 000 for the HERD Trust.
Malyon said that during his 21-day solo ride he will travel using the tar roads closest to the land and sea border.
“To make this a little more difficult, I will also include the two central provinces, and cover all nine during this trip,” he said.
“What started out as a crazy idea, to circumnavigate the entire country solo on a motorcycle is about to become a reality.”
Despite the enthusiasm ahead of his journey, Malyon said that when he first began thinking about embarking on The Mammoth Ride, he had no idea what the process would entail.
“I had no idea how much hard work and fun would go into everything that would need to be done in order to raise the funds to complete this epic challenge, and more importantly to raise funds and awareness for HERD Trust and the elephants they look after,” said Malyon.
He said that thankfully he had received a great amount of support at various fundraising events hosted ahead of The Mammoth Ride.
In addition, Malyon said he received sponsorships from businesses and individuals who donated towards the fundraising event, and offered prizes among other items.
He said that without their generosity he would not have been able to embark on The Mammoth Ride.
Malyon further said he wanted to thank Lauren Lewis from The Imaginarium Emporium for her assistance with all the graphic design work.
With sufficient funding for his trip, he will depart on March 17 from Johannesburg, with his first stopover in Lephalale, Limpopo.
Each day thereafter Malyon will continue his journey through various towns and cities throughout South Africa, before heading back to Johannesburg on April 6.
As part of his trip, he will visit Jeffreys Bay on March 26, where he hopes to interact with people from the area to share his fundraising initiative.
“While I am in Jeffreys Bay I would love to interact with the locals,” said Malyon.
To follow his journey, visit @themammothride and @fiery_octopus on Instagram.
To contribute towards Malyon’s fundraising efforts, visit The Mammoth Ride page on Quicket.
“The Mammoth Ride will be done with the aim of raising funds and awareness for HERD Trust, and the elephants they look after, so any and all donations to assist would be greatly appreciated,” said Malyon.
