Britain’s Princes William and Harry are set to embark on a gruelling off-road 8-day motorcycle rally in South Africa next month as participants in the 2008 Enduro Africa charity event.
Enduro Africa is a unique and challenging motorbike adventure in aid of local charities in Southern Africa. It is set up to raise money to donate motorbikes every year to help transport casualties and medicines as well as to provide health care in rural villages.
Money raised from the adventure will be divided equally between UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Sentebale, a charity established by Prince Harry to help disadvantaged children in Lesotho. Organisers hope to raise at least £300 000 (R4.6 million) for South Africa and Lesotho.
The princes, both accomplished riders and motorbike owners, will join a group of about 80 people on a journey that will take them through some of South Africa’s most rugged and isolated terrain in the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast.
The journey is set to begin and end in Port Elizabeth, passing through towns such as Alicedale, Queenstown, Coffee Bay, along Mazeppa Bay, Hogsback and Port Alfred.
The royal brothers will join groups of eight to 10 riders travelling together during the day with all 80 volunteers camping together at night.
A spokesman for Global Enduro, an adventure company which runs the Enduro Africa event, said since both princes were in the army, they would “have the grit to get through because it’s not easy.”
“There are no road signs and it’s not like riding anywhere in the UK so they will need a guide. They will go through game reserves, tribal areas and wild areas,” he said.
A Clarence House spokesman said “The Princes are looking forward to the motorcycle ride that will raise money and the profile of Sentebale, a charity very close to their hearts, and two other major charities in southern Africa.”
