HER Planet Earth to Trek 100km in South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains to Support the Black Mambas, the World’s First All-Female Anti-Poaching Unit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Singapore, May 2025 – HER Planet Earth is proud to announce its next epic expedition, set to take place in South Africa from 15 to 24 November 2025. A team of 12 women from around the world will embark on a challenging 100-kilometre trek through the rugged Drakensberg Mountains, navigating trails at altitudes of 3,000 to 4,000 metres over six days. Their mission: to raise USD 50,000 in support of The Black Mambas — the world’s first all-female anti-poaching ranger unit — and their vital efforts to protect endangered wildlife and preserve South Africa’s biodiversity. This fundraising initiative will be conducted via the charity Helping Rhinos, which supports the long-term survival of rhinos and other threatened species through community-led conservation solutions.
Who Are The Black Mambas?
Founded in 2013 in South Africa's Balule Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park, The Black Mambas are the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit. Born from a bold vision to empower women from underserved communities and redefine conservation, the unit was established by Transfrontier Africa in response to the alarming surge in rhino poaching.
Composed of women—many of whom had never previously set foot in the bush—the Black Mambas patrol unarmed, using their presence, visibility, and deep ties within their communities to deter poachers. Their responsibilities include daily foot patrols, fence-line inspections, early detection of illegal activity, community education, and the dismantling of snares and traps. Their success goes beyond wildlife protection; they are shifting perceptions, breaking gender norms, and proving that conservation is as much about people as it is about animals.
Empowering Women Through Adventure
This expedition has been years in the making — a vision that originated before the pandemic. HER Planet Earth had long hoped to collaborate with the Black Mambas, whose courage, innovation, and grassroots impact have inspired a global movement. After extensive research, the team partnered with Helping Rhinos, a leading conservation charity that supports the Black Mambas and other strategic anti-poaching and rhino protection programmes across Africa.
Helping Rhinos champions community-led, innovative approaches to wildlife conservation, focusing on education, habitat protection, and the support of frontline rangers. Through this partnership, the 2025 South Africa Expedition not only empowers women adventurers but also bolsters the defence of one of the world’s most iconic and endangered species—while spotlighting the transformative power of women in conservation leadership.
“This expedition is about more than setting a tough challenge,” says Christine Amour-Levar, founder and CEO of HER Planet Earth. “It’s about elevating women—on the trail, in rural communities, and across conservation landscapes. The Black Mambas are living proof that when women are empowered, entire ecosystems thrive. Their courage, commitment, and resilience are redefining what leadership looks like in the fight to protect our planet.”
The Team’s Journey
This will mark the 15th expedition organised by HER Planet Earth, and it promises to be one of the organisation’s most demanding treks yet—not just due to the altitude, but also because of limited access to support and infrastructure. The team will traverse isolated, high-altitude terrain across the Drakensberg and Lesotho Highlands, far from roads and medical assistance.
Carrying essentials and relying on one another and their local guides, participants will navigate steep climbs, exposed ridgelines, and unpredictable mountain weather, including freezing temperatures and potential snowstorms. From the dramatic Chain Ladders ascent to the surreal beauty of Tugela Falls and the Organ Pipes Pass, this expedition is a test of endurance, resilience, and shared purpose.
After the trek, the team will travel to Kruger National Park to spend a day with the Black Mambas, joining them on a snare sweep patrol and participating in a behind-the-scenes conservation briefing. The journey will conclude with a final game drive, bringing together advocacy, adventure, and allyship in a powerful finale.
The international team includes entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, educators, and activists from Asia, Europe, and the Americas—all united by a shared commitment to environmental justice and gender equality.
The Cause
This expedition supports Helping Rhinos, a non-profit dedicated to protecting rhino populations and their habitats. HER Planet Earth’s fundraising will directly support The Black Mambas, whose work has contributed to a 63% reduction in poaching incidents within their area of operation.
In addition to frontline patrols, the Black Mambas engage communities through the Bush Babies Environmental Education Programme, inspiring thousands of children to care for and protect their natural heritage. By sharing their story with a global audience, HER Planet Earth aims to elevate gender-inclusive conservation models and underscore the deep interconnection between wildlife protection, community empowerment, and climate resilience.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About HER Planet Earth
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Singapore, HER Planet Earth is a non-profit organisation that empowers women to tackle climate change and environmental degradation. Through bold, self-funded expeditions to some of the world’s most remote and threatened regions, the organisation raises awareness for sustainability while directing funds to projects that build climate resilience for women on the frontlines.
HER Planet Earth supports a diverse range of climate resilience initiatives across the globe. These include coral reef restoration and sustainable farming in the Philippines, reforestation efforts, human-elephant conflict management and youth-led climate action training for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, agricultural programmes in Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal and Laos, baby elephant sanctuaries in Kenya, and initiatives that enhance the livelihoods of women herders in Mongolia, to name a few. Each programme is designed to strengthen the resilience of women whose lives and communities are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change—ensuring they have the resources, skills, and opportunities to adapt, thrive, and lead within their ecosystems.
Bringing together a global network of adventurers, scientists, feminists, and changemakers, HER Planet Earth operates at the vital intersection of gender equality and environmental protection—mobilising resources, amplifying women’s leadership, and creating pathways to a more resilient, inclusive future.
About Helping Rhinos
Helping Rhinos is a leading conservation charity focused on protecting rhino populations and their ecosystems through community-driven, innovative solutions. Since 2012, they have been the largest supporter of the Black Mambas, helping provide resources ranging from communications equipment to operational support. Their holistic approach includes the creation of Rhino Strongholds, which focus on three Conservation Pillars: PROTECT the Wildlife, PRESERVE their Habitat and PROVIDE for people. A key element of providing for people is the education of the next generation, and the Bush Babies Outreach Programme, run by the Black Mambas, which engages local youth in conservation and fosters long-term stewardship of South Africa’s precious wildlife.
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🌍 Support the Mission & Follow the Journey
Donations can be made via the team’s JustGiving Page to help HER Planet Earth reach its USD 50,000 goal in support of the Black Mambas.
To follow the expedition in real-time and stay updated on conservation efforts and stories from the field, connect with HER Planet Earth on social media:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herplanetearth
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💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/herplanetearth
Join us in celebrating women on the frontlines of conservation.
