Eco walk: footsteps to Good Hope

Footsteps to Good Hope is a nature conservation project aiming to create awareness about man’s responsibility to cherish and preserve nature.

Currently a grade 12 learner at Bellville High School, Jacobus van der Linden (18) plans to spend his summer holidays hiking along the West Coast of South Africa - from Alexander Bay right through to Cape Point.

He wants to complete the 977.5km hike in 40 days, starting on 8 December 2017.

With this eco walk, Jacobus wants to make all of his fellow South African citizens aware of the fact that every single one of us, no matter how small, has the responsibility to care for nature’s well-being and to maintain it.

He wants to motivate people, especially the youth, to cherish his or her natural surroundings and to look after our resources responsibly. Where possible he will encourage the youth to do beach clean-ups.

During the hike Jacobus will be involved in two citizen science projects:

• Counting the nests and sightings of the Black Oystercatcher, the 2018 SA Bird of the Year. This data will be passed on to Animal Demographic Unit (ADU) and Birdlife South Africa.
• Monitoring of plastic pollution along the West Coast. The data collected will be shared with A Rocha International, who are studying the impact of plastic pollution on marine wildlife.

A Rocha South Africa is supporting the project and would like to appeal for your support.

The following items will be needed for the hike:

• clothes
• trekking poles
• backpack
• tent
• hiking boots
• sunglasses
• fuel
• medical supplies
• food

Please deposit funds in the A Rocha SA account: A Rocha South Africa, Nedbank, acc 1340 528916, code: 134 025 (Hayfields)

It does not help to only enjoy nature’s gifts, we ought to preserve and protect it as well.

• Please follow Jacobus and his team on Facebook.

Related info:

• Cape of Good Hope Hiking