This year, Mandela Day fell the day before the start of the first Nedbank Tour de Tuli in three years.
In the spirit of creating a better tomorrow for our future leaders, the Nedbank Tour de Tuli celebrated Madiba’s vision to connect Africa through the spirit of Ubuntu as a precursor to the event. Mapungubwe is the start and end point of this year’s Nedbank Tour de Tuli – and now, thanks to the generosity of sponsors, it can be the start of an educational journey, too.
Day 1 of the Tour de Tuli officially kicked off from Mapungubwe and cyclists headed off crossing over rivers from South Africa into Zimbabwe. As part of the route, cyclists will ride through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, appreciating and engaging with communities, wildlife and pure untouched nature. Arguably the greatest Mountain Bike Adventure in the world, cyclists this year access locations, as part of the official route, in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA) that are usually off-limits.
Mindful of this, the Nedbank Tour de Tuli focuses on following strict environmental practices, working with communities and traversing unforgettable routes, allowing participants to experience amazing bush surroundings with like-minded individuals.
Driven by a mutual passion for a better world, the Tour arranged an intimate evening get-together where attendees had the opportunity to donate a book that has the most impact on our collective thinking, to start a library in the Mapungubwe area for the Mapungubwe community. In this way, young learners from underprivileged communities can access stimulating educational resources on their doorsteps.
The Tour also serves a much greater purpose. Cyclists from around the world join to take part in this remarkable event that sees a mix of seasoned riders and first-time participants all supporting the Tour’s efforts to fundraise for future conservation leaders and children across Africa. This is because the Nedbank Tour de Tuli is the primary fundraising event for Children in the Wilderness, the non-profit organisation founded and supported by Wilderness Safaris.
