The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
A 41-year-old South African woman Zelma Vermaak has given up her corporate lifestyle to join Zimbabwean professional guide — Samuel Nkomo in his epic rhino walk campaign, which has since been dubbed — The African Unity Walk For Rhino.
Together they embark on the long and agonising walk in March this year in South Africa.
The walk was organised by a wildlife conservative organisation — Southern African Fight for Rhino’s (SAFFR). Sam, who is in South Africa mapping out the route which they will use to walk the 600km epic journey, said the ball had already begun rolling.
“Everything is going very well. On Monday we are meeting her majesty the Queen of Royal Mafikeng, who is going to be our patron during my walk. Adidas has already donated 20 pairs of shoes for the walk,” said Sam.
In an interview with a South African publication Zelma said she was thrilled to be part of the campaign.
“I would love to become part of your journey. I can clearly see that you have put in some hard worked passion, sweat, tears and love for rhinos,” wrote Zelma.
Zelma (41) said this would be a chance for her to be part of something big and she has always had a passion for nature.
“I am 41 years ‘young’ now and came originally from the Kalahari, I was born and bred in Kakamas, a small little town past Upington. Since childhood I had a great passion for animals. I came to Johannesburg 23 years ago, got married had three children, one boy and two girls and got divorced 12 years ago.
“I thought as a young girl the right thing to do is what everyone else did, get married, have children and live the happily ever after life. It was an eye opener that was for a humble child from the Kalahari who did not know much about the real world, but through time I learned a lot about humans and their cruelty,” said Zelma.
She added that most of her life, she felt like a societal outcast.
“Most of my life I was an outsider, the one that did not always fit in, because I questioned so many things in life, but it taught me valuable lessons. I grew up a Christian, but there was always something out there calling upon me, which I ignored most of my life until I decided to listen to my inner voice. This walk is my way of being part of something important,” said Zelma.
Lots of people all over the world give cash and time to try and save the last of Africa’s rhino, but Zelma is literally giving her feet to the cause.
In 2013, Zelma went with a friend to Pongola in the east of South Africa to volunteer for Project Rhino. There, she lived in a camp in the bush. “Based in a camp in the bush for six weeks, with only the basics, we learnt to treasure what we have,” she said.
“The rhino we protected came into camp from time to time and then I felt proud of the choices I have made with my life.”
Her choices have involved walking for wildlife and volunteering where-ever and whenever she can. Her overwhelming enthusiasm for the walk and her support for the aims of SAFFR have been welcomed by the organisation’s leadership team.
Zelma and Sam will set off on their long walk in March this year. Their journey will take them from Kruger National Park in the east to Madikwe in the West of the country. Along the way, they will share the message that rhinos belong to the indigenous communities of Africa, and they need to have a voice and take up the challenge to direct the future of their rhino.
