...und vielleicht noch das Desert Lion Project?

http://www.buschtaxi.org/167.0.html?&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=957&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=f9e940c35d

How did it come about that the Land Cruiser Club of Southern Africa sponsored the vehicle?

In November 2007 one of the LCCSA members, Martin Cleminshaw, posted a link to the Desert Lion website on their discussion forum. But the idea of supporting the Desert Lion Project was born after a group of LCCSA members (David van Breda, Carel Oberholzer, LJ du Toit, Hennie Kotze, and Riaan Vlok, to mention a few) met me in the Hoanib River during December 2007. They posted photographs on the LCCSA forum and mentioned that my current vehicle is in desperate need of replacement.

It was the most fortuitous of encounters. I noticed the party of vehicles driving towards me and actually tried to hide from them, because I had bloody carcass (lion bait) hanging from the side of the Hilux. But they had already spotted me. We had a brief interaction that eventually led to the funding of the Land Cruiser.

On 11 January 2008 Adolf Huester contacted me by email and explained that LCCSA would like to sponsor a new vehicle for the Desert Lion Project. A month later Chris Weaver, from WWF-Life, approached me with an offer of US$ 35,000 towards a new field vehicle. Since I have already made a commitment to the funding offer from LCCSA, I informed Adolf of the offer from WWF-Life. LCCSA and WWF-Life agreed to pool their funds towards a good vehicle with all the necessary accessories and equipment. Desert Lion Conservation then entered into a grant agreement with WWF-Life, with match funding from LCCSA.

On 16 February 2008 Adolf started an active fundraising campaign on behalf of the LCCSA. The response from the Club?s members was nothing short of remarkable. In an email to me Adolf wrote: ?The following vibe that went through that club to make this happen was out of this world! We had online auctions, auctions at different venues and business challenges of unbelievable value! The money came in fast and furious! End of March 2008 we have achieved our set target (R 140 000.00) and started to look for a vehicle.?

At end of April 2008, after numerous discussions between Adolf and myself, LCCSA found the ideal vehicle for the project: a 2004 Land Cruiser 79, Double cab, 4.5 EFI. The Land Cruiser then went through a comprehensive service and face-lift, and various members of the Club, which are experts in different aspects of Land Cruisers, worked on the vehicle. A list of modifications include: ARB bulbar bumper with M10 winch, ARB Lockers front & rear, IEF rear bumper with two spare wheels, differential and steering guard, extra 180l petrol tank, 80l water tank, 6 new Toyota GX rims and 6 Cooper tires, and various other accessories.

By mid-June 2008 the Land Cruiser was ready. The LCCSA invited me to attend hand-over ceremonies in Cape Town (20 June) and Gauteng (21 June), and sponsored my flights and accommodation. It was an honour for me to meet the members and to deliver presentations on the Desert Lion Project at the two events. The official hand-over of the vehicle took place in Gauteng. I was speechless when I first saw the Land Cruiser ? it is a magnificent vehicle. The efforts and attention to detail that went into the modifications and improvements are astonishing. The impact that this vehicle will have on the Lion Project is huge. It is ideally suited and so well equipped that it will greatly improve my ability to study and conserve lions in the harsh desert terrain. I am most grateful to LCCSA, WWF-Life and everyone that contributed.