Defender, the iconic adventure brand, and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation are celebrating 25 years of continuous partnership. This enduring collaboration has seen Defender power the Foundation through more than 40 humanitarian and conservation-focused expeditions across Africa and the globe.
Since the partnership began in 2000, Defender has been at the heart of every Kingsley Holgate Foundation expedition, enabling the team to traverse some of the most remote and challenging terrain on the African continent. From the blistering deserts in the north and the flood-prone equatorial rainforests of Central Africa, down to the southern-most tip where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet, the Foundation has relied on Defender’s proven durability and capability to distribute critical humanitarian support far beyond conventional reach.
To date the Kingsley Holgate Foundation has distributed over 473 300 long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets, keeping over 1,4 million mothers and children safe against malaria. The team has also distributed ‘Rite to Sight’ reading glasses to the elderly poor sighted across the continent and inspired countless youths through the Wildlife Art campaign.
Defender Africa Traverse Expedition
To commemorate this storied partnership, the Kingsley Holgate Foundation is embarking on a three-month adventure, dubbed the Defender Africa Traverse, starting January 2026.
Paying homage to the Foundation’s famous Capricorn Expedition, which was chronicled in a book and seven-part National Geographic series, the Defender Africa Traverse will see the team travel west to east across Southern Africa. Using two expedition-equipped Defender 130 Outbounds, this purpose-driven journey will go from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.
The expedition will begin on the Skeleton Coast of Namibia, push eastward into Botswana – crossing the Makgadikgadi Pans, the largest salt pans on Earth – and then continue through the Kalahari, the world’s greatest mantle of rolling, vegetated sand. In South Africa, the team and their Defenders will follow the legendary Ivory Trail, weaving through some of the finest wildlife areas along the 23°27′ line.
True to purpose, the Defender Africa Traverse expedition will once again place a strong focus on malaria prevention in the high-risk regions along the Limpopo River, including the Gaza and Inhambane provinces in Mozambique. Pregnant mothers and young children will receive high-quality, long-lasting mosquito nets, along with essential malaria prevention education, continuing a life-saving initiative that has already reached nearly a million and a half people.
The Foundation’s Rite to Sight campaign will also continue, bringing the gift of improved vision to elderly, poor-sighted men and women in remote communities throughout the expedition route. Furthermore, the youth-focused conservation education programme will aim to inspire the next generation of custodians of Africa’s wild spaces.
Reflecting on the impact of the expeditions, Ross Holgate, Expedition Leader at the Kingsley Holgate Foundation, said: “There is a magic moment when you give someone back their gift of sight, watching their world literally get back into focus, their face light up and the expression in their eyes as they see clearly for the first time in years. You can immediately tell that a life has been changed. On the other hand, knowing that every single minute of every day somewhere in Africa a child dies from malaria, the need to intensify the distribution of life-saving mosquito nets is magnified. That’s why we are grateful to Defender for enabling us to continue to do the work that we do.”
Janico Dannhauser, Defender Brand Manager at JLR South Africa, said: “The 25-year milestone is a testament to the shared values of adventure and humanitarian service that define the Defender brand and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation. Defender is engineered for extraordinary journeys, and there is no better proof of its capability than enabling the Foundation to reach remote communities and deliver life-changing aid. We are proud to once again power the Africa Traverse, a fitting celebration of this enduring and vital partnership.”
Renowned explorer and humanitarian Kingsley Holgate concluded: “The partnership with Defender has been more than just a journey across Africa – it’s been a journey of purpose. For 25 years, these vehicles have been our trusted companions as we’ve crossed every country on the continent, reaching communities in some of the most inaccessible places imaginable. Together with the brand, we’ve proven that adventure can truly change lives.”
The 43rd Kingsley Holgate Foundation Expedition, the Defender Africa Traverse, promises to be a dramatic, redesigned echo of the original world-first Capricorn journey – a fitting celebration of a 25-year partnership of adventure and humanitarian work between Defender and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation.
Dove Dolce
Polo Leteka always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but couldn\’t quite decide on which direction to go in. She spent several years in the private and public sectors, and during her tenure in Government she knew she wanted to have a greater impact on helping South Africans follow their dreams by becoming entrepreneurs. She launched Capital Partners, an SME enterprise advisory and fund managing service firm. She brought two partners into the business to expand the services they could offer. Leteka went on to become one of the \”dragons\’ on the South African edition of Dragons\’ Den, investing in start-up businesses.