Travel Karma: Anti Rhino Poaching Efforts and a Buddhist Marathon

After sharing about my upcoming trip with a Buddhist nun, she told me that I have good karma. If karma involves following my passions via hard work, then my travel experiences are indeed karma-influenced. In any case, I am off again to my beloved Bhutan to help with the second running of the Bhutan International Marathon and Half Marathon and will do a stop over in…South Africa.

Since Bhutan is about half way around the planet, my travels there are always an excellent opportunity to check out another interesting spot—en route. South Africa isn’t necessarily – on the way – but I’ve been doing some research on what’s happening at a particular animal reserve there and want to check it out. Here’s why.

Prior to his death in 2012, Lawrence Anthony, founder of the Thula Thula conservation reserve in

South Africa and renowned author of several books including, The Elephant Whisperer, was a frontline conservationist for rhinos and elephants (I recommend all his books). His aggressive tactics included befriending wanted rebel leaders from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) who’s battleground housed several of the last remaining northern white rhinos, then convincing them to support his rhino rescue efforts. Though Anthony was a formidable figure in leading the charge for anti-poaching in Africa, his wife and co-founder of Thula Thula, Franciose Malby Anthony has not only carried on his work, but expanded their critical support of the rhino and elephant.

I’m heading to Thula Thula to chat with Franciose about their work and the state of the poaching crisis in the general KwaZulu-Natal area. Since Anthony’s death, Franciose has implemented round the clock guarding of the rhino of Thula Thula and their animals have received the controversial poison injections into their horns to deter poachers. Francioise has also recently opened a rhino orphanage with the intent of rescuing, rehabilitating and then releasing back into the wild, abandoned or traumatized rhino who have been victims of poaching antics. They are currently doing fund raising for the orphanage!

I’m interested in sharing about their important work, as well as create awareness about the poaching issues surrounding rhino and my most favorite animal, the elephant, as this issue feels very close to my heart. I’ll be taking photos and updating on what I’m up to there, so stay tuned!

I’ll only be at Thula Thula for a few days and then will head to Bhutan via Kathmandu. And yes, lots of Bhutan love will be coming your way once I touch down in that special spot.

Here’s wishing you great travel karma!

Terri