Travelling from Kenya to Cape Town on a tuk tuk might sound like something out of a Netflix series. However, for four ambitious, bold guys who see the conservation opportunity (and humour) in every X on the map, the journey is a fruition of a very real collective dream.
In October last year, Jasper, Josh, Ivo and Robbie – four conservation-minded adventurers from Kenya, decided to embark on the journey of a lifetime… that might also take a lifetime.
Deciding to use the last of their savings to purchase tuk tuks, the four are making the world laugh, smile and follow along in anticipation as they trot from the equator (Nanyuki, Kenya) to the Southernmost tip of Africa (Cape Town)!
They’ve documented parts of their 6000km journey on TikTok @tuksouth, as well as their website, but the slices of life on the path less travelled (at least by TukTok) shown on social media hardly capture the full story of their journey.
Cape {town} Etc’s Ashleigh Nefdt caught up with Jasper recently to see how the journey was going and where they’re at right now.
Where they are now
The squad’s most-recent temporary home has been none other than the top of a giant mountain in South Malawi, Mulanje Massif/ Mount Mulanje.
They’ve been doing incredible work with Mount Mulanje Conservation Trust who are trying to save an endemic species of Ceder, the national tree of the country. COVID-19 caused a deforestation upsurge, which meant that it was time to turn their attention to the trees. There’s only one mature tree left on the entire mountain, Jasper explains.
They’ve ended up spending quite a bit of time in Malawi, with a special focus the past month, where they’ve been staying in colonial-era mountain huts.
Before that, their route from Kenya has taken them through different regions where they’ve been working on sustainability and community projects.
“It turns out Africa is very big and Tuk Tuks are very slow, we keep bumping into new conservation projects,” says Jasper.
“The Instagram and none of the stuff on our website doesn’t really convey the stories we’re telling, or filming on the mission,” Jasper adds.
So far they’ve filmed roughly 14 initiatives, from people cleaning up the streets in Tanzania, turning plastic into furniture and embarking on chimp conservation activities. Not to mention, they’ve worked with a foundation aimed at providing work for women in patriarchal communities—also in Tanzania. They’ve also been setting up work with beehives in their free time for the women, to help give them independence and assist in protecting their land.
The journey
On how they decide what to film, Jasper explains that “anything cool we find down along the way we film.”
Where did the eyebrow-raising idea of goodness delivered on tuk tuks come from?
Well, as Tuk South explains, they’d spent a fair share of time making videos in Kenya’s wild spaces, when they realised that those protecting these areas needed help—the rangers. They decided that an incredible way to lend a hand would be to create a documentary about their tuk tuk journey (which they spent the last of their savings on), get sponsorships and help out wherever they could “in these ridiculous machines,” as Jasper puts it.
They departed from Nanyuki, Kenya and their expedition aims to span Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa, with the Cape of Good Hope as their ultimate goal.
Their Just Giving site donations will 100% go to the rangers. will be donated to “For Rangers”, any donations would be greatly appreciated.
We can’t wait to have them in Cape Town soon,tuk tuks, stories, incredible hearts and all.
Also read:
US trophy hunter one of many spilling blood on “the dark continent”
Picture: Tuk South