From 11 April 2016, for six days, 16 penguin lovers from all over South Africa (plus one from the UK) will be walking 125 from Gansbaai to Boulders Beach in Simonstown. The mission behind this meander: to raise awareness for the endangered African penguin, and to encourage everyone we meet to take action and make a “penguin promise”. What’s good for penguins is good for all animals, including ourselves. The Waddle for a Week campaign, now in its sixth year, is led by African penguin conservation initiative Penguin Promises and the Two Oceans Aquarium.
The Waddlers were in super-duper-high spirits this morning thanks to an exquisite sleep and breakfast at Manor on the Bay in Gordon’s Bay. The view, the pillows, the bathrooms! A huge thanks for making us feel so welcome on your beautiful property.
The other reason we were so happy is that we only had 10km to walk today – our shortest stint thus far and a full 20km less than yesterday!
To observe this second-last day of the 2016 Penguin Promises Waddle for a Week we all took time to write our promises down – we are now committed, in writing, to making that one change in our lives that’ll benefit the environment as a whole.
We also picked up litter on our way to Strand, our destination for Day 5.
During today’s stretch we got 820 hoots from passing motorists - that's 82 per kilometre! Not bad for only two hours of walking.
Our penguin promises
Presha Soogrim – uShaka Sea World Senior Guest Relations Guide
“My penguin promise is to incorporate penguin promises in all of my personal conservation initiatives, such as monthly beach cleanups and sustainable seafood capaigns as well as regular talks at the Sea World Aquarium.”
Colette Bodenstaff: uShaka Sea World Assistant Curator: Mammals and Birds
“My penguin promise is to eat less meat, because I am now aware of the impact on our environment that meat production has. The methane emissions, the habitat loss as well as the water consumption of the agriculture industry is astounding.”
Thabo Matlhakwane: Old Mutual Finance Legal Recoveries
“My penguin promise is to use fewer singe-use plastic bags and more reusable bags, to help get rid of all the dirt on the streets and the materials that are harmful to animals.”
Please support the Aquarium's Rethink the Bag campaign.
Renée Leeuwner: Two Oceans Aquarium Assistant Communications and Sustainability Manager
“I always try to save water as much as I can but, at the beginning of the year when the water restrictions in Cape Town were imposed, I realised that I can do so much more. I’ve started implemented various things in my home, like standing in a big bucket when I shower and using that along with my dogs’ and birds’ water, to water the garden. But I think there are more ways to save water. I have a very big sink at home that I do my dishes in and I’m going to reduce the water that I use by putting another basin in there.”
Waddle you do for a better earth?
Check out the Penguin Promises website and leave your promise there.
See also:
- Penguin Promises Waddle for a Week 2016: Day 1 – Gansbaai to Stanford (20km)
- Penguin Promises Waddle for a Week 2016: Day 2 – Stanford to Hermanus (24km)
- Penguin Promises Waddle for a Week 2016: Day 3 – Hermanus to Arabella (Kleinmond) (24km)
- Penguin Promises Waddle for a Week 2016: Day 4 – Arabella (Kleinmond) to Betty’s Bay (30km)
Our sponsors
A big thank you to the sponsors who make the Waddle possible:
- Two Oceans Aquarium
- uShaka Sea World
- Old Mutual Finance
- De Kat Safaris
- First Ascent
- XXL Brands
- Badges Unlimited
- Better Earth
- SPAR Western Cape
Accommodation kindly sponsored by:
- Boulders Beach Lodge
- Grail Programmes
- Manor on the Bay
- The Muize
- Saxon Lodge
- Stanford Hills
- Surfer’s Corner
- Windsor Hotel
