Yes, it is nearly that time of the year again. The time when a group of waddlers put on their walking shoes and head out in support of the African penguin. While 100 years ago there were more than 1.5-million African penguins swimming around, today there are only 18 000 breeding pairs left to sustain the whole population.
The 2015 Waddle for a Week, generously supported by Old Mutual Finance, will kick off in Gansbaai on 13 April and will finish in Simon’s Town on 18 April. Here's a video clip from last year's Waddle:
The Waddlers love company, so if you would like to join them for a day, please check the itinerary.
We would love to introduce you to the people who are passionate about the plight of the African penguin and have therefore decided to walk the nearly 120km in support of the species.
First up is Gabby Harris.
Gabby is the originator of Penguin Promises campaign concept. This campaign is not a fundraiser, hence the slogan “We don’t want your money honey, we want your love!” Environmental awareness is what it’s all about, empowering people by encouraging them to commit to a promise to benefit the planet. Gabby has dedicated her life to animal care and behaviour, and is the creative powerhouse behind the guest and animal experiences at uShaka Sea World. This will be Gabby’s fifth Waddle.
Then there is Hayley McLellan.
Hayley conceptualised the Cape coast Waddle and is the logistics lady behind the annual event. This walk is one of the many opportunities used to draw mass attention to the Penguin Promises campaign objectives. As a past animal carer and behaviour keeper and now the Environmental Campaigner for the Two Oceans Aquarium, Hayley believes that if each person makes an environmental promise, they make a difference! Hayley and Gabby both began their careers together at Sea World, Durban in 1989, and have shared many amazing animal moments together. This will be Hayley’s fifth Waddle, too.
Next up is Linda Markovina.
“I work as a freelance photojournalist, travel and fiction writer,” says Linda. “I consider myself to be the better-looking half of Moving Sushi and the only one who is ever online.
I blog on behalf of Moving Sushi for various online magazines and write travel guides for Buggl.com. My main loves are writing about travel, the natural world around us and how we as people interact with it, as long as it’s not anything to do with snakes. Snakes give me the willies.” This will be Linda’s first Waddle.
And a drum roll, please, for Dawn Jorgensen.
Known as The Incidental Tourist and with thousands of followers on EVERY social media platform, Dawn aims to bring a whole new audience to the plight of the African penguin and the campaign objectives. Dawn is a conscious traveller with a deep love for Africa, its people and the environment. From gorilla trekking in Uganda, tree planting in Zambia, cruising in the Caribbean and crampon hiking in Patagonia, she believes that she’s just getting started.
“My heart lies in a deep love for the ocean and its fragile inhabitants, and this is a project would allow me to act on that concern, walking in support of the African penguins.”
This will be Dawn’s first Waddle.
The Waddlers are looking forward to seeing you on the road with them. Check out the map below for this year's route:
For more info on the Waddle For A Week or the Penguin Promises campaign, please contact Hayley McLellan on 021 814 4532 or Hayley.mclellan@aquarium.co.za
Waddle you do? Here are a few suggestions for making a Penguin Promise:
Take a look at last year's Waddle
To get a good idea of what to expect during the Waddle For A Week, take a look at our day-by-day coverage from last year:
- Waddle For A Week 2014, Day One.
- Waddle For A Week 2014, Day Two: Standford to Hermanus
- Waddle For A Week 2014, Day Three: Hermanus to Kleinmond
- Waddle For A Week 2014, Day Four: Kleinmond to Betty's Bay
- Waddle For A Week 2014, Day Five: Gordon's Bay to Strand
- Waddle for a Week 2014, Day Six: Muizenberg to Simon’s Town
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