RMB & Wilderness RIDE FOR RANGERS

A tribute to the guardians of the wild

The desert wind howled across the plains, sculpting the landscape and teasing our resolve, but over four extraordinary days in Namibia’s remote northwest, we were reminded again and again why we ride.

The 2025 RMB & Wilderness Ride for Rangers took us deep into one of Africa’s last true wilderness areas, across stark valleys, dry riverbeds, and golden savannahs that pulse with life and silence in equal measure. Though the wind was relentless, nature offered its own kind of encouragement. Every morning began with a spectacular sunrise, every evening was bathed in the soft glow of a desert sunset, and every moment in between was filled with movement, discovery, and awe.

This ride was more than just a physical challenge. It was a celebration of the rangers, game guards, and communities who protect this land and its wild inhabitants. Formerly known as Ride for Rhinos, this annual cycling tour has entered a new chapter. Ride for Rangers honours the boots on the ground –the individuals who dedicate their lives to safeguarding the black rhino, desert-adapted elephants, lions, hyenas, and countless other species that call this landscape home.

On day one, as if nature itself was welcoming us, we encountered a herd of elephants in the Hoanib River. Young calves tumbled gleefully down sandy embankments while the adults ambled slowly behind them, unhurried and serene. For many of us, it was our first time seeing elephants so relaxed, so close, so alive in their element.

The cycling was tough. Some climbs seemed endless, the gravel unforgiving, and the sun unrelenting – but it was all worth it. Each day ended around a crackling fire under a full moon, where conversations flowed as freely as the laughter. We spoke of Namibia, of its people and wild spaces, of conservation victories and the challenges that remain. The stories shared were as powerful as the landscapes we had crossed.

We spoke of Namibia, of its people and wild spaces, of conservation victories and the challenges that remain. The stories shared were as powerful as the landscapes we had crossed.

One afternoon on a nature drive, we witnessed something truly special: a lone black rhino browsing quietly among the brush. We kept our distance, respectful and still, sipping gin sundowners as the animal moved unaware of our presence. To observe a rhino like this – in peace, undisturbed – felt like a blessing. A rare privilege. A reminder of what’s at stake.

We also spotted giraffe among Ana and Shepherd’s trees, zebra camouflaged against the stones, springbok darting across the plains, and even an aardwolf that darted across our path at dusk. Each sighting added a new layer to the story we were living — wild, unscripted, and deeply moving.

On our final day, we were joined by Emsie Verwey, researcher and head of the Skeleton Coast Brown Hyena Project based at Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. Her talk offered a fascinating glimpse into one of Namibia’s most elusive carnivores and reminded us that conservation doesn’t stop with the charismatic megafauna. Every species matters. Every effort counts.

The RMB & Wilderness Ride for Rangers is not just a tour. It’s a journey of purpose, created by Venture Media, supported by committed sponsors – RMB Namibia, Wilderness, and CYMOT – and made possible through the generosity of many. We are deeply grateful to Superspar for sponsoring all the groceries that sustained us and to The Taste Academy’s Rhona and Louis, whose incredible bush catering amazed and brought warmth and joy to every meal.

Above all, we thank the riders and participants who joined the 2025 ride. Their grit, laughter, generosity, and shared passion made this journey what it was – a tribute to the guardians of the wild and a love letter to Namibia.

Elzanne McCulloch

In Namibia’s northwest, the land is ancient. Harsh. Vast. Sacred. Here, the sun burns gold over basalt mountains… and the wind carries stories older than memory. This is one of the last true wildernesses.

It’s here that giants roam and species claw for survival Hyena and lion battle the elements, Giraffe meander across vast distances Desert-adapted rhinos and elephants, shaped by time, surviving against the odds. But survival isn’t luck. It’s legacy. And legacy needs guardians.

We ride for them. The rangers. The trackers.

The quiet heroes in dust-stained boots, who know every footprint, every call, every movement in the silence. They don’t do it for glory. They do it because they must.

Namibia has become a beacon, A global example of how community, conservation and courage can come together to protect what’s rare and irreplaceable. And yet, this fight is never over.

The threats are constant. The wild cannot protect itself.

That’s why we ride.

To raise voices.

To raise funds.

To raise awareness for those whose daily mission is to hold the line between wilderness and destruction.

Pedal by pedal. Step by step. We honour their journey… by making it our own.

This is more than a ride.

It’s a movement.

A message to the world: Namibia’s wild spaces matter. The rangers who defend them matter.

And together, we can ensure that the next generation knows a world where the wilderness and its inhabitants, including the communities that live alongside them, still roam free.

This is why we ride.