Defender and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation are celebrating 25 years of continuous partnership. This enduring collaboration has seen Defender power the Foundation through more than 40 humanitarian and conservation-focused expeditions across Africa and the globe. Since the partnership began in 2000, Defender has been at the heart of every Kingsley Holgate Foundation expedition, enabling the team to distribute critical humanitarian support far beyond conventional reach.
Defender Africa Traverse Expedition
To commemorate this storied partnership, the Kingsley Holgate Foundation embarked on a three-month adventure, dubbed the Defender Africa Traverse, in January 2026.
Paying homage to the Foundation’s famous Capricorn Expedition, which was chronicled in a book and seven-part National Geographic series, the Defender Africa Traverse sees the team travel west to east across Southern Africa. Using two expedition-equipped Defender 130 Outbounds, this purpose driven journey extends from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.
Starting from Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, pushing eastward through Botswana, across the Kalahari and finally Mozambique, the expedition covers some of the most incredible landscapes on the continent as it follows the 23°27’ line.
True to purpose, the Defender Africa Traverse expedition places a strong focus on malaria prevention in high-risk regions along the Limpopo River, including the Gaza and Inhambane provinces of Mozambique. Vulnerable communities are provided with high-quality, long-lasting mosquito nets, along with essential malaria-prevention education, continuing a life-saving initiative that has already reached nearly 1.5 million people. The team has also distributed ‘Rite to Sight’ reading glasses to poor-sighted elderly people across the continent and inspired countless adolescents through the Wildlife Art campaign.
Reflecting on the impact of their many undertakings, expedition leader Ross Holgate describes how magical it is to give the gift of sight back to those who have lost it. ‘It’s like watching someone’s world come back into focus. You can immediately tell that a life has been changed.’ In Africa a child dies from malaria every minute, Holgate adds, which intensifies the need to distribute life-saving mosquito nets. ‘That’s why we’re so grateful to Defender for enabling us to continue to do the work we do.’
Janico Dannhauser, Defender brand manager at JLR South Africa, says, ‘The 25-year milestone is testament to the shared values of adventure and humanitarian service that define the Defender brand and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation. Defender is engineered for extraordinary journeys, and there is no better proof of its capability than enabling the Foundation to reach remote communities and deliver life-changing aid.’
Explorer and humanitarian Kingsley Holgate concludes: ‘The partnership with Defender has been more than just a journey across Africa; it’s been a journey of purpose. For 25 years, these vehicles have been our trusted companions as we’ve crossed every country on the continent, reaching communities in some of the most inaccessible places imaginable. Together with the brand, we’ve proven that adventure can truly change lives.’
