Defender and Kingsley Holgate Foundation: a 25-year journey of humanitarian aid across Africa

A quarter of a century is a long time, but for Defender and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation, longevity has been earned the hard way across some of the most inaccessible parts of Africa.

The two mark 25 years of continuous partnership this year, a relationship that began in 2000 and has since supported more than 40 humanitarian and conservation expeditions.

Every journey has been undertaken in a Defender, often far beyond the reach of conventional infrastructure and well outside the comfort zone of many vehicles.

Outcome driven

From arid deserts in the north to flood-prone equatorial forests and deep sand tracks across Southern Africa, the Foundation’s work over time has translated into tangible outcomes rather than marketing milestones.

To date, the Kingsley Holgate Foundation has distributed more than 473,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets, protecting an estimated 1.4 million mothers and children against malaria.

Its Rite to Site programme has delivered reading glasses to elderly, poor-sighted communities across Africa, while youth-focused conservation and wildlife art initiatives have introduced thousands of young people to environmental stewardship.

New Challenge

To mark the anniversary, the Foundation will launch a new three-month expedition in January, known as the Defender Africa Traverse. 

The route pays tribute to the historic Capricorn Expedition, retracing an Atlantic-to-Indian Ocean crossing across Southern Africa.

Using two expedition-prepared Defender 130 Outbounds, the team will start on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast before heading east through Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans and the Kalahari, including following sections of the historic Ivory Trail along the 23°27' latitude line, before continuing towards Mozambique.

As with previous expeditions, the focus is less about the distance covered and more about what happens along the way. Malaria prevention remains central, particularly in high-risk regions along the Limpopo River and in Mozambique’s Gaza and Inhambane provinces, where mosquito net distribution and education will continue.

“There is a magic moment when you give someone back their gift of sight, watching their world literally get back into focus,” said expedition leader Ross Holgate.

“On the other hand, knowing that every single minute of every day somewhere in Africa a child dies from malaria, the need to intensify the distribution of life-saving mosquito nets is magnified.”

Alongside malaria prevention, the Rite to Sight programme will again bring reading glasses to remote communities, while conservation education initiatives aim to engage young people encountered along the route.

From Defender’s side, the anniversary is less about heritage branding and more about continuity. “Defender is engineered for extraordinary journeys, and enabling the Foundation to reach remote communities is proof of that,” said Janico Dannhauser, Defender Brand Manager at JLR South Africa.

For Kingsley Holgate himself, the relationship has always extended beyond transport.

“The partnership with Defender has been more than just a journey across Africa; it’s been a journey of purpose,” he said.

“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.”