Kingsley Holgate

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SPEAKER DETAILS

Guest Speaker Kingsley Holgate, also known as the ‘Greybeard of Adventure’ is one of the world’s most respected and colourful modern-day explorers. A humanitarian, adventurer, author, media personality, popular guest speaker, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Land Rover Ambassador, Kingsley holds the singular distinction of having explored all 54 countries on the African continent, including all the island states.

His lifetime of journeys has taken him on foot, in open boats, by traditional Swahili dhow and Land Rover to some of the remotest and most dangerous regions in the world. He’s survived malaria more than 50 times and terrifying interrogations by some of Africa’s most notorious rebel leaders.

2023 is a historic year for ‘Papa King’, as he is affectionately known across the continent. With his son Ross and a veteran expedition team, Kingsley has now achieved another distinction – completing 40 humanitarian and geographic expeditions over the past 30 years across Africa and beyond, many of them world-firsts.

Kingsley’s extraordinary journeys include:

• From the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) to Alexandria and the mouth of the Nile (Egypt) in open boats along the waterways of Africa.

• Around the world by Land Rover following the Tropic of Capricorn.

• A decade of adventure following in the footsteps of early explorers, which included circumnavigation of Africa’s largest lakes and east-to-west across the continent along the mighty Zambezi and Congo rivers.

• A swashbuckling year-long seafaring journey by traditional Arab sailing dhow up the Swahili coast to the Somali border and back.

• Tracking the entire outline of Africa through 33 countries in 449 days.

• Discovery of the geographic centre point of the African continent deep in the Congo rainforests, as verified by the International Geographic Union (IGU).

• First exploration team in history to reach all 7 of Africa’s extreme geographic points, as verified by the IGU.

• The first ‘Hot Cape to Cold Cape’ transcontinental journey (from Africa’s southern tip to the most northern point of Europe) in 30 years to traverse Africa through the disputed territories of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan, and successfully reach Nordkapp in Norway’s Arctic Circle.

What makes Kingsley and his team even more unique is their enduring humanitarian theme of ‘using adventure to improve and save lives’ through:

• Malaria Prevention and Education – support to vulnerable pregnant women and young children.

• Water Purification – Provision of clean drinking water to water-scarce communities.

• Mashozi’s Rite to Sight – distribution of reading glasses to poor-sighted people in remote communities.

• Conservation & Communities – protection of Africa’s endangered wildlife and biodiversity.

• Early Childhood Development – Transforming underprivileged ECD centres into ‘centres of hope’.

To date, Kingsley and his team have assisted over 4 million people throughout Africa and beyond.

Kingsley is the author of five books on African travel and adventure. His latest, ‘Africa – a Love Affair with a Continent’ was published in 2018; the limited-edition print sold out in six months.

Presentations by Kingsley Holgate

Around an African Campfire with Kingsley Holgate

Kingsley Holgate’s presentations are uniquely immersive. Without prepared speeches or PowerPoint slides, he uses his iconic Zulu Talking Stick—an artefact with a remarkable history—to bring audiences to life around a virtual African campfire. Through this storytelling, he shares vivid anecdotes from 41 geographic and humanitarian expeditions over 30 years, imparting wisdom and inspiration drawn from real-life adventure.

Topics include:

Highlights from his most recent expeditions
The role of heart, passion, and purpose in achieving goals
The importance of curiosity, humour, and positivity to overcome challenges
Applying the lessons of expeditions to personal and professional life

Sessions conclude with a Q&A, giving attendees the chance to interact with the ‘Greybeard of African Adventure’ and gain insights directly from his experiences.

Expeditions – Kingsley Holgate Geographic & Humanitarian Expeditions 1993–2023

Kingsley Holgate has completed 40 major expeditions across Africa and beyond, many of them world-firsts. Highlights include:

Where the Wind Speaks: circumnavigation of the Makgadikgadi Pans in land yachts
Afrika Odyssey: year-long journey in open boats from Cape to Cairo
Zambezi River Expedition: mouth to source upstream in inflatable boats
Into the Heart of Darkness: journey down the Congo River
Rio Rovuma and the Lake of Stars: following Dr David Livingstone’s footsteps
Chuma & Susi Expedition: tribute to unsung African explorers
Zanzibar to Victoria-Nyanza Expedition: in the footsteps of HM Stanley
Journey to the Jade Sea: Lake Turkana in the footsteps of Count Samuel Teleki
Zulu River Odyssey: Thukela River from source to mouth
Victoria-Nyanza: circumnavigation of Africa’s largest lake
The Rufiji River: tribute to Frederick Courtenay Selous
Tropico de Capricornio Expedition: around the world by Land Rover
African Rainbow Expedition: Somali border by traditional Arab dhow
Return of the Rainbow Expedition: Somalia to Ilha de Mozambique
Africa’s Outside Edge: 449-day, 33-country odyssey tracing Africa’s outline
Boundless Southern Africa: 10-country journey linking nature, culture, and community
Cabo Verde Expedition to Africa’s Green Islands
2010 United Against Malaria Expedition: celebrating the FIFA World Cup
The All-Afrika Expedition: completing every African country
Journey to Juba: celebrating the birth of the world’s newest country
Africa’s Jewels in the Crown: Indian Ocean Island States exploration
The Great Rift Valley Expedition: Horn of Africa to Mozambique
In the Footsteps of Joseph Thomson: tribute to Mashozi
Horn of Africa: Somalia and Somaliland exploration
Izintaba Zobombo Expedition: support for endangered rhinos
‘Ma Robert’ River of God Expedition: Zambezi River in Livingstone’s footsteps
Sani Series I Expedition: Blood, Sweat & Gears through the Mountain Kingdom
Heart of Africa Expedition: first odyssey to locate Africa’s geographic centre
Chew Bahir Living Traditions: circumnavigation of Ethiopia’s dry salt ocean and ancient cultures
Lake Tanganyika Rite to Sight Expedition: by Land Rover and motorized dhow
Castles, Slaves, Voodoo and the Gates of No Return: West Africa expedition
Extreme East Expedition to Ras Xaafun, Somalia: Africa’s easternmost point, completing the 7 ‘poles’ of Africa
Land Rover 70th Anniversary Zululand Expedition
Cape Town to Kathmandu Transcontinental Expedition: first world-crossing via Land Rover Discovery
Mozambique Flood Relief Expedition: humanitarian aid for Cyclone Idai victims
Zambezi Delta Vision Expedition: bringing the gift of sight, in partnership with Doctors for Life
Zambezi-Congo Expedition: east-to-west Africa traverse by Land Rover
Riding High On Sky: 125 mountain passes in 30 days
Mzansi Edge Expedition: tracking South Africa’s outline in 80 days – Covid-19 humanitarian mission
Hot Cape to Cold Cape – New Defender Transcontinental Expedition: 30 countries, 35,000 km, 300-day journey across Africa and Europe

Each expedition combines adventure, humanitarian effort, cultural exploration, and environmental stewardship, leaving audiences inspired and deeply connected to Africa’s stories and landscapes.

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