Collaboration for Conservation

Submitted By: SFW Conservation (Ranger Tina)

“These boots are made for walkin’…’’

“Why are those old boots hanging in the tree? ”This is a common opening question for a story filled conversation with our customers and visitors at our K9 Training Center in South Africa.

“Those are not just old boots, they are a walk down memory lane”, the conversation continuous, “but let me tell you the story….”

I was in my twenties, passionate about the outdoors, but I didn’t get out into nature as much as I wanted, as I was mainly occupied in my shift-bounded job. In times, when work was too busy, I tried to escape in my dreams to go hiking and camping, by visiting sports- outlet stores to do some window shopping. Those stores did not have regular opening times, but instead opened their doors once every few weeks to a rather uninviting setup in an industrial hall, where fully packed shelves displayed heaps of discounted glory and leftover stock in odd sizes and colors, in the cold light of fluorescent lights. That does not sound like a setup for dreams, one could think, but for me, trapped in the hustle and bustle of Switzerland, it was a combination of dreaming about the “I wanna haves” and a “treasure hunt”, then somewhere between all the short lasting or unattractive items, you could find well known brands, in your size and color, with a great discount.

That day, in the early 2000s, I met my soulmate – not a human one, but a pair of LOWA boots, brand new but marked down as a show model. It was as if these boots were talking to me, begging me to take them outdoors, to experience the rugged terrain of nature which they were made for and for which I yearned. I couldn’t resist their call and tried them on, resulting in the feeling of a comfortable hug of a like-minded adventurer. Needless to say, those boots came home with me that day. Little did I know, that this new bond would lead me on a journey spanning decades and continents….

They became my new companion for almost any activity, ranging from hikes in the alps, to holidays at the beach to open air concerts and the daily walks through the woods with my dog Akela. But the boots' wanderlust stretched beyond the Alps and weekend escapes. A few years later, with my husband Ruan and our 8 year old Akela, we embarked on a 20-month European trek, stretching from the northernmost tip of mainland Europe all the way South towards the southernmost tip of mainland Greece. The boots carried me over mountains, through uneven terrain in different seasons, witnessing a part of our 5513 kilometers before health issues forced us to return to Switzerland. But the wanderlust wasn't tamed… After I recovered from Mononucleosis (Mono/ “Kissing disease”), we needed to start our lives new. After a few considerations, we felt that it is time to head up North again. Somehow the Arctic called us again.

The arctic call lead us all the way up North, where our previous adventure began. At 71° North we settled and built up a tourism business over 7 years. The boots braved icy landscapes, strapped to snowshoes, guided tourists into the rocky landscape, shared my joy of picking mushrooms and berries and accompanied me on husky sled journeys, witnessing the breathtaking nature under the midnight sun and into the polar night.

Business was going well, when Ruan and I booked a longer holiday in South Africa, Ruan’s home country. Our journey from the North to the South was designed to visit points of memories from Ruan’s youth. But then, during our first week of holidays a shocking event ignited a new passion: wildlife conservation. After we witnessed the shocking truth of wildlife crime and the actual number of endangered species disappearing due to poaching, those pictures, words and facts did not leave our minds again.

Not overnight and also not headless, but rather quickly, considering a move across continents, we left the Arctic and our business in 2016 and booked a one-way ticket to South Africa. With two suitcases each, two dogs (sadly not Akela anymore) and my trusty LOWAs, we started anew, ready to put in all our power, knowledge and dedication into conservation. 8 years passed, training and deploying dogs, training rangers, tracking poachers and other syndicates from the air and on the ground while witnessing breathtaking landscapes and iconic species. The boots, though weathered, remained strong. Their scars telling stories of laughter, hardship, beauty and awe. Time, however, took its toll. Last year, with a heavy heart, I retired them, as their soles started to come loose. Their legacy etched in my memories. My old pair of boots are still with us, being proudly displayed on a prominent tree at our centre, reminding us of great old times and keeping the conversations going with visitors.

Then, last week, a dream came true. A brand new pair of LOWA's, the same model, the same promise, were handed over to me and another pair to Ruan. I slipped them on, the familiar comfort an instant embrace. They were, quite literally, a walk down memory lane, a reminder of the incredible journeys we'd shared and the ones yet to come.

Thank you LOWA for your generous gift!

These boots are more than footwear; they're companions, witnesses, and a testament to the power of resilience and the enduring spirit of exploration. They are a reminder that sometimes, the most treasured possessions are not just objects, but extensions of ourselves and the stories we carry.

Thank you for our new pair of boots and for making memories that will last a lifetime, now for both of us, Ruan and myself!

Learn more about SFW Conservation:

https://www.sfwconservation.org/

"We are a wildlife and biodiversity conservation organization working to save some of Southern Africa's most endangered wildlife by providing training and support for wildlife rangers, empowering local communities, and supporting our local partners and their conservation projects and initiatives."