Around Africa in 56 Days: A Talk by Pilot Mawgan Grace

Description

First there was Around the World in Eighty Days, then there was Mawgan Grace. So where does the adventure take us this time, you may ask.

Earlier in 2026, the Cathay Pacific airline captain along with his colleague Carel van Vuuren drove a 1957 Hong Kong‑registered Land Rover nicknamed “Lardy” from the United Kingdom to South Africa in 56 days. Their 16,707‑kilometre overland expedition followed the demanding western route through Africa, passing through 18 countries and crossing 23 international borders. Along the way, they tackled mountains, deserts and jungles, and drove through former and current war zones.

The journey was conceived as a throwback to the epic overland adventures of old, while supporting conservation on the ground. Scarily, around 80 per cent of illegal African wildlife products pass through Hong Kong  Working with wildlife conservation movement Tusk, the team used mainstream media, social channels and school talks to highlight the scale of wildlife trafficking, and to inspire future generations in schools.

Grace, based in Hong Kong for 20 years, is a seasoned sailor, adventurer and supporter of African conservation. He has accomplished some key life milestones: climbed Kilimanjaro, run the Safaricom Marathon in Lewa, Kenya, and twice competed in Zambia’s Elephant Charge 4×4 race, while supporting 55 schools in the Lower Zambezi with donated computers from Harrow International School.