Cape Town, South Africa, 17 June 2025 – Nedbank Gravel Burn proudly confirms Vulpro, one of South Africa’s only vulture-focused conservation organisations, as its official charity partner. This formalises a relationship rooted in shared purpose to conserve our environment and specifically African vulture populations that play such a pivotal role in our ecosystem.
Situated within Shamwari Private Game Reserve, the official finish venue of the race and home to the Shamwari Foundation, Vulpro’s Eastern Cape Facility works tirelessly to rehabilitate injured, grounded, disabled and poisoned vultures so they can be released back into the wild, restoring populations through their specialised captive breeding programmes, community outreach and education initiatives and research on movement patterns, wild surveys and threat mitigation to help protect and conserve vulture populations.
Vultures are among nature’s most efficient custodians. They act as a disease barrier by consuming carcasses that could otherwise contaminate water sources or spread infection. Yet across southern Africa, they are disappearing due to poisoning, power line electrocutions and collisions, windfarm collisions, illegal trade and harvesting for belief-based purposes and habitat disruption, to name a few; often without much public awareness. More than half of the Cape Vulture population has vanished since the 1980s with less 5000 breeding pairs left today.
“This partnership gives us a powerful opportunity to not only protect a species, but to bring people closer to their story,” says Kerri Wolter, founder of Vulpro. “Vultures have taught me how fragile life is, and how determined survival can be. Nedbank Gravel Burn gives us the platform to share that lesson, to help people understand that these birds are not just ecologically essential, they are emotionally powerful.
For Nedbank Gravel Burn, the partnership with Vulpro is part of a broader commitment to making a lasting contribution in the regions the race crosses.
“Vulpro is doing vital work in the Eastern Cape, and this partnership allows us to help strengthen and amplify that work,” says Kevin Vermaak, founder of Nedbank Gravel Burn. “The race is about more than just world-class riding. It is about the legacy we leave behind. This is one of those rare opportunities to connect sport and purpose in a way that feels genuinely meaningful.”
To ride amongst vultures is a huge privilege and so we’ve included as part of the rider package for a select group of riders, partners and guests to view these majestic birds up close and to witness the next generation of captive bred vultures before they take to the skies early in 2026.
For Johan Joubert, wildlife veterinarian and head of conservation at Shamwari, the moment carries special weight. “The return of vultures to this region is one of the most hopeful conservation stories in the Eastern Cape. To see them flying again and to share that with Gravel Burn riders will be a reminder of what is possible when people come together with a shared sense of care.”
As a gesture of support, all waiting list fees collected from Monday 5 May will be donated to Vulpro. Riders can also opt to join the Vulpro charity entry programme by committing to fundraising efforts that extend the organisation’s reach while earning recognition on and off the trail.
Together, Nedbank Gravel Burn and Vulpro are building a new model of race partnership. This is a space where world-class sport meets real-world conservation, and where every finish line becomes a starting point for lasting impact.
About Nedbank Gravel Burn
Nedbank Gravel Burn is a seven-day, 850 kilometre gravel stage race set in South Africa’s untamed interior. The route crosses remote mountains, semi-desert wilderness, and private conservation land from Knysna to Shamwari Private Game Reserve. With a world-class rider experience, a 150 thousand dollar prize purse, and ambitious environmental commitments, it redefines what gravel racing can be, both on and off the bike.
About Vulpro
Vulpro is a non-profit conservation organisation based at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Founded by Kerri Wolter, Vulpro is internationally recognised for its pioneering work in vulture rescue, rehabilitation, breeding, wild release, and ecosystem protection. Through education, science, and community engagement, Vulpro is safeguarding the future of one of Africa’s most vital and endangered species.
