An adventure that still fascinates young and old alike, Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his exploration team reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912, only to discover they had been narrowly defeated in the race to be the first to claim this achievement.
Now, a century later, Hillcrest businessman Iain Buchan and his two sons, Zack and Barney, are taking their own expedition to the South Pole and with the endorsement of Scott’s Grandson, Falcon Scott, they will commemorate the great polar explorer in Antarctica, 100 years to the day.
“It will be an honour to pay tribute to Captain Scott who, together with his entire team, died on their return journey. Their bravery had an enormous impact on the world and their story has continued to captivate those of us who dream of adventure,” says Iain.
The team is planning a small ceremony to mark the centenary and they have been asked by Falcon Scott to hand a Union Jack to the scientists at the Amundsen-Scott Research Station at the South Pole. According to Scott, this gesture is in appreciation of their scientific research.
“My grandfather and the members of the Terra Nova Expedition went out to further the knowledge of mankind – to conduct scientific studies of everything they encountered. The comprehensive scientific programme carried out by the Expedition is still being used by scientists today, including the first hard evidence for the new theory of continental drift,” Scott explains.
The timing of the Buchan trip, named The Unlimited Child South Pole Expedition after the project for which the team is driving awareness and raising funds, has been dictated by the Buchan’s business interests.
For the past 17 years, Iain, Zack and Barney have been building the successful Hillcrest-based company, The Unlimited. Entrepreneurs at heart, they have handed operations over to an existing team of directors, allowing the Buchan’s to pursue their new businesses, which are already showing great potential.
The Buchan’s journey to Antarctica begins on 9 January 2012 when Iain will take his first steps to fulfilling a dream 40 years in the making. A man with a passion for challenge, Iain’s inspiration for the trek comes from a lifelong interest in the heroic age of polar exploration.
“Since University, I have been fascinated by the polar explorers, particularly Captain Robert Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton. Their handling of people, logistics and resources rank them among the greatest leaders the world has ever known. Trekking to the South Pole the hard way is a way of honouring the impact they have had on my life,” says Iain.
Cold, dry and desolate, Antarctica is the harshest place on our planet. Iain says walking the final 111kms to the South Pole will take around 12 days if they have good weather conditions. Each day, the team will walk for eight to ten hours in temperatures that range between -30°C and -60°C – mind-numbing cold that can kill unless you are wearing the right gear.
The Unlimited Child South Pole Expedition will include six South Africans. The three Buchan’s will be accompanied by a medical doctor, Dr Pete Berning , the renowned South African explorer, Sean Wisedale, and Nzuzo Mnikathi, a 19-year old orphan from Pietermaritzburg, who will be the youngest black person to ever walk to the South Pole. The Unlimited is sponsoring Mnikathi’s participation in the Expedition.
“By commemorating Scott’s centenary while we are on ice in Antarctica, we will have the opportunity not only to respect the memory of the original explorers, but we also hope to inspire future generations,” Iain concludes.
You can follow the Buchans and help the team raise awareness for The Unlimited Child and early childhood development by visiting www.theunlimitedchild.co.za
For more about Nzuzo Mnikathi, click here
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