TELLING AFRICAS’ STORY – ONE STEP AT A TIME

The Africa Coastal Odyssey is a storytelling project that aims to mentor student journalists while hiking the coastlines of all 40 participating countries and ocean island states.

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About the Africa Coastal Odyssey

Led by seasoned media professionals, including W4A’s founder, Desmond Langkilde – an experienced South African travel writer and online content producer – the Africa Coastal Odyssey expedition will explore unique African stories, as told by local journalism students, on the topics of sustainable tourism and environmental impact while walking the coastlines of the continent.

The expedition aims to utilize cutting-edge storytelling technology, including 360-degree VR/AR cameras for the Metaverse. Expert media production partners will edit student material before publishing their content in media partner channels across the globe.

The expedition will launch from Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape province of South Africa and proceed in a clockwise direction towards Namibia and cover all 40 coastal countries over a period of five to ten years to end back at the southern tip of Africa.

Each year, the expedition will pause in the particular country for a few months to produce the next edition of a narrative non-fiction book series recounting that years’ experience.

SOUTH AFRICA ODDYSSEY NAMIBIA ODDYSSEY

About the Odyssey Journalism

Journalism, film and visual communications students enrolled at partner universities and education institutions in each of the 40 host countries will be fully hosted to gain practical storytelling/reporting skills and experience.

While walking the coastline, they will interview rural communities, tourism service providers, conservation NGOs, and marine-related academics to report on sustainable tourism stories.

Typical story angles will include:

  • Showcasing the natural beauty, cultural diversity, art, and hospitality provided along Africa’s coastline.
  • Examining the complex relationships that tourism service providers and coastal communities have with the natural environment.
  • Impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, plastic pollution, and marine resource extraction on local communities.
  •  Ecosystem restoration projects and their current impact.
  • Local heroes and how they are helping to protect the natural world.

EXPEDITION PARTNERS

African tourism council logo
LOGISTICAL SUPPORT PARTNER
Sustainable Tourism Partnership Program logo
ACTIVATION SUPPORT PARTNER
international tourism film festival africa logo
FILM FESTIVAL PARTNER
african brief logo
MEDIA PARTNER: AFRICA
MEDIA PARTNER: BULGARIA
tv brics logo
BRANDING PARTNER
brand it now logo
BRANDING PARTNER
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HOW TO APPLY

WHAT HOSTING INCLUDES

Student hosting for 7-days will include:

  • Return economy-class airfare (if required)
  • Road transport from the nearest city/town/airport to the beach location
  • Tent accommodation
  • Meals, snacks and refreshments
  • Branded peak cap and T-shirt
  • Access to data and electronic battery charging
  • Instruction on the use of photographic, video, and drone equipment
  • Mentoring on story angles and content structure
  • Media exposure and possible story publication in media partner channels. 

Before applying, student candidates must bear in mind that they have to be physically able to take turns in hauling a custom-built expedition trailer loaded with about 100kg of equipment and provisions. However, this is “slow journalism” – the journey will set a moderate walking pace with frequent stop-overs for research and interviews along the way.

To assist with funding, all applicants will receive a personal tracking ID crowdfunding link. The top applicants who raise the most funding prior to each host country launch will earn their place in the Odyssey. There will also be prizes for runners-up who achieve pre-determined donation levels.

Applications for South African and Namibian students are now open.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

WHAT HOSTING EXCLUDES

Successful student candidates will be required to provide/carry their own:

  • Clothing, shoes, and foul weather gear suitable for 7-days of outdoor living/hiking
  • Hiking backpack
  • Sleeping bag/pillow
  • Water bottle or hydration pack
  • Sunscreen lotion/block-out
  • Personal hygiene/vanity products
  • Mobile phone and airtime
  • Travel insurance & medical aid.

* Subject to sponsorship, some of these items may be included (country dependent).

WHAT HOSTED STUDENTS WILL LEARN

Our Odyssey Expedition Trailer

This custom-built trailer is an essential tool for the Odyssey team to haul about 100kg of equipment and supplies along some of the most remote and desolate coastlines in Africa.

Self-sufficiency in terms of extreme weather clothing, shelter, water, food, and first-aid is essential. The team will also be filming, photographing, documenting, and reporting live via satellite on a daily basis, so electrical power will be needed to recharge batteries.

Built using the latest carbon fibre technology to optimise weight and endurance, the trailer will include a wind generator to supplement power from solar panels to the power pack on overcast days and the power will be wired to a forward panel with USB ports and electrical plugs for ease of access.

The trailer lid and lockable access ports on all four side will be water-tight to allow for the boat shaped base to be floated across rivers and estuaries.

Artists impression of the Africa Coastal Odyssey expedition trailer

Our First Sponsor

Advanced FibreTech in Cape Town have committed to sponsoring 50 per cent of the trailer build costs in support of the Odyssey expedition. This $15,000 sponsorship has reduced our $80k crowdfunding campaign target considerably.

To reduce our target further, we need sponsors to donate in-kind items, such as laptops, tablets, cell phones, airtime, camera equipment, drones, pedometers, outdoor clothing, hiking shoes/gear, camping gear, transport (airport shuttle service), etcetera.