Board game straight ‘Out Of Africa’

Board game straight ‘Out Of Africa’

A love of Africa and a desire to support conservation efforts has inspired an Auckland couple to create a board game that recently won the Teachers Choice Award.

Mark and Andrea developed Game Drive after their experience volunteering in the Greater Makalali Game Reserve in South Africa.

The adventurous pair were so moved by the dangers facing the Big Five game animals - rhinos, lions, buffalo, elephants, tigers, and leopards – that they decided to develop a game that would highlight their concerns to a global audience and help provide funds to protect the animals.

They originally developed the game in their living room in Grey Lynn, trialling it on groups of enthusiastic friends.

The game can be played by two to six players aged eight years and over. Racing fellow conservationists through a series of wildlife reserves players can encounter anything from flash floods to elephant charges, gaining points along the way. Add in the presence of poachers trying to grab the animals and you have all the elements of an exciting safari - without the mosquitos. Many players commented on how pleased they were to find the game was locally designed.

Winning the Teachers Choice award was an unexpected bonus. The award is decided during a trial period by both teachers and students all over New Zealand.

So far most sales have been online with some international buyers tracking the kiwi product down over the internet.

A percentage of profits made is donated to the Rhino Protection Trust in South Africa. Mark and Andrea are pleased to see their donations helping protect the endangered rhinos with the development of a fully equipped anti-poaching team for a year to keep them safe.

Both still work full time and consider the project a labour of love at this stage but they are hoping once sales increase to be able to do more work in Africa in the future.

www.gamedrive.co.nz

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