Rudi van Vuuren
Encyclopedia
Dr Rudolph Jansen van Vuuren (born 20 September 1972 in Windhoek
, Namibia
) is a Physician
by trade, former Namibian sportsman and committed conservationist.
Rudie van Vuuren married Namibian conservationist, Marlice van Vuuren
, in December 2000 and in December 2006 their little boy Zacheo was born. Together, Rudie & Marlice run Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary and Lodge
.
and the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup; as a result he became the first man to compete in the final stages of world-cup competitions in cricket
and rugby union
in the same year. He is the only Namibian to have taken five wickets in a One Day International, which he did against England
.
In the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Australian Darren Lehmann
hit van Vuuren for 28 runs in a single over
. At the time, this was more runs than any other bowler had conceded in an over in a World Cup, though this was surpassed when Herschelle Gibbs
hit six sixes in one Daan van Bunge
over during the 2007 World Cup
.
strive for the preservation of both animal species and the culture of the country's original inhabitants (The San community).
In 2003, Marlice and Rudie, along with their pharmacist friend, Christ Heunis and Jan Verburg opened the N/a’an ku sê (Naankuse) Lifeline Clinic at Epukiro, Namibia where the San Bushman community can be treated free of charge. The Lifeline Clinic is entirely funded by voluntary donations and provides primary healthcare to over 3,500 patients a year.
In 2004, Marlice and Rudie bought the farm Ovuuyo, 42 km outside of Windhoek to establish their own animal reserve and gave it the name N/a’an ku sê (Naankuse) which means God will protect us. N/a’an ku sê (Naankuse) Charity Lodge & Wildlife Sanctuary opened in 2007. The Sanctuary accommodates mostly orphaned and injured animals that cannot be released safely back into the wild. They have also started the Carnivore Research Project to help conserve big cats and the Clever Cubs School, funded by the Clabile Trust, for the San Bushman children on the farm.
One of N/a’an ku sê’s most important goals is to improve the lives of the marginalised Bushman community which they do through providing education, employment, accommodation and improved living conditions.
The lodge is an article 21 organisation which donates any profits back into the conservation projects and work with the San Bushman community. 2
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
) is a Physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
by trade, former Namibian sportsman and committed conservationist.
Rudie van Vuuren married Namibian conservationist, Marlice van Vuuren
Marlice van Vuuren
Marlice Elretha Jansen van Vuuren born 14 May 1976 as Marlice Elrethra van der Merwe, is a popular Namibian conservationist who grew up surrounded by animals on her parents' farm in Namibia where for more than 30 years injured or orphaned animals have found refuge...
, in December 2000 and in December 2006 their little boy Zacheo was born. Together, Rudie & Marlice run Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary and Lodge
N/a’an ku sê (Naankuse) Wildlife Sanctuary, Namibia
Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary, N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary or Naankuse Lodge & Wildlife Sanctuary, opened in 2007 and runs a Wildlife Sanctuary, Carnivore Conservation Research programme, Clever Cubs Pre-School and Lifeline Medical Clinic for the San Bushman community...
.
Sport
He is best known for representing his country in both the 2003 Cricket World Cup2003 Cricket World Cup
-Group stage tables and results:The top three teams from each pool qualify for the next stage, carrying forward the points already scored against fellow qualifiers, plus a quarter of the points scored against the teams that failed to qualify.-Pool A:...
and the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup; as a result he became the first man to compete in the final stages of world-cup competitions in cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in the same year. He is the only Namibian to have taken five wickets in a One Day International, which he did against England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
.
In the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Australian Darren Lehmann
Darren Lehmann
Darren Scott Lehmann is a former Australian cricketer, who made his ODI debut in 1996 and Test debut in 1998. He was on the fringes of national selection for the entirety of the 1990s, and only became a regular in the ODI team in 2001 and Test team in late 2002, before being dropped in early 2005...
hit van Vuuren for 28 runs in a single over
Over (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, an over is a set of six consecutive balls bowled in succession. An over is normally bowled by a single bowler. However, in the event of injury preventing a bowler from completing an over, it is completed by a teammate....
. At the time, this was more runs than any other bowler had conceded in an over in a World Cup, though this was surpassed when Herschelle Gibbs
Herschelle Gibbs
Herschelle Herman Gibbs is a South African cricketer, more specifically a batsman.Gibbs was schooled at St Joseph's Marist College and then Diocesan College in Rondebosch...
hit six sixes in one Daan van Bunge
Daan van Bunge
Daan Lodewijk Samuel van Bunge is a Dutch cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm leg break bowler.Van Bunge has represented the Netherlands at many age levels, including at the Under-15 World Cup in 1996, and on their Under-17 tour of England in 1997...
over during the 2007 World Cup
2007 Cricket World Cup
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the sport's One Day International format...
.
Conservation achievements
Together, Rudie and his wife Marlice van VuurenMarlice van Vuuren
Marlice Elretha Jansen van Vuuren born 14 May 1976 as Marlice Elrethra van der Merwe, is a popular Namibian conservationist who grew up surrounded by animals on her parents' farm in Namibia where for more than 30 years injured or orphaned animals have found refuge...
strive for the preservation of both animal species and the culture of the country's original inhabitants (The San community).
In 2003, Marlice and Rudie, along with their pharmacist friend, Christ Heunis and Jan Verburg opened the N/a’an ku sê (Naankuse) Lifeline Clinic at Epukiro, Namibia where the San Bushman community can be treated free of charge. The Lifeline Clinic is entirely funded by voluntary donations and provides primary healthcare to over 3,500 patients a year.
In 2004, Marlice and Rudie bought the farm Ovuuyo, 42 km outside of Windhoek to establish their own animal reserve and gave it the name N/a’an ku sê (Naankuse) which means God will protect us. N/a’an ku sê (Naankuse) Charity Lodge & Wildlife Sanctuary opened in 2007. The Sanctuary accommodates mostly orphaned and injured animals that cannot be released safely back into the wild. They have also started the Carnivore Research Project to help conserve big cats and the Clever Cubs School, funded by the Clabile Trust, for the San Bushman children on the farm.
One of N/a’an ku sê’s most important goals is to improve the lives of the marginalised Bushman community which they do through providing education, employment, accommodation and improved living conditions.
The lodge is an article 21 organisation which donates any profits back into the conservation projects and work with the San Bushman community. 2
External links
- Rudie van Vuuren at Cricket Archive
- Rudie van Vuuren at Rugby Heaven
- Rudi van Vuuren at BBC Sport
- The Namibian newspaper article Rudie van Vuuren starts up new Lifeline clinic at Epukiro
- Naankuse website Rudie and Marlice van Vuuren, help orphaned and injured wildlife through N/a’an ku sê sanctuary in Namibia
- Travel News Namibia, page 26 featuring Rudie van Vuuren and Naankuse
- VW Golf magazine featuring Rudie van Vuuren and Naankuse following Golf ad filmed at Naankuse