Challenge and adventure
In 1973, a young Englishman, Robin Buzza, was ill
of ease with both himself and British society. His happy memories of an
African
childhood
were in conflict with the demands of modern western society. He hankered
for physical challenge and adventure, and eventually found an oulet for
his frustration by leaving England and rowing an open boat single-handed
for 12 weeks from the Shetland Islands to Norway`s North Cape. On
completion of this journey, an inner compass needle pointed further north
to the islands of Svalbard, where he was to spend the next 25 years of his
life.
Photo: Robin Buzza
In 1980, he acquired his first team of Greenland sledge dogs and embarked
on a number of journeys that were to take him to most parts of the
archipelago. In the polar desert of Svalbard, far away from civilisation,
travelling and surviving through all weather conditions, Robin was
re-educated by natural forces. These experiences changed his life.
Wilderness philosophy
From this grew a deep interest in ecology and wilderness philosophy. With
the encouragement of the international conservationist Dr. Ian Player, who
had established the Wilderness Leadership School in South Africa, he
developed his own company - Arctic Wilderness Experience (AWE). After a
few years, 50 Greenland dogs and a number of hired guides were taking
small groups on 10-day tours in the arctic wilderness. Soon,
the order book was full and the company up and running successfully. But
for Robin, old conflicts resurfaced. Modern tourism on Svalbard and the
increasing use of motorised transport in the wilderness, purely for
commercial and financial gain, challenged his own ideals. Modern tourism
had no time for wilderness ethics.
Robin felt he had to make a
decision. Should he sell his beloved dogs to which he was so devoted and
leave the white wilderness that he felt was his real home, or should he
stay and crusade for his beliefs. Childhood Africa provided the answer he
needed, and with further advice from a learned South African, he decided
to move to mainland Norway.
AWE`s previous base in Svalbard.
The Land of the Sami
With his partner Kitty and two small children, the family ventured to
Hamarøy in 2002. It was a district none of them had ever seen before.
Hamarøy and nearby Tysfjord have enormous areas of pristine wilderness.
The region has been the home of the indigenous Sami for thousands of
years, and AWE continues in the belief that a wilderness experience is
essential for the well-being of modern man. If we destroy the wilderness,
we destoy ourselves.
There have been hiccups, downfalls
and disappointments as well as great moments, revelations and successes.
The adventure continues...
