Finding needles in a haystack

Finding needles in a haystack

Finding early-stage exploration project in South Africa is like looking for needles in a haystack.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and writer/editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.

It is a lot easier to sip on a Sibebe Lager in Eswatini than to find the next great exploration project in South Africa.

Finding early-stage exploration projects in the six African countries that we travelled through during our three previous WhyAfrica overland Road Trips, was the easiest part of putting together the logistics for our expedition.

After identifying those projects, we start building the itinerary around them and aim to fit in as many site visits as possible. With demand for critical minerals at an all-time high, greenfields exploration projects were not hard to find over the last four years.

This year it was. Finding early-stage exploration projects in South Africa (the primary focus on Leg 1 of our 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip), is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Still some life in mining

In the end I managed to track down three ventures that one could vaguely describe as greenfields exploration projects, which is somewhat concerning.

However, the fact that we did manage to organise site visits to more than 20 active mines in various stages of development during our 45-day overland trip, gives me hope that the mining industry in South Africa still has some life in it.

But, even if I don’t like saying it, South Africa’s mineral exploration sector is in decline, and investors are becoming frustrated.

Moreover, the country is at risk of yet again missing out on the next mining boom.

Exploring for new deposits in South Africa has become almost impossible. Not because of the geology, but because of the range of systemic barriers that block progress.

Find out what is happening on the ground

Despite the challenge of finding new greenfields exploration projects in South Africa, we were still able to put together our biggest and boldest WhyAfrica Road Trip itinerary ever, so don’t miss out on this one.

Leg 2 of our trip to Zambia early next year is already attracting a lot of interest and Leg 3 soon after will be spectacular although I have been forced to not reveal anything yet.

If you do business in South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho and southern Namibia or you are travelling through these countries over the next two months or so, send me a WhatsApp to find out what is really happening on the ground. I like chatting about Africa’s natural resources, mineral exploration, sustainability and the environment.

And if you think you are that that needle in the haystack, give me a call.

Finding needles in a haystack