Cape Town - A Cape Town adventurer has claimed a “first” - as the first person to paddle solo around the coast of South Africa.
Richard Kohler, 43, of Milnerton, set off from the mouth of the Orange River, which forms part of the South African-Namibian border, on October 24.
On Saturday, after 70 days of paddling, he crossed the “finish line”, the South African border with Mozambique, just north of Kosi Bay.
Speaking to the Cape Argus last night from the N1, on his way home in his sponsored Land Rover Defender expedition vehicle, he said: “I’m feeling 100 percent. In fact, I’m feeling so good I thought for a moment about carrying on up to the equator.
“In 70 days of paddling I’ve encountered too many amazing people, bays, landmarks, lighthouses, rocky peninsulas and islands to describe in one breath.”
More important for Kohler was that he raised money and awareness for the Cipla Miles For Smiles Foundation, which supports Operation Smile SA in raising funds for life-changing operations for children born with cleft palates.
Cape Argus