Australian puppeteer cycles through Ballito

Australian puppet master Nicholas Dacomb packed his life, his puppets and a tent into four small bags and set out on a bicycle trek of over 1000km across the Southern tip of Africa.

Dacomb’s initial goal was to travel a total of 1000km by bike from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth (P.E) performing his didgeridoo ‘Puppets for peace’ show in townships and at schools along the way.

“I was enjoying my time here so much that I decided to extend my journey an extra three months and I have completed 1800km so far.”

He took a bus from P.E to the Transkei and continued riding, with the aim of finishing his adventure in Zimbabwe at the Victoria Falls just in time for his 30th birthday.

The puppeteer made a special stop in Ballito last Thursday where he performed his show for a crowd of children and parents at the Ballito Library.

From here he travelled up to Mozambique and will ride from Maputo to Zimbabwe.

He fell into puppetry three years ago when he was unemployed and busking on the streets- playing his didgeridoo.

Until one day he went to a market and he found his first puppet, Joey the little Kangaroo. Joey inspired him to integrate puppets into his musical act.

From there he started his own small business in Australia and wrote short stories for his shows that he began performing at festivals and schools.

The idea of traveling by bike came about after reading a book on Ghandi’s life.

“I was inspired by his life. Inspired to offer my services to others and to try a much simpler way of living, going back to simple values. I am responsible for a lot less possessions now and I feel free.”

Dacomb’s aim with his shows is to promote simple life values of happiness, love, peace and laughter.

After enduring long bike rides (11 continuous hours being the longest), bad weather conditions and tick bite fever, Dacomb still says it’s been an amazing journey.

“It is very good for your mind. It puts things into perspective and teaches us what is really important in life.”

A big highlight was traveling through the Transkei where so many children in the rural areas would run up to him and he would stop and perform a show for them.

“They do not have TV’s or books so they were so enthused by the puppets, looking at them like ‘wow, what it that?’ as well as being a bit wary and taken aback. They live such simple lives, so it was rewarding for us to learn from each other.”