Kingsley Holgate travels South Africa’s borders and coastline in 80 days

In a uniquely South African version of “Around the world in 80 days”, local adventurer Kingsley Holgate travelled the entirety of South Africa’s borders and coastline.

Starting in Kosi Bay, Kingsley, his partner Sheelagh, his son Ross, Ross’s wife Anna and their 19-year-old son Tristan tracked our country’s total land borders with Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique and the whole of land-locked Lesotho.

Although this was a first of its kind expedition, the primary focus was to deliver over 250 000 meals worth of nutritional porridge to communities around the country who have been left food scarce as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It was disturbing to see border posts like ghost towns,” said Kingsley. 

“No business at all – from the empty shisanyama and fruit stalls lining the road, to short-stay motels and upmarket game lodges – everything closed. The loss of income must be terrifying; it really brought home the severity of the Covid-19 lockdown and how people in these outlying areas are still struggling to put food on the table.”

The group were joined for short spells by Project Rhino ambassador Richard Mabanga and mountaineers Andre Bredenkamp and Sibusiso Vilane, the first African to successfully summit Mt Everest.

From a geographic perspective, the group tried to stay as close to the land borders as possible, reaching South Africa’s most eastern, northern, western and southern geographic points.

The 16 000 kilometre journey was not without some difficult moments and poor roads, weather and border guards posed interesting challenges,

“With travel bans still in place, some of the fence lines were heavily guarded by the South African Defense Force and we had to get permission from the top military brass beforehand,” recalled Ross. 

“They were always supportive of the expedition’s mission, but sometimes the message would not get all the way down the line and we would have to do some fast talking.”

The well known traditional calabash also made the journey and a thimbleful of water from 50 important water sources was collected and then emptied at the exact same place where the mission started 80 days earlier.

“The expedition’s Scroll of Peace and Goodwill is full of inspirational messages from hundreds of remarkable people we met all along Mzansi’s Edge,” said Kingsley. 

“Especially in these difficult times, it’s been good to be reminded of the unique diversity of nature, culture and community that make up our country. Wherever possible, let’s get out there and enjoy the incredible adventure destinations South Africa has to offer, staying Covid-safe of course.”