Riaan Manser, the adventurer better known for his solo achievements of cycling around the perimeter of Africa and paddling around the coastline of Madagascar, is to be a part of this year's National Arts Festival.
Riaan Manser, the adventurer better known for his solo achievements of cycling around the perimeter of Africa and paddling around the coastline of Madagascar, is to be a part of this year's National Arts Festival.
Manser rose to prominence by becoming the first person to cycle around the perimeter of Africa. For over two years, alone and unaided, he pedalled a staggering 37 000km through 34 countries, some of which rank as the most dangerous countries on Earth.
Manser’s achievement earned him the title OutThere Adventurer of the Year 2006 and his book, Around Africa on my Bicycle, became a best-seller.
During his journey he was imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea and was held captive by drugged teenage rebels in Liberia. On both occasions he secured his release through his charm, amicable personality and exceptional powers of persuasion.
Manser set another world first when he became the first person to circumnavigate Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, by kayak – also alone and unaided.
Manser’s efforts were rewarded with his second accolade, OutThere Adventurer of the Year 2009 and italAround Madagascar on my Kayak/ital, his book recounting his amazing feat, has also received acclaim.
Manser’s next challenge was to take on the Arctic waters and mystical Iceland with a partner, cerebral palsy sufferer, Dan Skinstad. italAround Iceland on Inspiration/ital was made into a 13-episode TV series which documented the 2 300 paddle the two made in circumnavigating Iceland in a double sea-kayak over a five-month period.
Catch Manser will have a book signing and informal conversation session at the Rhodes University Nun's Chapel during the festival on 7 July.
