Adventurer extraordinaire

March 24, 2011. Riaan Manser’s latest book Around Madagascar on My Kayak (published by Jonathan Ball Publishers) is a triumph . . . now the adventurer teams up with Dan Skinstad (brother of Bobby) to do a 5 000km circumnavigation of Iceland on a canoe.

Manser, who first grabbed the public’s attention when he did an epic 37000km trip on his bicycle through Africa, decided to do something completely different when he paddled 5 000km around Madagascar on his canoe, and became the first to do so. For his next adventure, he has looked for an entirely new environment, a physical opposite to what he’s encountered before in Africa . . . the freezing climes of Iceland.

Around Madagascar on My Kayak is a cracking good read (I devoured its 340 pages in a weekend) . . .  it’s inspirational, entertaining and strong on detail. Actually, detail is, in my mind, what makes this such a great story.

Manser survives week-long chill in epic freezer trailer journey

You might initially think that a jaunt around Madagascar in a canoe would not really be such a big deal. That would be because you haven’t thought about the detail. What about the tides, what about the powerful winds battering the Madagascan coast, the unrelenting sun, where to sleep, what to eat? Worst of all, what do you do at the end of an exhausting day’s paddling when you have to land at your destination for the day, somewhere along the coast, but there are eight foot monster waves pounding the shore, breaking over coral reefs. Not much fun.

Physically harassed

Then there are the occasions on which you are robbed, physically harassed, arrested, important communications gear stolen (sponsors help, pleeeease).

And what about the logistics? Sponsors for telecommunications and filming purposes. Financial aid from Windhoek Lager for transport, accommodation where necessary, someone to build a unique, custom kayak, medical supplies, clothing, fishing, political connections in case of interference from local government and police . . . Pirates? Yes, they’re also in here.

Riaan Manser's Around Madagascar On My Kayak

Manser often survived on his journey by fishing, and then trading his catch for the right to put up his tent in the local village.

The Cape Town based adventurer’s epic of close to a year is well captured in this book and I particularly liked this paragraph: “The logbook added that final authentic touch. I am an adventurer, a genuine adventurer. In days to come it was to help me, amid all the gadgets, materialism and self-pity we wallow in daily, to identify again, even if only for me, exactly what I do as a life-choice. No queen would await me on my return with a reward or a knighthood, but I didn’t want that sort of fleeting accolade. Just authentic adventure, discovery and memories.”

Skinstad and Manser

Now back to Skinstad and Manser, and the small matter of Iceland.

The pair left the fishing town of Húsavík on March 16 and are expecting to take four months to paddle around Iceland, again relying on nature for food to a large extent and camping out whenever necessary. The logistics and training involved are immense.

Dan Skinstad has mild cerebral palsy, but says he wants no favours and plans to do more than his share on the adventure. The interaction and the way Dan Skinstad and Riaan Manser can communicate and get along under extremely trying circumstances is going to be a fascinating dynamic.

Fishing will help sustain Riaan and Dan on their adventure

Cerebral palsy and kayaking around Madagascar. No sweat.

The Daily Maverick quoted him: “I have a disability, but I don’t want that to be a focal point. There are millions of people far worse off than I am politically, economically or physically. The message I want to impart – one I have learnt from Riaan – is that there is an ocean between saying and doing. There are lots of people who say they can do things, but the truth is until you get off your backside and do them, it’s only talk.”

Hear, hear. We follow this adventurous pair’s exploits with great interest. – Garth Johnstone

Follow Riaan and Dan’s epic adventure around Iceland online