Adventurer embraces trials in quest to save SA’s coastline

A chance encounter fuels a dream that has led to an African odyssey for Swart

Swimming across rivers, sleeping on a bed of rocks, overcoming hypothermia and red tide poisoning and even lunching with abalone poachers, Dean Swart, 48, has encountered all sorts of experiences over the last 10 months.
In an attempt to raise awareness about the plight of our oceans, Swart sold all his possessions and has endeavoured to walk a total of 5,700km along the coast of South Africa, and Mozambique, hoping to make it to the border of Tanzania by the end of 2019.
“I’ve always been passionate about conservation and I remember visiting the Jukskei River in Johannesburg and seeing how dead and polluted it is now, and I realised someone had to do something,” said Swart, who is originally from Zimbabwe, but lived in South Africa for seven years before starting his trip.
Swart’s life has been far from perfect – from having his family farm expropriated in Zimbabwe to toiling away in the construction industry in SA. The idea to pack everything up and go on an epic adventure was sparked two years ago after he remembered the words of an old man he once met.
“I met a horrible man many years ago in Zimbabwe who was in his eighties and dying of throat cancer. He was rude and just a despicable person, but something kept me visiting and checking up on him,” said Swart.
“He left a lasting impression on me because of the life he had lived. He told me that when I am old and dying all I will have left are my memories – pictures of sunsets will fade, and only get worse, but my memories of it will always be better.”
And so, in an attempt to lead a simpler, happier and more meaningful life, Swart decided to set off and see as many different sunsets as he could.
His series of wild adventures started on January 31 at the Namibian border in Alexander Bay, where, with just the boots on his feet, a walking stick and a 34kg back pack, Swart began his epic journey.
Greeted with plastic, washed up marine life and a devastated landscape, Swart said that the more he walked the more pessimistic about the fate of our oceans he became.
“It’s difficult to stay positive on this expedition, but I’m stubborn and I believe that if everyone takes up this cause, things will change. I did a lot of research beforehand and I expected devastation, but to see it first hand really gets under my skin,” said Swart, who stops over in any town he can along the way to give school talks and raise awareness. He recently gave a talk at Lilyfontein School while in East London.
“I hope to inspire the younger generation with my story and give them the courage to tackle something that seems insurmountable – like walking almost 6,000km or fighting against ocean pollution. I want to turn them into little activists.”
Walking almost 20km daily, Swart relies on his sponsors and the kindness of strangers to survive the often arduous trek, but said that he never accepts lifts to make the journey easier.
“I try to stick to the coastline as much as I can and only take detours along the road when it’s absolutely necessary. In many situations fear has been my greatest survival tool because it forces me to take calculated risks,” said Swart, who once had to pluck up the courage and mental stamina to climb 40 metre sandstone cliffs at Infanta, a seaside resort at the estuary of the Breede River.
“This journey is fantastically rich in experiences, not only with nature, but also with people. It has shown me my place in the world and has opened my mind to so many communities. It’s ridded me of any prejudices or biased judgment,” said Swart, who recalls being given a meal by a shack dweller and another Good Samaritan driving 180km just to bring him a bite to eat.
Now on his second pair of boots, and with just under 4,000km to go, Swart will resume his walk on Thursday, starting from the East London harbour.
“I want to start a conversation and get people to start asking questions and actively protect our oceans,” said Swart.
To follow Swart’s journey visit his website at www.500sunsets.co.za or follow him on Facebook or instagram at 500 Sunsets. He can also be contacted on 082-390-8010...

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