Richards Bay cop to become Lake Malawi’s first solo rower
Richards Bay Sea Border police officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Kobus Olivier is preparing to become the first ever solo rower to circumnavigate Lake Malawi
ALL in the name of autism, bold Richards Bay Sea Border police officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Kobus Olivier, is preparing to become the first ever solo rower to circumnavigate Lake Malawi.
It will take him two months of paddling at least 35km a day to circle the third largest lake in Africa, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
With faith and preparation his strongest allies, Lt Col Olivier will spread the autism message
His first strokes as he tackles the ultra-tough 1 400km voyage begin in August, when he will be confronted by malaria (rife in the area), vast clouds of lake flies (often confused with plumes of smoke), and four-metre swells brought on by ‘Mother Mawera’ winds, responsible for the death of 12 passengers on a boat that capsized last year.
All this, equipped only with bare necessities such as clothes, food, water, medication, a cell phone charged by a solar panel, and an emergency positioning device in case of crisis.
This will be Olivier’s second Nomakanjani surf-ski challenge to donate proceeds to the ABLE (Autism and Behavioural Learning Environment) Centre in Meerensee.
The route will start in the South at Senga Bay in Malawi through to Tanzania and Mozambique, ending with a 30km cross lake paddle back to Malawi.
‘That will be the most challenging paddle since I will be navigating the crossing without any land in sight as a fixed point.
‘Up to the last stretch, I plan to start at 5am when the wind conditions are most preferable and paddle for six hours.
‘Paddlers who have taken on the challenge in groups advised I keep my distance from reeds swarming with mosquitoes and I stay well hydrated.
‘If not, it is likely I’ll lose balance and will have no one as back-up to come to the rescue.
‘I’m training two hours a day to be ship-shape for this adventure.’
Olivier said if 50 companies could sponsor just R1 per kilometre, the team will be all set to go on the goodwill mission.
‘The objective is to raise money to provide additional infrastructure to allow the sustainable existence and operations of ABLE Centre for children with autism, and to create a greater awareness of autism in communities in Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique.
‘Often in rural regions in these countries, people with autism are wrongly perceived as being ‘crazy’.
‘This must be changed, and to do so we must establish autism support structures with Malawi,
Tanzania and Mozambique to set up facilitation centres where experience can be shared and better awareness rendered.’
To contribute to the worthy cause, supporters can transfer funds electronically to account holder JH Olivier; account number 54901201671 (FNB); branch code 250 655 and reference NOMA17.
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