Zimbabwean adventurer Nkosilathi Mathe reaches South Africa after driving 24 000km from England, with 3 000km left to Bulawayo.
Zimbabwean adventurer Nkosilathi Mathe has reached South Africa after driving more than 24,000km from England, bringing him within touching distance of completing his extraordinary journey home to Bulawayo.
The 49-year-old social worker and truck driver arrived in Johannesburg, where members of the Zimbabwean community welcomed him after months on the road across Europe and Africa.
Mathe set off from Birmingham in a UK-registered 2017 Nissan X-Trail and now has roughly 3 000km left before he reaches Bulawayo.
He is also using the journey to raise money for SOS Children’s Villages.
Speaking to ZimLive , Mathe said reaching South Africa had given him fresh excitement as the end of the journey approaches.
“I am so happy to have reached South Africa and have had a great welcome from the Zimbabwean community in Johannesburg,” he said.
He said his mother was particularly relieved to learn that he had safely reached the country.
“I could tell the relief from my mother when she called and found out I was in Johannesburg. I feel excited that I am nearly home and grateful for all the prayers that have ensured I arrive safely.”
Mathe will now travel through Botswana before crossing into Zimbabwe at the Plumtree Border Post.
Although the journey has tested Mathe with difficult roads, border delays, breakdowns and alleged demands for bribes, he said he never seriously considered abandoning the expedition.
“At no point have I considered abandoning the journey,” he said. “I have been frustrated on occasions, but not to the point of contemplating abandoning the journey.”
One of his toughest experiences came at the Rosso border crossing between Mauritania and Senegal.
Mathe said officials detained him for about four hours after catching him filming on a public road. He alleged that border guards searched his cameras and deleted footage showing officials allegedly demanding money from him.
He also described repeated encounters with police in Senegal.
“I was constantly harassed for bribes by police in Senegal, which resulted in a tense standoff in which an officer tried to grab my camera,” he said.
He was also issued what he described as a “ridiculous ticket” for carrying his own luggage and bedding rather than passengers.
The roads also put Mathe’s Nissan X-Trail through a serious test.
While travelling between Angola and Zambia, he became stuck in deep sand in a remote area before the vehicle’s starter motor failed.
Mathe walked for about 45 minutes to a nearby worksite to find assistance and arrange a tow.
With the starter still unrepaired, he had to push-start the vehicle while crossing several wooden bridges into Zambia.
Earlier in West Africa, a mud trap dislodged the vehicle’s front bumper, forcing him to secure it with makeshift straps.
His sunroof was also shattered in Ghana by welding sparks while he was repairing the roof rack. Replacing it cost him £500.
The unexpected repairs, accommodation and other expenses have pushed the cost of the expedition to around £15 000 (about R325,000), which is at the upper end of Mathe’s original budget.
He said the trip could have been cheaper if he had slept in his vehicle more frequently instead of staying in hotels.
Despite the financial pressure and setbacks, Mathe has continued towards his ultimate destination.
Mathe launched the expedition as a fundraiser for SOS Children’s Villages, although donations currently stand at £50 on the Facebook fundraising page he created.
He remains hopeful that more people will support the cause as he approaches the end of his journey.
With South Africa now behind him, Mathe faces the final stretch through Botswana and into Zimbabwe.
After travelling more than 24 000km from England, the Zimbabwean adventurer is now just a few thousand kilometres from completing his remarkable drive home to Bulawayo.
Source: The South African
This content was aggregated from an external RSS feed. VNTV does not own or control this content. Click "Read Full Story" to visit the original source.
