Expedition · 2012–2013

SOLO SURFSKI AROUND SOUTH AFRICA

The first person in history to kayak the entire South African coastline solo, a 70‑day, 3,300 km journey around the Atlantic and Indian Ocean coastline, from Alexander Bay to the Mozambique border.

3,300 km
Total distance
70 days
At sea
24 Feb ’13
Completion

Richard Kohler paddling the South African coastline

In October 2012, Richard Kohler set out to become the first person to kayak solo around the entire South African coastline, a route that traces the full perimeter of the country, from the cold Atlantic waters of the West Coast, around the Cape, and up the warmer Indian Ocean coast to the Mozambique border.

What followed was 70 days of paddling into headwinds, riding the Agulhas current, launching through breaking surf, and sleeping wherever the coastline allowed, supported on land by a small, dedicated team while Richard did the work alone on the water. Along the way he crossed paths with sharks, whales and dolphins, and dealt with strong currents, big swell and stretches of restricted coastline, all recorded day by day below.

The expedition raised funds and awareness for Operation Smile, a cause Richard has carried through every major expedition since. On 24 February 2013, after 3,300 km, he stepped ashore at Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique, the first person in history to complete the journey.

Send-Off

Build-up, gear and departure · October 2012

Richard Kohler Rides the Waves Again14 October 2012Richard Kohler Rides the Waves Again

West Coast

Alexander Bay to Cape Town · October–November 2012

So the Expedition BeginsDay 1 · 20 October 2012So the Expedition BeginsAlexander Bay to Holgat RiverDay 3 · 23 October 2012Alexander Bay to Holgat RiverHolgat River to Port NollothDay 4 · 24 October 2012Holgat River to Port NollothMilnerton to Granger Bay Paddle17 November 2012Milnerton to Granger Bay Paddle

Cape Peninsula & Agulhas

Melkbos to Cape Agulhas · November–December 2012

Melkbos to WitsandDay 20 · 26 November 2012Melkbos to WitsandWitsand Around Cape Point to Buffels BayDay 21 · 27 November 2012Witsand Around Cape Point to Buffels BayFalse Bay Crossing to HangklipDay 22 · 28 November 2012False Bay Crossing to HangklipHangklip to HermanusDay 23 · 29 November 2012Hangklip to HermanusDanger PointDay 24 · 30 November 2012Danger PointKleinbaai to Die DamDay 25 · 18 December 2012Kleinbaai to Die DamDie Dam to StruisbaaiDay 26 · 19 December 2012Die Dam to Struisbaai (Cape Agulhas)Struis Baai to ArnistonDay 27 · 23 December 2012Struis Baai to ArnistonArniston to Cape InfantaDay 28 · 24 December 2012Arniston to Cape InfantaCape Infanta to JongensfonteinDay 28 · 25 December 2012Cape Infanta to Jongensfontein

Garden Route

Stilbaai to Kob Inn · December 2012–January 2013

Jongensfontein to Still BayDay 29 · 26 December 2012Jongensfontein to Still BayStilbaai to GouritsmondDay 30 · 27 December 2012Stilbaai to GouritsmondGouritsmond to VleesbaaiDay 31 · 28 December 2012Gouritsmond to VleesbaaiVleesbaai to Mossel BayDay 32 · 29 December 2012Vleesbaai to Mossel BayMossel Bay to Victoria BayDay 33 · 30 December 2012Mossel Bay to Victoria BayVictoria Bay to Buffels BayDay 34 · 31 December 2012Victoria Bay to Buffels BayBuffels Bay to KnysnaDay 35 · 1 January 2013Buffels Bay to KnysnaKnysna to Plettenberg BayDay 36 · 5 January 2013Knysna to Plettenberg BayPlettenberg Bay to Storms RiverDay 37 · 6 January 2013Plettenberg Bay to Storms RiverStorms River to EersterivierDay 38 · 7 January 2013Storms River to EersterivierEersterivier to Oyster BayDay 39 · 8 January 2013Eersterivier to Oyster BayOyster Bay to St FrancisDay 40 · 9 January 2013Oyster Bay to St FrancisSt Francis to Sardinia BayDay 41 · 25 December 2012St Francis to Sardinia BaySardinia Bay to Summer StrandDay 42 · 26 December 2012Sardinia Bay to Summer Strand (PE)Summer Strand to Sundays RiverDay 43 · 27 December 2012Summer Strand to Sundays RiverSundays River to Cannon RocksDay 44 · 28 December 2012Sundays River to Cannon Rocks (Boknes)Cannon Rocks to Port AlfredDay 45 · 29 December 2012Cannon Rocks to Port AlfredPort Alfred to HamburgDay 46 · 3 January 2013Port Alfred to HamburgHamburg to East LondonDay 47 · 6 January 2013Hamburg to East LondonEast London to Cinsta EastDay 48 · 8 January 2013East London to Cinsta EastCinsta East to Kei MouthDay 49 · 9 January 2013Cinsta East to Kei MouthKei Mouth to Kob InnDay 50 · 10 January 2013Kei Mouth to Kob Inn

Wild Coast

Kob Inn to Umzumbe · January 2013

Kob Inn to MbasheDay 51 · 24 January 2013Kob Inn to MbasheMbashe to Hole in the WallDay 52 · 25 January 2013Mbashe (The Haven) to Hole in the WallHole in the Wall to The Kraal, MpandeDay 53 · 26 January 2013Hole in the Wall to The Kraal (Mpande)Mpande to MboytiDay 54 · 27 January 2013Mpande to MboytiMbotyi to MtentuDay 55 · 28 January 2013Mbotyi to MtentuMtentu to GlenmoreDay 56 · 21 January 2013Mtentu to GlenmoreGlenmore to Port ShepstoneDay 57 · 22 January 2013Glenmore to Port ShepstonePort Shepstone to UmzumbeDay 58 · 23 January 2013Port Shepstone to Umzumbe

KwaZulu-Natal & The Finish

Winklespruit to Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique · February 2013

Umzumbe to WinklespruitDay 59 · 7 February 2013Umzumbe to WinklespruitWinklespruit to UmhlangaDay 60 · 7 February 2013Winklespruit to UmhlangaUmhlanga to ZinkwaziDay 62 · 7 February 2013Umhlanga to ZinkwaziZinkwazi to MtunziniDay 63 · 7 February 2013Zinkwazi to MtunziniMtunzini to Richards BayDay 64 · 8 February 2013Mtunzini to Richards BayRichards Bay to NhlabaneDay 65 · 8 February 2013Richards Bay to NhlabaneNhlabane to MapelaneDay 66 · 8 February 2013Nhlabane to MapelaneMaphelane to St LuciaDay 67 · 8 February 2013Maphelane to St LuciaSt Lucia to Cape VidalDay 68 · 8 February 2013St Lucia to Cape VidalCape Vidal to SodwanaDay 69 · 8 February 2013Cape Vidal to SodwanaSA Coastline Solo Kayak - FINISHED!Day 70 · 24 February 2013Sodwana to Ponta do Ouro — FINISHED

Solo Surfski Around South Africa was Richard’s first solo expedition. He went on to complete the Breede River SUP, the Breede Non-Stop, and the 6,403 km Southern Atlantic crossing.

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