MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Dean Swart embarked on his solo mission to walk the coastline of Southern Africa at the end of January this year.
He started his walk at Alexander Bay on the West Coast and plans to end it at the Tanzanian border after walking about 5 700 kilometres.
He plans to complete this journey in 20 to 24 months.
The purpose of this mission is two-fold. Personally, he has taken the time out of his normal life to experience and enjoy the vastness and splendour of the coastline. He also aims to create awareness of plastic pollution and the plight of various shark species.
Dean is gathering environmental data on the health of the coastline and will record the levels of pollution with photographs and samples. He has no backup and is self funded. Backpacker establishments many times offer a bed and food but mostly he sleeps on a beach under the stars. He has prepared for this walk for over a year and did extensive research and three-month survival training.
He carries everything in a backpack.
Dean stopped over in Mossel Bay last week and spoke to the Mossel Bay Advertiser about his journey so far. Due to a stress fracture, he had to stay over in Infanta at the Breede River for nine weeks but his ankle has healed and he is ready for the next stage of his walk.
When asked what he found on our Mossel Bay coast, pollution wise, he said that the beaches are quite clean. It is, however, behind the first dunes or between the dune vegetation that there are many plastic bottles and bags just under the sand, probably buried by sand due to the prevailing wind.
The bulk of the items found were single-use plastic bottles, he said.
The journey of Dean Swart can be followed on all social media platforms under the name "500 Sunsets". Please support his campaign and follow him on Twitter and facebook and if you have any friends or family further up the coast, please let them know to make contact with Dean.
He is willing to give talks at schools and other events about his interesting journey.
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