“The Fynbos Guy” does as many as 140 hikes a year and has climbed Table Mountain countless times. We chatted to him about diamond eyes and nipping blisters in the bud.
Where does your love of the outdoors come from?
I grew up in London. It might not be the best place for nature, but I lived close to the Thames and I spent all my spare time exploring the riverbanks and local parks and commons.
I have always been obsessed with the natural world: I was a dinosaur freak, a birdwatcher, a fynbos fanatic and now I feel the current of marine biology pulling me towards the beach. Did you know that 5 % of the whole world’s coastal species is found offthe Cape Peninsula?
I’m one of those people whose childhood love of animals and plants has never faded. Dinosaurs forever!
How did you end up in South Africa?
We visited South Africa on a family holiday when I was about 10 years old. We went on safari in KZN and I was stupefied by the wildlife, especially the wildebeest and zebra wandering through camp. As a kid in 1970s London, I was excited just to see a hedgehog!
I vowed to return to Africa and become a game ranger, which I did in 1991, talking my way into a job with a safari company. I ended up running mobile safaris in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Who says dreams never come true?
I moved to Cape Town 20 years ago, which ignited a new passion for the mountains and the plants they’re covered in.
Why the name Fynbos Guy?
This story is from the February 2018 edition of go! - South Africa.
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This story is from the February 2018 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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