Cape Town - Scores of people made sure to show Yuji “Gump” Suzuki an overflow of support and love on Sunday as he officially arrived at the V&A Waterfront to conclude his 6 400km journey all the way from Nairobi, Kenya with his rickshaw.
Upon arrival, the adventurer was overcome with emotion as he arrived at the waterfront with many cheering him on waving the flags of Japan and South Africa.
With his enduring spirit and well-natured demeanor, Suzuki has managed to win over many, including a number of South Africans as he travelled across six African countries over 210 days.
He would cover between 30 and 50kms a day throughout his 7-month journey, while editing videos daily.
“I never imagined that a stage like this could exist, so this stage is all thanks to you. Thank you so much from all of my heart. I could never imagine that I would be travelling for seven months.”
His journey proved to be an enlightening one as he faced a number of challenges from being without electricity, unable to charge any of his electrical equipment, and being hit by a truck twice in Zambia, but he said that the most difficult part of the journey was running through the Namibia desert, due to the vast swaths of land that was empty.
He added that South Africa has been a highlight for him, “I absolutely love it here, I love South Africa.”
Suzuki was also full of jokes and good humour on Sunday, asking for a beer to drink in place of water, and also responding to someone who said “I love you” by saying, “I love you too. I’m still single…I’m still looking for a wife”.
Many people attended the official conclusion of his journey, with one supporter coming all the way from Velddrif on the West Coast to support him.
Jacqueline Tamri, 57, said she has been following him since he came up on her TikTok, and saw that he was crossing the border from Namibia into South Africa.
“My grandsons ran with him from Green Point to here, so that something can stir in their being as well.”
Former Springbok physiotherapist, Rene Naylor, DHL Stormers rugby player, Seabelo Senatla, and also City of Cape Town councillor, Neil de Beer were in attendance, and shared some gifts and words of encouragement to Suzuki.
Naylor said that there were many similarities between the Japanese and South Africans, and one of those being the determined spirit to not give up.
Next for Suzuki is a return to Japan for some rest before he goes on to the next leg of his journey, South America. He added that a documentary of his 9-year journey travelling the globe will be coming out, but that is a year or two away.