Finally, after a solid week of endless rain, the weather gods cleared up! I couldn’t wait any longer, so I finally kicked off the first day of my walking journey.

​I started from Strand, a safe town located about 60 km east of Cape Town. Day one turned out to be an absolute beauty—29.3 km in the bag, walking with my trusty Nordic Cab trailer.

​The scenery here is mind-blowing. High mountains stretching out for tens of kilometers on one side, and the ocean on the other. Honestly, it doesn't even feel like the typical image of Africa yet. The coastline from Strand onwards is lined with beautiful villas, mostly owned by Americans and Brits. The social contrast here is quite striking, though—most local Africans I've seen are working hard in restaurants and gas stations, or they are well-educated professionals in suits driving nice cars.

​At the end of the day, I walked into a local restaurant to ask if there was a spot where I could pitch my tent. Before I knew it, an elderly American lady with a rollator stopped me. She was absolutely fascinated by my setup and bombarded me with a million questions. She even insisted on buying me a beer!

​Shortly after, her son stepped in and invited me onto their private property. He kindly offered to let me sleep in the back of his large station wagon. After thinking it over for a minute, I decided to stick to the true adventure style and found a perfect spot for my tent just 250 meters from his house.

​Right now, I’m falling asleep to the incredible sound of ocean waves crashing against the rocks right below me, with a stunning view ahead.

​Day 1 is officially done. The journey is just beginning!

​Stats of the day:

​Distance: 29.34 km

​Time: 5h 50m

​Avg Speed: 5.0 km/h

​Start: Strand -> Gordon's Bay -> Coastal Route

[OC] Africa on Foot: Day 1 — 29 km down, an epic ocean view, and incredible local hospitality after 7 days of waiting for the sun! 🌍🥾South Africa Strand -> Gordon's Bay -> Coastal Route