Ep 14. Looking for Gavin Johnson Part 2. Final.

Mandy Horvath shares the challenges of summiting Africa's tallest mountain, Kilimanjaro at 19 341 feet. Many alpinists have beaten the thin air to reach the summit of this iconic mountain, but Mandy is the first woman to do it on her hands; she's a double amputee following a near death accident in her 21st year where she was smashed by a train losing her legs to save her life...

Double amputee, recovering alcoholic, outdoors woman, adventurer and quite simply one strong willed youngster, Mandy Horvath, tells the tale of climbing Kilimanjaro Africa's tallest mountain at 19 341 feet. She's earned the right to have the landscape tattooed on her flesh, she's already got its grit grain and dust imbedded in her hands and fingers. Oh and by the way, she scaled the mountain unaided and on her hands achieving an Guinness records first.. This is a two part podcast so look out for the second that follows.

"Reduce your stress - track a buffalo" was the heading used by Business Day's Investment Editor, Mervyn Harris, who used it to headline the article the wrote following his experience with me on The Ranger Training Course for Executives. It's a cool story,  which I recount on this podcast. Mervyn published his article on Tuesday October 6th 1992! I hope you enjoy it too.. dont forget to subscribe, give me the thumbs up, etc.

This is a gentle monologue about the wilderness and what it means for us as a species. I hope thought provoking...

Sometimes you get lucky when you engage a group of guides, specialists in their fields, in a conversation. This is a conversation with guides from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia, but not just from exotic countries rather from the most iconic areas of those destinations.. the Serengeti, Victoria Falls and the mighty Zambezi River, Botswana's Okavango Delta and the remote and seclude South Luangwa Valley of Zambia.

August 21 2017 most of America saw the total solar eclipse race across the country from the Pacific coast over the Atlantic shore.. That was three years ago, which today triggers memories of another epic eclipse that I witnessed in March 2015. This is an account of the drama that I experienced North of latitude 78, where it's cold, damned cold and wild, wild beyond my wildest dreams...!

Standup comedian, feminist playwright, journalist and adventurer "Lofty" talks about life leading up to her latest venture WAT. 

After missing my flight to an airstrip up near Sioma in Zambia I had to make a plan to get there by road.. a short story of an adventure across western Zambia in search of Gavin Johnson.

When I missed my flight I found myself on the step of Livingston International airport contemplating my next move. It was something of a misadventure along the course of the mighty Zambezi River. I was supposed to be chasing giant tiger fish from the banks of the rapidly flowing Zambezi...

I found this conversation and podcast extremely challenging. Covid-19 has separated me from my guests, the internet strength has meant we talk over Skype with the camera off, which keeps a distance between us. This conversation was different; it was beyond me, it was difficult to digest, I was stunned for words, I had a good internet connection so we used our cameras, I choked up when I could see Mandy's eye tear up as she recounted those moments that have left her scarred... This is a story of courage, hardship beyond comprehension and a resolve a strength of will to overcome. Listen if you dare.