LIMPOPO – Adeventure enthusiast and fitness fanatic, Nyiko Masango (39), from Nkowankowa near Tzaneeen uses his passion for mountain hiking to make a difference.
On Saturday, Masango will lead a mountain hiking expedition at Debengeni Waterfall in Magoebaskloof and the R150 participating fee will be used to buy sanitary pads for impoverished girls at Mahlane Secondary School. The donation will be delivered on Mandela Day.
More than 20 hiking enthusiasts are expected to take part in the 10km ‘Hike for a Cause’ event, which is organised in partnership with the Teach a Girl Foundation.
“A high number of rural girls are forced to bunk school during their menstruation because of poverty. I decided to use my passion to help them and I invite members of the community to join the event. Many township residents still believe that mountain hiking is for whites, which is not true.”
Masango has been hiking for many years in the Magaliesberg mountains. Some of his other physical pastimes include running, skydiving and biking. He once took part in a gruelling bicycle marathon from Durban to Tzaneen to raise awareness against child and woman abuse.
“I have a passion for sport, but I realised at a young age that I wasn’t a competitive athlete in terms of speed, so I decided to do it for fun and fitness. I was also influenced a lot by television. I watched how movie heroes trained hard to look good. I put in a lot of work to keep my body fit and healthy.”
Masango has turned his passion for extreme sport into a business. He runs fitness classes, is a personal fitness coach and organises mountain hiking tours in Limpopo and Gauteng. The hikes include a braai where participants enjoy each other’s company over a good meal.
The father of one is also a trained actor, professional photographer, an ordained priest, a motivational speaker and a business coach. He said his motto in life is: “Seize the moment, live life to the fullest.”
Masango said he was inspired by the late Steve Jobs and other people who are not afraid to push the limits and are changing the world through challenging the status quo.
His dream is to become an astronaut and make a stopover at the moon.
“I live my life on my own terms. I do not subscribe to a lot of the norms or manmade rules. I don’t apologise for who I am and I don’t seek approval and affirmation from other people. I enjoy being me and I don’t feel like I need anything to complete me. I am who I am, and I’m complete as I am,” he said.
People who want to book a spot on the ‘Hike for a Cause’ event can call 079 898 1902 or Nyiko on 082 732 9669 for more information on future hikes.
