Wilderness school backs eco-walk

THE finish line is in sight for Grant Christie (28), founder of Six Million Steps, who is set to complete his walk of over 3,000km along the coastline of South Africa, from Orange River on the west coast to Kosi Bay near the Mozambican border.

With less than 200km until he reaches his goal, Grant, a former engineer, is excited to complete the expedition, which he describes as physically and mentally tough. He started the walk in October and it is estimated he will complete it in less than a week. Backed by the Wilderness Leadership School in Yellowwood Park, the aim of the walk is to raise awareness of coastal environmental issues.

“The oceans are struggling. Fish stocks are low. Fishermen everywhere tell me how they are struggling. Pollution is another issue. Where there is people, there is pollution,” he said. “The stretch from Amanzimtoti to Durban is the dirtiest section I have walked. There is a lot of litter left lying around. There were however, places that were unspoiled and untouched. Stretches which are pristine and beautiful.”
Along his journey, Grant has seen the good and the bad.

He is however astonished at the kindness and generosity of the people of South Africa, some of whom have offered him food while others accommodated him.

He has also encountered some speed bumps along the way, one such case was a four-metre fall down some rocks at Herald’s Bay, which left him bed-ridden for a few days. With scars to prove his mettle, Grant has scaled cliffs, swam across rivers and been chased by dogs.

It may not take him Six Million Steps to complete the journey, but the approximately four million steps he will take, will be instrumental in him reaching a goal he feels there is no option but to complete it. After taking his last step, he hopes to write a book about his experiences and people he has met on the journey.
Follow his progress at www.facebook.com/sixmillionsteps.