Gump Suzuki's heroic run - 24th February 2025

A tour guide from Tokyo's accomplished the colossal feat of drawing his rickshaw 6,400 kilometres across six African countries. While Yuji Suzuki's more used to providing tourists with enlightening trips around cultural and historical sights, he's also cultivated his own spirit of adventure.

After running through Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana on his way from Nairobi to Cape Town, Suzuki was confronted by the vast deserts of Namibia.

Gump Suzuki: "So when I was crossing, like, Namibia - nothing everywhere. That's why it's very difficult to get water, to get food. I sleep outside every time, yeah. Man, that it's very good experience for me."

Suzuki's first endeavour, back in 2016, was to run from China to India pulling his 100-kilogram rickshaw, a success which he followed up with a 2,500-kilometre sprint across Europe a year later. One inspiration driving his exploits was the Hollywood character Forrest Gump's coast-to-coast runs across the USA, and this led to him assuming the moniker Gump Suzuki. Last year, Suzuki emulated his hero's efforts by completing a rickshaw run covering 5,100 kilometres, from New York to Los Angeles.

Gump Suzuki: "Ah yeah, running, running for fun. Actually, but I've been travel for nine years already. Yeah, I get the power from you guys. That's why I gonna to give you guys power too. Yeah, that's my life."

People along the route have been providing Suzuki with support in their droves, and children, in particular, have been eager to join the spectacle - although lion and elephant spectators tracking Suzuki have raised his heartbeat a touch further. Nevertheless, such dangers are eclipsed by the love supporters like Alvyn Andrews have shown in accompanying him across vast distances.

Alvyn Andrews: "And I've been following Gump Suzuki from Namibia. I caught up with him when a guy stopped him - offered him water - just as he got out of, out of Namibia. And I've been following him all the way. And it's just amazing to see how the people in, in South Africa's, has, has just come out."

While a rickshaw run across South America's in the works for Suzuki next year, right now he's living another moment in the sun, crowning his achievement by showing his appreciation for the invaluable support he's received.

Gump Suzuki: "Yeah, I, I just want to say many thanks to you guys. I couldn't make it so without, without you guys. That's why I really happy, yeah, to see you guys and then run you together until finish line. I, I just want to say thank you, thank you so much."