Getting really lost in a different country can be a few things: either a miserable, scary experience or one of the best things you possibly could have done. Some of the most beautiful places on this Earth, after all, can’t be discovered without first getting lost.
Long stretches of dusty roads, an enormous sky above you, wind whipping this way and that, and just a few friends to enjoy the experience with — it’s something that everyone should experience. The freedom to realize that you will find something, even if it’s not what you set out to find. And one of the best places in the world to do that is in Africa.
Koa Smith found that out firsthand. He, along with a van full of friends, surfboards, and camping gear, ventured out into a relatively untouched stretch of South Africa’s staggeringly beautiful coastline. They were in search of waves, but as is generally the case, the waves are just the icing on the cake. The search is just as important as the final destination — especially when it ends up with waves like the ones they did find.
They weren’t the easiest waves to surf, but Koa is well-versed in the heavier stuff. After he broke his leash on the first wave, and his board soon after, he got back on the horse and… well, he scored. But not in the traditional surfers’ way. Instead, he spent some time with the locals and learned how the stretch of coastline they were on was under threat from mining companies.
“While sitting around the fire, some of the local surfers shared how this beautiful area is under great threat from Australian mining companies,” Smith said. “They’ve already begun to destroy hundreds of kilometers of pristine coastline environments, disrupting local communities, fisheries, tourism, and the rugged natural beauty of this area. And they still plan to expand. It’s a sickening thought. These world-class waves and stunning coastlines could be cut off from access and destroyed forever. The only way to stop this is by raising awareness on the subject.”
But it wasn’t just knowledge about the plight of the coastline — day two found Koa inside all the barrels he could dream of.
A petition to protect the west coast of South Africa can be found here.
