Manser’s rise to prominence began with the unbelievable world-first circumnavigation of the African continent by bicycle.
It took him exactly two years, two months, and fifteen days. Alone and unaided, he pedalled a staggering 34,500 km (22,680 miles) through 34 different countries, some of them ranked as the most dangerous and inhospitable places in the world. Manser’s achievement earned him the title 'Out There Adventurer of the Year 2006,' and his first book, 'Around Africa on my Bicycle', became a best-seller that continues to enjoy tremendous success.
During Riaan’s journey, he was imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea and held captive by drugged teenage rebels in Liberia. On both occasions, he negotiated his release through his charm, amicable personality, and exceptional powers of persuasion.
Along the way, Manser ate some exotic dishes such as monkey, bat, camel, and rat. As if cycling the perimeter of the African continent wasn’t enough, he also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and descended to Lake Assal, respectively the highest and lowest points in Africa. Seeing Riaan’s story on television, Nelson Mandela once personally requested a meeting with him, saying it was 'a performance that will inspire the youth of the continent!'
The Explorer’s Club in New York – whose members include the first persons to reach the North Pole, South Pole, top of Everest, deepest point in the ocean, and the moon – extended a special invitation to Manser to speak before its distinguished organisation.
In July 2009, Manser set another world first when he became the first person to circumnavigate Madagascar – the world’s fourth largest island – by kayak, again alone and unaided.
This colossal journey, which saw him paddle 5,000 km (3,107 miles) in eleven months, was considerably more physically and mentally demanding, according to Riaan. Conquering extreme loneliness whilst enduring treacherous conditions such as pounding seas, cyclones, and an unrelenting sun, which, combined with salt water, almost pickled him alive.
During his circumnavigation, he had many memorable close encounters with Madagascar’s marine life – humpback whales breaching metres away from his kayak, giant leatherback turtles gliding alongside him, and even having his boat rammed by a shark.
Riaan travelled around Madagascar during a period of extreme political turmoil, and he landed up in prison five times – the last entailing three nights on suspicion of carrying out mercenary activities.
In April 2010, Manser’s efforts were rewarded with his second accolade, 'Out There Adventurer of the Year 2009' and 'Around Madagascar on my Kayak', his book recounting his amazing feat, also received acclaim.
March 2011 saw Riaan begin his next challenge. This time, he took on mystical Iceland and her Arctic waters, accompanied by a handicapped friend suffering from cerebral palsy.
'Around Iceland on Inspiration' saw the two paddle 2,300 km (1,429 miles) to circumnavigate Iceland in a double sea kayak over a five-month period.
Manser’s warm-up for Iceland included living and touring South Africa in a refrigeration container for a week. He decided to do this to raise funds for his trust
‘No Food for Lazy Man’ (sponsoring sports equipment for underprivileged children) while helping him prepare for Icelandic temperatures.
However, it could never have prepared Manser for the snow he encountered upon landing in Iceland. Manser and other team members had never seen snow before, and there were many snow fights in the first few days before they started their journey.
Landings were another of the pair’s biggest challenges. Approaching rocky shores pounded by wind and surf is a hazardous business. Between timing and luck, you’re a second away from disaster at any moment. Their landings were made even more difficult because of their 'sea legs', which they would develop after a long day’s paddle of eight to ten hours. Often, even the softest landings would result in them spluttering and crawling on all fours for a few moments on the black sand after tumbling out of the boat.
On 5 September 2011, blistered and aching after paddling for 147 days, they arrived back at their starting point – their circumnavigation complete.
Riaan had always vowed that he would never expose his girlfriend at the time, Vasti, to the dangers of his world, but then the dynamic couple made history by taking on the vast waters of the Atlantic.
Alone and unaided, they endured a three-month-and-two-week crossing from Agadir, Morocco, and landed in Miami, Florida, on the 7th of May.
Their final destination was the Statue of Liberty in New York. Not only did they make history by being the only people to have rowed from mainland Africa to mainland North America, but Vasti also became the only woman from the African continent to have rowed across any of the world’s oceans.
The couple, who met in Cape Town in 1999, put their relationship on the line. Enduring giant 8-metre (25-foot) waves in wild storms to being entirely capsized in the middle of the Atlantic. On one of these days, Manser was dramatically separated from the boat and almost lost at sea. The physical hardships had their bodies – from their hands and arms to their bums and legs – in permanent agony.
In 2016, after marrying Vasti, the pair set a new standard for the term 'honeymoon'.
They embarked on a history-making Pacific Ocean row, breaking the Guinness World Record for the fastest row in history from California to Hawaii, a record previously held by a 4-man team.
