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After thousands of kilometres and long days at sea, the Coast2Coast4Farmers journey is nearing its final stretch, but its message of prioritising mental health for South African farmers will continue to resonate.
What began at Sodwana Bay — one of South Africa’s most iconic dive sites within KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park UNESCO World Heritage Site — has become a powerful, purpose-driven expedition along the country’s entire coastline.
The team of Louwrens Mahoney, Carlo Smuts, Ruan Jordaan and Henry Lubbe set out on jet skis to tackle an extraordinary 3,000km journey around South Africa’s coastline. The mission has been to shine a spotlight on farmers’ mental health, an often-overlooked crisis affecting those who keep the country fed.
Facing unpredictable weather, rough seas, and physically demanding conditions, the group has drawn a direct parallel between their journey and the daily realities farmers endure, from drought and disease to financial pressure and uncertainty.
A message that matters
For Carlo Smuts, who works in animal health, the motivation is deeply personal: “Over the past four years, I’ve witnessed the growing strain on farmers firsthand. Ruan and Louwrens work in UB Leisure, and many of their customers are farmers, while Henry is in the fruit and vegetable market, so we all deal with the farming community daily.”
The journey, driven by Design Biologix and UB Leisure, has been about sparking real conversation by creating awareness and engaging with South Africans along the way. The expedition will eventually conclude near Alexander Bay in the Northern Cape, and while the jet skis will soon be parked, the reality facing farmers doesn’t stop there.
Keep informed
People can track the route at: https://live.africanstuff.co.za/race/racemap/coast-2-coast-4-farmers/
Follow Coast to Coast 4 Farmers on Facebook and Coast 2 Coast 4 Farmers on Instagram.
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