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Sibusiso Vilane, OIB
Sibu's next book, about his walk with Alex Harris to the South Pole, unassisted and unsupported, is currently in preparation. If you'd like to join our mailing list for an alert when the book is available, please send an email to orders@aardvarkpress.co.za.
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On 13 June 2008, Sibu succeeded in becoming a member of the Seven Summits club by ascending the dangerous Mt Denali (McKinley) in Alaska. He is now one of only six South Africans of 198 members, and the first black African, to achieve this feat.
CONGRATULATIONS SIBU!
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Sibusiso began his working career as a game ranger in Swaziland in 1993. In 1996 he met John Doble who became a great friend and benefactor, and who was instrumental in finding the necessary sponsorship for Sibusiso's Everest summit expedition.
Sibusiso started climbing in 1996 by summitting peaks in the Drakensberg. In 1999 he summitted Kilimanjaro and went on to the Himalayas in 2002, successfully climbing Pokalde, Lobujé and Island Peak, all of which are over 6 000 metres high, as part of his training for the Everest expedition.
In March 2003, Sibusiso set off for the Himalayas again in his quest to be the first black African to summit earth's largest and most fearsome mountain, Everest, the Queen of the Himalayas. He summitted successfully on 26 May 2003.
On that day, South African President Thabo Mbeki congratulated him on his achievement and grit. “In this, he has shown the heights we can all scale in life if we put our shoulder to the wheel and work at things without flagging. Sibusiso, you have done us proud!” (In 2006 Sibusiso was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga (Bronze) by President Thabo Mbeki. Technically he can sign his name 'Sibusiso Vilane, OIB'.)
In 2005 Sibusiso reached the summit of Everest again with Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Alex Harris after accessing the peak from the North Ridge - the more difficult and statistically less-successful side. This achievement meant that he is the first black African to climb the world's highest peak twice and by two different routes. Three children's charities benefitted from his climb: The Birth to Twenty Research Programme at Wits University, the Africa Foundation and the SOS Children's Village in Swaziland.
Sibusiso set out to become one of the few South Africans to be members of the Seven Summits club. There are just six South Africans amidst the 198 members. The Seven Summits are the seven highest peaks on each of the seven continents.
1. Kilimanjaro (Africa) 1999
2. Everest (Asia) 2003, 2005
3. Aconcagua (South America) 2006
4. Elbrus (Europe) 2006
5. Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania) 2006
6. Vinson (Antarctica) 2006
7. Denali/McKinley (North America) 2007, summitted 2008
On 17 January 2008, Sibu and his Team Extreme partner, Alex Harris, became the first South Africans to walk to the South Pole completely unassisted.
Sibusiso’s irrepressible spirit and infectious enthusiasm for life inspires and uplifts people of all backgrounds and circumstances, and especially children. As a professional speaker, his message is simple: every person has their own “Everest” to climb. Whether you’re prepared for it or not, it’s there - challenging you to reach the top. And if he can do that in the most dangerous and inhospitable of conditions and against all the odds so, he suggests, can you.
Sibusiso is the African ambassador for the Free Play Foundation (see www.freeplayfoundation.org). He has founded a running club called Born to Win. He has also hosted a radio show 'My Climb, Your Climb' on 1485 Radio today in which he interviewed black achievers about the challenges they faced and overcame in their careers and lives.
Sibusiso has been married to Nomsa since 1995 and is the proud father of four - three girls and a young prince. His websites can be found at www.sibusisovilane.com and www.to-the-top.co.za.
The Telegraph interview with Sibusiso June 2003.
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