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Gump Suzuki runs Africa - 24th February 2025

Yuji Suzuki's a rickshaw runner from Japan. He just pulled his rickshaw across Africa.

In Japan, tourists ride in Suzuki's rickshaw. He tells them about Tokyo.

Suzuki pulled his rickshaw 6,400 kilometres from Nairobi to Cape Town. Some places had no shops or hotels.

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."

This isn't Suzuki's first long run. He pulled his 100-kilogram rickshaw from China to India. Then, he ran 2,500 kilometres across Europe with it. He got the idea from the film, Forrest Gump.

In 2022, Suzuki copied the film's character. He pulled his rickshaw 5,100 kilometres across the USA.

Suzuki's fans give him energy. They call him Gump Suzuki.

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."

Lots of local people helped Suzuki. Children liked running with him. People gave him food and water. Elephants and lions watched him too. That sometimes worried Suzuki.

Alvyn Andrews is from South Africa. He travelled with Suzuki across the country.

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."

Next year, Suzuki's going to run across South America. But for now, he's happy. He's thanking his fans. He couldn't do it without them.

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."