American skateboarder Jason Vanporppal is set to arrive in Cape Town on Monday, 25 May 2026, completing a 106-day journey across seven African countries to raise funds for a permanent skatepark in Uganda.
The 26-year-old from Paramount, California, set off from Kampala on 8 February, pushing his way through Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. The journey covers more than 6,400 kilometres, with his final stretch taking him down the N1 from Paarl into the Mother City.
Skating for a cause
Vanporppal’s mission is to fund the construction of what he calls the biggest skatepark Africa has seen, to be built in Uganda. He says the project was inspired by friendships with Ugandan skaters Isaac Jojinah and Ephraim Ssekiziyivu, who skate on dirt roads and are often chased away from public spaces.
His GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $30,000 of its $35,000 target. His arrival in Cape Town coincides with Africa Day, with a welcome planned at the Company’s Garden.
Crowds line the route
Vanporppal has drawn growing crowds as he made his way through Touwsrivier, Worcester and Paarl over the weekend. His Facebook following has climbed past 200,000 supporters during the trek, with locals lining the roadsides to cheer him on.
This is not his first long-distance skate. He previously crossed the United States from Venice Beach to Times Square in 76 days and travelled the length of Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa in 50 days.
