Braam Malherbe
- Extreme adventurer and Eco-Warrior
- One of South Africa’s Top Three Sportsmen
- Completed four World Firsts by rowing across the Atlantic from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro, running the entire length of the Great Wall of China in a single attempt, running the entire coastline of South Africa, and representing South Africa in a race to the South Pole – all of these without assistance
- Author, philanthropist, and youth developer
The adventures embarked on by South African Braam Malherbe are always purpose driven. His first, at age 17, saw him embark on a run to raise funds and awareness to ensure an Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted to prevent certain marine species from going extinct due to new development. Since then, Braam has embarked on numerous projects aimed at conservation.
Despite a background governed by fear, ego, and self-service, Braam has, over the past 33 years, turned his life around and been honoured for his contributions as a world-class South African citizen. The eco-warrior and influencer for good has survived numerous extreme adventures that are classified as world-firsts.
Braam Malherbe, a man on a mission to save planet Earth, is living proof that by doing EXTRA for that which you care about, you, as a human, become the EXTRAordinary. The influencer helps others discover both their sole and soul purpose: choosing to live a life of success and significance. This Braam does by means of living his own passions for adventure and conservation.
In 2006, Braam and his running partner embarked on a world first – running the entire length of the Great Wall of China. This distance, spanning 4,200 km, meant running an average of more than a full marathon each day for a period of 98 days. Two years later, i.e. 2008, saw him achieve a second world first when he ran the entire coastline of South Africa, a distance of 4 219km. The proceeds from these two world firsts went to Operation Smile and managed to provide the needed corrective surgery for children born with a cleft lip and palate.
From there, Braam went on to become a television presenter for the SABC2 nature programme 50/50 in 2010. The call to adventure called once more, however, with the next year seeing him and a race partner representing South Africa in an unassisted race against the clock to the South Pole. They covered the 888km in 24 days while man-hauling sleds weighing in at about 85kg each – in sub-zero temperatures. The aim of the expedition was to highlight the problems we face due to climate change. Braam is an expert on this topic.
Braam’s third world first saw him represent South Africa in 2011 when he took part in an unassisted race to the South Pole in 2011. This journey saw him cover a distance of 768km in 24 days in temperatures of up to -45 degrees Celcius.
He achieved his fourth world first in 2017 when, together with his rowing partner, he rowed from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro in 92 days. This journey was fraught with numerous setbacks that might have broken someone less determined.
Braam Malherbe has, over the years racked up numerous awards and accolades. Amongst these he includes the Men’s Health 2010 Unsung Hero award, SABC3’s Enviropaedia Eco-Logic Award in the Category Eco Warrior, was listed in City Press as one of the Top 100 World Class South Africans in 2014, won the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award in 2015, as well as the Awesome South African-of-the-year award, and the Titans Building Nations Country award for the most influential man in Leadership and Motivation through action in the SME sector.
Braam Malherbe – Speaker
Braam Malherbe is a riveting international motivational speaker. He draws audiences in while applying lessons learned from his experiences to his talks about innovation and change, resilience, purpose, courage, leadership, teamwork, and making the impossible possible.
Speaking Topics
- Extreme Performance: Under extreme pressure and difficult circumstances your options are either failure or peak performance.
- Change and Innovation: Lessons from Nature, the greatest innovator
- Don’t survive. Thrive. Learn from nature and use change as a way to differentiate and accelerate.
- Nothing is Impossible: How to turn big dreams into reality.
- The I in TEAM: Discover the power of the individual in helping a team reach peak performance.
- Discovering your Purpose: Passion and energy only come once you go on your greatest adventure: discovering your purpose.
- Leading with Courage: Self-leadership and team-leadership require a level of authenticity, vulnerability, and courage that moves us beyond ordinary to extraordinary.
- Extreme Adventure: The story of your brand and your business is the biggest adventure you will ever encounter: come on the adventure of YOUR lifetime.
Africa 