Sibusiso Vilane (32), a game ranger with dual South African and Swazi nationality, is the first black African to successfully ascend Everest (in 2003). This helped him become the first black African to have summitted the seven highest peaks on seven continents.
Sibusiso met John Doble in 1996. John became a friend and benefactor. Sibusiso started climbing in 1996 in the Drakensberg. In 1999 he summitted Kilimanjaro and went on to the Himalayas in 2002, successfully climbing Pokalde, Lobujé and Island Peak. On the 26th May 2003, he summitted Everest. In 2005 he again summitted Everest, this time with Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Alex Harris. This made him the first black African to climb the world's highest peak twice and by two different routes. In January 2006 he summitted Aconcagua, in August 2006 he climbed to the top of Mt. Elbrus and in November he climbed Carstenz Pyramid in Oceania. In December 2006, Sibusiso summitted Mount Vinson in Antarctica. He recently summitted Mount McKinley/Denali in Alaska.
He has founded a running club called Born to Win and he intends to run the Comratdes in 2008. At the end of 2007, he will be walking to the North Pole with Alex Harris. Sibusiso has been married to Nomsa since 1995 and they have three daughters and a son.
