The idea of cycling through Africa had never entered my mind until my mate Winston Bowler (aka HAT) suggested we should consider it. He told me about Tour d’Afrique and reckoned we should give it a crack. So in 2015, I made the decision and paid the deposit to do the 2018 Tour d’Afrique. I kept pressing Hat to see if he had paid his deposit and it was Jan 2017 that he finally called it that he couldn’t do it. Well that wasn’t going to stop me from doing it. So thats how I got to the idea to do this journey.
The Journey from Cairo to Cape Town
Our original trans-continental journey and flagship expedition crossing Africa from north to south, covering almost 12,000 km in four months. This will be the 16th edition of the Tour d’Afrique – a test of mind, body, and bicycle. Traveling through 10 countries in all, you will cycle along the Nile past ancient temples, through the Sudanese desert, and up and down the biblical landscapes of Ethiopia’s rugged Simian Mountains. After crossing the Equator in Kenya, you will pedal past legendary Mount Kilimanjaro, to Lake Malawi, Victoria Falls, and along the edges of the magnificent Kalahari and Namib deserts, en route to the finish of your epic journey in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa.The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has been one of the world’s epic
journeys ever since Cecil Rhodes’ 19th century dream of connecting South Africa and Egypt by rail. Since then, the route has become an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over the years individuals have attempted to complete the route using every kind of transport imaginable, with many forced to abandon their quest due to physical challenges and geopolitical complications. In 2003, the inaugural Tour d’Afrique succeeded in cycling the entire 12,000 km distance and in the process established the Guinness World Record for the fastest human powered crossing of Africa.
Starting at the Pyramids, under the watchful eyes of the immortal Sphinx, the cyclists will head south along the Red Sea and the Nile River in Egypt, visiting the famous sites of Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, before entering Sudan via a new land crossing. After enjoying the desert climes and warm hospitality of the Sudanese people, the tour climbs up into Ethiopia which is renowned for its rugged, almost biblical, landscapes, its unique culture and cuisine, and it’s fast growing economy.
For the first time ever, Tour d’Afrique will take participants to one of most remotes parts of Africa. We will be including a side trip in Ethiopia to the Omo Valley to visit the fascinating Mursi, Hamer tribes renown for their lip plates and body paint and coming of age ceremonies.
Having conquered the challenges of Ethiopia, the tour then enters more westernized Kenya, crossing the remote Dida Galgalu desert on a notorious lava rock road en route to Nairobi. With Mount Kilimanjaro looming in the distance, you’ll then ride into the verdant and wildlife rich country of Tanzania, and enjoy a triple rest day in the safari capital of Arusha. The tour then descends into less known Malawi, the “Warm Heart of Africa,” where the riders will savor the shore and surf of Lake Malawi and ride alongside some of that nation’s many cycling farmers. After crossing Zambia from east to west we arrive at the Zambezi river and wow at world famous Victoria Falls.
The final month of our trans-Africa expedition begins in pancake flat Botswana where you are bound to encounter elephants along the road. From there the tour spins into Namibia, one of Africa’s hidden gems, and across its harsh but stunning desert landscapes. After crossing the Senqu (Orange) river the tour enters its 10th and final country, South Africa, a land of beauty, contrast and rich history. As the tour comes to an end at Cape Town’s picturesque South Atlantic ocean harbor, in the shadow of majestic Table Mountain, we’ll look back at our amazing journey and celebrate it’s completion with lifelong friends.
The calendar below provides an overview of time periods and areas I will be riding through.
If you want to follow my progress over the next 5 months review my blog updates or social media feeds on Facebook. You can also keep up-to-date with my progress, routes and distances I travel on Strava.
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