Tour d’Afrique trans-continental cycling adventure

Embark on the adventure of a lifetime from Cairo to Cape Town!

“Two paths diverged in a wood, and I –

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

From “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

Each year since 2003, a group of strong-willed men and women have undertaken a journey of body and soul on roads less traveled, pedaling their way across Africa on the ultimate long distance cycling adventure.

Welcome to the annual Tour d'Afrique, an 11,800 km (7,375 miles) bicycle expedition and race from Cairo to Cape Town. This classic route will challenge you physically and mentally like no other - and reward you with scenes of unsurpassed splendor and an incomparable feeling of accomplishment.

The original Tour d’Afrique holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest human powered crossing of Africa. Since then some 250 persons from more than 20 countries have completed this intrepid journey, including cycle cross and mountain bike riders of all skill levels, retired couples, university students and professors, doctors and nurses, IT professionals, diabetics, a blind person, and a double amputee. If they can do it, so can you.

The Tour’s mandate is several fold: first, to cross Africa by human power and to experience its beauty and diversity from the best seat in the house – your bicycle seat; second, to create a unique athletic endurance event for both amateurs and professionals; third, to give something back to Africa by raising funds for bicycle donations to community health & development groups and for environmental protection projects; fourth, to raise consciousness about bicycles as an alternative and appropriate means of transport.

Whether you need an escape from your workstation and the rat race, are searching for your retirement dream trip, or simply want to explore the world between school and your first “real job,” we hope you will be inspired to join us on this journey of challenge, discovery, and triumph.

Facts and Figures

The Tour features 96 cycling days or stages, averaging 123 km (77 miles) each, broken up by 22 rest days and 2 days of ferry boat travel for a total of 120 days in traversing Africa from north to south. Stages range from 80 km on rough terrain to more than 180 km on the best paved roads.

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. See Route

Tour d’Afrique Ltd. provides the framework and support systems, including: tour staff, nutritious meals, campsites and other accommodations, daily routes and logistics, optional side trips, and the overland vehicles that transport the bulk of your baggage each day.

In addition to your entry fee, airfare, insurance, and visas, you are responsible for bringing a bike, riding gear, spare parts, tent, sleeping bag, personal funds and medications, as well as the adventurous spirit, physical conditioning, and mental stamina that will enable you to enjoy your journey to the fullest.

Participation and Eligibility

The Tour d'Afrique is open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 75. Typically, participants are about 2/3 men and 1/3 women, representing all age groups from the early 20s to the upper 60s.

There are three basic types of participants:

• Expedition riders, who make up the majority of participants, and who cycle the daily distances at their own pace.

• Racers, who intend on racing all the way or for 1 or more Tour sections. See Race

• Sectional riders who ride a portion of the Tour, from a one week section to half or more of the distance.

Trials and Tribulations

While the thought of cycling across Africa will intimidate most people, anyone who is in decent shape, and who has a solid dose of determination, an open mind, and a spirit for adventure can do it … believe it or not! Egypt’s smooth roads and pleasant temperatures provide a great warm-up for participants to find their legs, especially those without previous long distance biking experience. After a few days most riders become accustomed to the routines of the tour, having found a comfortable speed and some new friends of similar pace to spin down the road with. Energy levels run high as your conditioning increases, and you encounter new adventures in places off the beaten track.

Of course, there are also challenges and the occasional danger to watch out for. On the hottest days dehydration is a real possibility and the need to keep pumping fluids and fuel into oneself is key. A good personal hygiene routine is also vital, as many of the diseases that prevail in Africa are sanitation related. In Ethiopia stone throwing children will try your patience and keep you on your toes. While much of the Tour is on roads with relatively little traffic, there are a few days where the traffic is heavier and faster and defensive cycling is de rigeur. Above all it is important to watch over one self, to not overdo it, and to recognize when your energy and defenses may be down and when it would be sensible to take it easy and maybe even ride the truck for a ½ day or a full day.

Everyone who completes the Tour d'Afrique savors the triumph of conquering one of the longest and most difficult bike expeditions and races in history. Some participants strive to attain elusive EFI (“Every Fabulous Inch”) status, with about a dozen riders succeeding each year. Others set themselves the goal of winning a stage, a section or country, or the entire Tour race in either the men's or women's category. But for most, the freedom of having nothing to do today and tomorrow except spin down the African road simply can not be beat. Whatever your motivation, we look forward to celebrating with you, en route, and at the finish line, where medals, prizes, and the realization of a lifetime achievement await all the cyclists.

Tour d'Afrique Ltd. is a Toronto based company named for its flagship cycling tour that annually traverses the African continent from Cairo to Cape Town. Since its birth in 2003, three more transcontinental tours have been added; the Orient Express, crossing Europe from Paris to Istanbul, the Silk Route, crossing Asia from Istanbul to Beijing and, in 2009, the Vuelta Sudamericana, traversing South America from Rio de Janeiro to Quito.

We, the six principal staff, are avid cyclists, humanitarians, outdoor enthusiasts, travelers and adventurers. We are passionately involved in creating unique cycling adventures! We think there is nothing else like them in the world right now! We hope that our tours not only bring joy to the participants, but also give back to the people in the areas through which we travel and send a message to the world about what we, as individuals, are capable of.

Our Mission

To create cycling events that appeal to amateurs and professionals alike. Our Tours appeal to both serious athletes and cyclists and as well as to individuals who do not see themselves as athletes, but who are never the less motivated to push themselves beyond their perceived limits and, in the process, discover their innate abilities.

To create "back to basics" cycling stage races unparalleled in length. Our unique races require a new approach to racing. Times are taken and race statistics are tallied with care; often with little more than a clipboard and a stop watch. To complete races of more than 80 stages it is necessary to re-learn the term pacing yourself. Maintenance of not only body and equipment, but also of mind becomes extremely important.

To cross continents under human power. We aim to raise consciousness about bicycles as an alternative means of transport; being more beneficial to the sustainability of the planet and more rewarding for the rider who, somehow, through the mud and the saddle sores and sunburn, gets a heightened awareness of body, and the environment.

To do some good while we are having fun. We do this through the donation of bicycles to Health Care Professionals in Africa and also by supporting bicycle advocacy and by promoting projects that protect the environment. Most of this work is done through the Tour d'Afrique Foundation. We want to expose and share the beauty of these places, the simplicity and hospitality of the people, their rich culture, and their determination.