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| Aussies Across Africa - A cycling journey through Africa aimed at promoting Australian volunteers and the courageous people of Africa they assist to overcome great hardship. Learn how you can help. |
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Category : Africa
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Cape Town carnivals
My new surroundings had me fascinated even before making it ‘home’ from the Cape Town airport, in the southwest of South Africa.
Camps, kids and volunteers
My time thus far had been spent with John Burton and Jennifer Hendricks, the wonderful coordinators of Edmund Rice Camps (ERC) in Western Cape.
African tongue-twisters.
The end of my 5th day in Africa and I’d already met at least two dozen people, many of whose African names I struggled to initially pronounce let alone remember.
The face of HIV/AIDS.
Another Eddie Rice Camp follow-up visit saw us heading to Beautiful Gate Children’s Centre.
Northward migration for the winter
After a couple of fantastic weeks in Western cape, South Africa, I boarded a plane for Ethiopia to begin the next leg of the project.
People and history in Ethiopia
Through the Good Shepherd Sisters I was able to visit some of the poorest areas of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, where the Sisters have been instrumental in the installation of pit toilets to improve sanitation and the health of the local people.
Pedalling the pushie through Ethiopia
Finally, the time to hit the African roads on my trusty mountain bike had come.
Sunrise over Lake Langano
By the end of the third day on the bike I had covered around 200 km, and was beginning to feel the aches that come with cycle-touring.
The cradle of coffee’s origin
My cycle journey through Ethiopia had begun in the country’s central hot and dry agricultural lands, but finished up in the lush green southern highlands where maize had given way to banana, sugarcane, mango, pineapple and coffee plantations.
Farewell Ethiopia
The past two days had been spent at the Don Bosco Catholic School in Dilla, southern Ethiopia, where I was able to rest my tired legs and learn about the many fantastic programs being run by teachers to improve the prospects for youth around the town.
All aboard the Kenyan Express
Northern Kenya presents two major challenges to overland travelers: a vast harsh desert, and the known presence of violent bandits (both of which are even more intimidating to cyclists).
Keep on truckin’
By the end of the 2nd afternoon of our 2-day truck ride through the deserts of northern Kenya there had been several memorable moments.
Making (bike) tracks in the Kenyan countryside
Some early morning emailing, a quick trip to the mini-supermarket, and I was once again in the bike seat. My aim was to cover 360km over the next four days to land me in Kenya’s third largest city, Kisumu, on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Riding an iron dinosaur
At the end of my second day riding westwards from central Kenya I arrived in the large town of Nakuru, situated beside the famous Lake Nakuru that is home to approximately two-thrids of the world's flamingos.
The home stretch in western Kenya
Its amazing how being in the home stretch can lift your spirits and more importantly for me, the energy levels in weary legs.
Assisting the women of Kisumu
After almost a week in Kisumu (western Kenya) it felt like I had returned to the big smoke of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
WYI getting down and dirty in Ugunja
The main reason for my planned 3-week stay in Kisumu and surrounding rural towns was to link up with the team of Aussie volunteers working there through World Youth International.
Laying bricks and slapping mortar with Luke
With the arrival of my great old school friend Luke Baker, it was back to the World Youth International crew at Ugunja to assist with building a mud-brick classroom.
Kenya's last rainforest
With our weekend free, Luke and I decided on a last-minute exploration of western Kenya using public transport.
Mutumbu, jigger fleas and six little women
Before leaving Kisumu, Luke and I spent time with another group of volunteers working through World Youth International.
The spirit of Edmund
Having made our way across the Kenyan/Tanzanian border without any major hassles, Luke and I found a warm welcome (& meal) awaiting us at the Christian Brother house in Arusha.
Climbing to the roof of Africa - Mt Kilimanjaro
It was time to tackle one of Africa's many daunting mountains, and Luke seemed keen to go for broke. So we signed up to a six day hike up Africa’s highest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro (affectionately known to us as Mt Kilamanortwo).
A Tanzanian wildlife extravaganza
Following our sensational climb of Mt Kilimanjaro my old school friend Luke Baker and I kicked off our second week of tourist activity with a wildlife safari – you can’t come to east Africa and miss out on seeing the big beasts!
Brighter futures at St Jude’s
Before packing my bags and cycling out of Arusha in Northern Tanzania I called into St Jude’s primary school to visit another group of self-less volunteers.
Rolling the roads of north Tanz
It was time to get my bum back on the bicycle and let it become reacquainted with the bumps of the awesome African landscape.
Biker’s bum blues
When I left the town of Arusha on 24th July I knew I had a tough week of bicycle riding ahead of me if I was to keep to my tight schedule.
Didge-ing at Dar airport
The Dar es Salaam airport is an interesting place. And the hordes of taxi drivers awaiting arriving passengers found me particularly interesting when I pedaled into the airport’s outdoor international arrivals ‘lounge’.
The dhows of Zanzibar
Having collected my mate Robbie from the Dar es Salaam airport we wasted little time in heading to well known Zanzibar Island off the Tanzanian coast, to soak up the atmosphere.
Life on the streets of Dar
Dar es Salaam on Tanzania's coastline is not your standard bustling metropolis
The Olympic spirit at Mikadi
Large towns in Kenya and Tanzania had offered me the rare treat of television coverage, and Dar es Salaam was no exception
Truck'n past the big beasts
The time had come to make my way south-east towards Malawi after a relaxing break on the Tanzanian coast
On the bike again...
Since waving goodbye to the Kumuka overland truck I had hitched a ride on, I had spent three days cycling through southern Tanzania
An uphill bicycle battle
With only 70km to cover on my pedalie I was hoping today would be relatively cruisey
Malawi's welcoming waters
I woke up early to a foul stench and occasional grunting, and suddenly remembered that 2m directly below the window of my guesthouse room was a piggery
Walking with Kabwenkha
I pulled into a small shop on an otherwise desolate stretch of road to take in a cold drink
Jagging fish in the backwaters
Walking back to my campsite in the fading sunlight I began chatting to some local boys. They were trying to catch small fish isolated in the shallow backwaters of Lake Malawi.
Pedalling to paddle
I woke up in a dodgy guesthouse (which I'm almost certain doubled as a brothel), and jumped on my trusty mountain bike to ride the final 50 km from Mzuzu to Lake Malawi
Fishing from dug-outs on Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi is the life-blood for thousands of Malawians living on its shores, and fishing is a way of life past down through the generations
The children of Nkhata Bay
According to a 2004 UN report Malawi is ranked 13th in the list of 'least livable countires' with an annual GDP of just US$600 per capita. Needless to say, most people live very simply...
All hail the arrival of one Damien Knight
After paying off the policeman who had stopped the taxi I was travelling in, we continued to the Lilongwe airport in Malawi to meet my old school friend Damien Knight - bald tyres and all.
Cycling with Damien (Part 2: A painful journey)
When I reached the crowd I saw Damien in the centre lying on the dusty ground staring blankly at the sky. His shirt was in tatters and large patches of skin were missing on his elbows and knees, with the underlying white connective tissue exposed
Cycling with Damien (Part 3: Hospital nightmares)
The emergency ward was packed. Injured people lined the walls outside the doctor’s room, two with pools of blood slowly gathering on the bare concrete floor beneath their long bench seat.
Cycling with Damien (Part 4: Emergency surgery)
Yet another hour passed before I was able to personally deliver Damien's x-ray and ultrasound scans to the doctor. I watched as he inspected them against the dim glow of the hospital ceiling light. Panic suddenly crept across his face...
Cycling with Damien (Part 1: The incident)
After a not so quick tent packing Damien and I took to the roads of Lilongwe, excited about our first day of riding together...and what a day it turned out to be. Perhaps the scarest ride of my life so far.
Knighty lives! Thankyou Spirit in the sky
Just after 1.30am an American surgeon tapped me on the shoulder. He explained that Damien had needed to be resuscitated on the operating table and that he had suffered extensive internal injuries
Plan B: The medical evacuation
After five days in the intensive care unit following his emergency surgery Damien was making slow progress towards recovery
Hospitalization in Jo'burg
Renowned as a city of great opportunity for the ambitious, Johannesburg (a.k.a. Jo’burg, Jozie) also has a reputation for being aggressive, and reports of violent crime are rife. Naturally I was a little nervous about our arrival in this big smoke.
Damien's medical mysteries
Damien’s health seemed to be taking backward steps since his release from hospital three days earlier. Intense waves of abdominal pain were plaguing him...
The saga continues...
Now one week out of hospital, Damien’s abdominal pain hadn’t diminished; in fact it seemed to be intensifying. He had lost his appetite and plenty of weight and his mother and I were growing increasingly concerned.
Farewell Damien & Patricia, hello Jeanette & Pete
Despite the fact Damien was stuck back in hospital it was time for me to move on from Jo'burg. Two more team members, website designers Jeanette and Pete, had arrived in Cape Town one week ago and I was running a little late for our rendezvous’
Forest wanderings (Part 1: Adder encounter)
The Wildcoast stretch of South Africa’s coastline lives up to its name; the ocean can almost seem angry as it batters the shores, which rise rapidly from gorgeous beaches to rugged mountains.
Forest wanderings (Part 2: Seen any crocs?)
I had been told that to cross the 60-80m span of the Mbashe River I could hire the services of a local villager who owned a canoe. But after an hour of walking the southern river bank...
Zulu pride
Standing infront of 15 young Zulu giving their all in a traditional dance performance, it was impossible to stop the waves of goosebumps running down my spine
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