East TransAfrica Guided Motorcycle Expedition

"On the search for new adventures, Africa was the first destination that came to my mind, because what could be closer than traveling the black continent with its 53 countries and 1001 languages? No continent has captivated researchers, adventurers, and the rally scene as much as this one. Those who have traveled to Africa multiple times know how diverse this continent is." "If life is boring: It is probably time to leave the comfort zone and exchange merely reading about the adventure in couch potato style for the real adventure of Africa."“With now well over 100,000 kilometers of experience in Africa, I can confidently say that this crossing of Africa is far from what one would call a package tour. This expedition poses a challenge for us as a motorcycle tour operator every year in terms of preparation and execution. This journey of discovery across the continent, with all the challenges of the different climate zones, borders, regulations, and uncertainties of the trails, can only be undertaken as an expedition, which brings all the advantages and disadvantages for the individual motorcyclist. A fair amount of travel and enduro experience as well as mental stability are prerequisites for participating in this Trans Africa expedition. It remains for me the greatest adventure and the most eventful tour that I have experienced in my life.” Joe Küster, tour guide and jack of all trades. The expedition begins with a transcontinental flight to South Africa. We arrive in the morning at Cape Town International Airport, are picked up by an overland truck, and drive out to the Cape of Good Hope, where the start picture is taken. The first night on African soil we spend at the Overlander Camp just outside Cape Town, where the already completed customs paperwork and motorcycles await us. From there, we head inland directly east, past Knysna with views over the Indian Ocean and further to Cradock, where South Africa shows its dustier side through the Karoo. Approximately 600 kilometers take us over federal highways through the provinces of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to the border of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The next morning, we ascend and descend the legendary Sani Pass, Lesotho's most photographed and most traveled pass road. Many enduro riders from previous Africa tours said that this pass alone is worth the trip. At the foot of the Drakensberg, we stand on the Battlefields, the battlefields in the former kingdom of the Zulu. The Zulu War of 1879 was an undeclared war between the Zulu and the wild people of the tea drinkers. After the British Empire defeated the Zulu at the Battle of Ulundi with its superior weaponry, the Kingdom of the Zulu ceased to exist as a sovereign state. Through South Africa's country roads, we disappear with the enduros into the Highveld, which slowly descends to the north, transitions into the Middleveld, and finally ends in the Lowveld. The new year in Africa begins with a hangover breakfast of coffee, aspirin, and counter beer, followed by the sobering stage along the Kruger Park. After over 3,000 kilometers, we have crossed the provinces of Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo and are taking the last kilometers to the border to Zimbabwe. Welcome to Zimbabwe. After we have navigated the enduros and the off-road vehicle through customs, the main route leads to Masvingo. About 40 kilometers away, we make a stop at Great Zimbabwe and immerse ourselves in a piece of African history and culture: 2,000 years ago, the Shona ethnicity lived on the sacred hills and left behind a rich heritage of rock paintings, which we visit on foot because on the Trans Africa motorcycle journey, we also want to leave footprints instead of just tire tracks. In the country ruled by Robert Mugabe until 2017, life expectancy has fallen like in no other country in the world from 55 to 44 years within a decade. 50 percent of the country's people are under 16 years old, with an average age of about 19 years. You can find a small insight on our OVERCROSS YouTube channel.

Continuing on and off-road toward north-northwest with a stopover at Hwange National Park, where depending on the tour route, group dynamics, and interest, we will go on safari. Motorcycle and enduro tours are rather unusual in Zimbabwe; enduro trails are de facto unknown, and this will remain the case for the upcoming countries. Be aware before your booking that you are going on an enduro expedition that will provide many surprises both on and off-road. We are traveling through Zimbabwe during the rainy season, which means an average temperature of about 33 °C with around 5 rainy days a month. When it rains, it really pours: the gravel parts turn into muddy passages, the connecting tracks become slippery, and the roads dangerous. Route 1, 2, or 3, which adventure would you like today? The end of the Zimbabwe crossing is the Victoria Falls Bridge at the Zambian border, where we pump our veins with adrenaline at the world-famous Victoria Falls. Jumping into the gorge over the Gorge Swing or the Long Way Down rafting tour, one of the toughest rafting tours in the world, is recommended.

At a height of 128 meters, we cross the Victoria Falls Bridge built in England in 1903 on English steel and wooden beams. Cecil Rhodes commissioned it and had it transported by sea and rail to the Victoria Falls to set another milestone for the Cape to Cairo plan. After just 14 months of manufacturing and installation, the bridge was inaugurated by George Howard Darwin, the son of Charles Darwin. The Zimbabwe exit stamp is hammered into the passports, and we cross about 200 meters of exciting history, following an imperialistic idea: to traverse the continent of Africa.

Traveling northward over the Copperbelt plain toward Lusaka. The fertile land ranks 141 out of 187 on the Human Development Index. The young Zambia, independent since 1964, is among the countries with the highest HIV infection rates in the world and counts around 740,000 AIDS orphans among Africa's orphanages. English is spoken as the official language, which helps us between the different ethnicities and languages like Nsenga, Tumbuka, Ngoni, or Bisa. Along the Lower Zambezi National Park, we draw our own track on the enduros toward Luangwa Bridge. Zambia, formerly known as Northern Rhodesia, offers a variety of animals and plants in large national parks. Over approximately 1,200 kilometers from Victoria Falls through the great Luangwa River, we cross the land of waterfalls that also come from above during the rainy season.

With the first rays of sunshine, we follow the last kilometers through Zambia to the border crossing into Malawi. We use the waiting time at the border post to have breakfast, refuel, brush our teeth, and write postcards. We travel on relatively well-developed roads to Lake Malawi and then off the road: off-road along the shore to our lodge. This stage has its share of technical surprises, as our enduro trips are known for a day of challenges, and this stretch by Lake Malawi can turn into a surprise stage. In the end: jump into the lake, lick our wounds, and enjoy delicious crocodile meat, overlooking the fellow species on the shore.

The route runs along the western flank of the roughly 30,000 square kilometer Lake Malawi, and we approach the border with Tanzania as usual "pole pole," slowly in Swahili. The afternoon holds endless hard African kilometers ahead, a day that will leave its demanding sections long in our bones. Passing extinct volcanoes, we travel through fertile land with tea plantations, mango trees, and endless bananas until we reach the coffee region of Tanzania at sunset.

'Breakfast with freshly brewed coffee straight from the plantation: We need the push-up effect for the ride on the enduros across the endless expanses of Tanzania. The day's goal is the famous Ruaha National Park, which we reach via more or less well-developed Tanzanian tracks. Pedal to the metal, but in Tanzania, 50 km/h truly means 50 km/h, from sign to sign. Every km/h too much costs, and speed traps creatively hide in bushes and even on trees. Therefore, we traverse Tanzania along the East African Rift as far away from asphalt as possible, with the aim of taking a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater in the north, which is even a UNESCO World Heritage site and brimming with biodiversity. Please note that the safaris are not included in the travel calculation and must be borne by each person themselves. Here we have reached the geographical center of Africa and at least in that regard, it is half-time.' 'Passing by Mount Meru, we continue north on our motorcycles. There is no time for a visit to the Serengeti on this motorcycle trip, but we will surely return someday. Through the eternal vastness, enthusiasm remains the only highlight until Mount Longido appears and we take a rest before the border to Kenya. After crossing the border, Nairobi is not far away, where we are already expected at the jungle intersection with spare parts. After around 6,000 kilometers in Africa, we have the afternoon to outfit the motorcycles with new tires, if necessary, while our online guide Jojo organizes everything else from the office. In the evening, we dine with a few bikers from Nairobi and the Royal Enfield importer at the Kroko Bar and wash down the dust with cold beer.' 'Our next goal is the border to Ethiopia: 1001 kilometers of pure enduro riding, 1001 kilometers across Kenya, until the sun sets and we set up camp. A day that could hardly be any tougher, the night in a tent, no shower, no breakfast, just kilometers. Our companions are elephants, giraffes, and the other crazy ones in front of you on the travel enduro, who will once again reach their limits today. We are heading to the largest landlocked country in the world, based on population, which ranks 173rd out of a total of 187 countries on the Human Development Index.' 'Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world, which has been driven into subsistence agriculture and over the hunger line due to deforestation and the fall of coffee prices. The question arises whether one should travel to a country where, according to the WHO and UNICEF, not even every second Ethiopian has access to clean drinking water. A clear YES: Through individual tourism, as we particularly engage in on this tour, foreign currencies reach the people who need it most directly. According to the World Bank, in the year 2000, 56 percent of the population lived on less than 1.25 US dollars per day. In the same year, the IDA, the World Bank fund for the poorest, rated 60 percent of the roads as good or satisfactory. These data are certainly outdated; we will experience the current situation ourselves while crossing Ethiopia on our motorcycles.'

The barrier to Ethiopia lifts and we take off towards the Omo Valley and Mago National Park. The barren landscape becomes greener and more lush, an area with high populations of lions, hyenas, giraffes, and elephants, and at times catastrophic tracks and roads. There is plenty to see and photograph, even if we are on tour for ten hours a day. There will be stops for photos and national parks, as long as we are on time. We should prepare for the fact that the infrastructure in this underdeveloped country will make our journey into the night long and arduous. This country, together with Sudan, will certainly be an indescribable experience on the motorcycle expedition through Africa.

We avoid the urban jungle of Addis Ababa as much as possible and make our way over the Ethiopian tracks, freshly stocked with water and bread. Our next destination is a piece of history, culture, and religion in one: Lalibela. The Timkat festival with the procession and the celebration of the baptism of Jesus Christ is one of the most important holidays in Ethiopia and takes place according to the Ethiopian calendar every year on January 19 of our Western calendar. On this day, thousands of people flock to the holy cities of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. One thing is certain: we do not want to be in a larger city during these three days, as the streets are even more crowded than usual and processions with large crowds dominate the streets. We still want to experience the spirit and not miss anything on this Africa expedition, so we will likely encounter a procession in one place or another. Fortunately, we will reach Lalibela only after the major event and can then calmly admire the UNESCO World Heritage site that is a true gem: the rock-hewn churches.

About 2,000 years ago, approximately 400,000 San lived in Africa, of which around 100,000 still live in southern Africa today. In 1652, the Dutch began in the Cape Region, from where we started, with the extermination of the Pygmies. Here we are about 10,000 kilometers further north, at the end of their hunting territory. Certainly, a single San did not traverse all of Africa for hunting, yet a San hunter covered 4,000 kilometers per year.

From Lalibela, it's time to eat up the kilometers again. Passing Gondar, the former royal city of Ethiopia, we suddenly descend from the mountainous highlands of over 3,000 meters in height down to 200 meters: welcome to the Sudan basin. From the Sudanese border to Al-Gadarif, our concentration will be put to the test, as we travel north on an asphalt road riddled with potholes that doesn't even deserve the name of a track, to the next larger city and then off to wild camping. You can rest on the motorcycle all the way to the Sudanese capital Khartoum, as it is a rather long and monotonous route along the Blue Nile on well-paved tar roads.

Along the Sudan Express, we traverse approximately 1,000 kilometers through the Nubian Desert, also known as Taseti by the Copts, the sandy arcadia that was once the kingdom of Nobatia. The desert area between the third Nile cataract and Khartoum is considered a high culture of ancient Egypt. In the desert land of the tall Hamitic Nubians, we encounter historical relics of the ancient pyramids, burial cities, and temple ruins that originated from the cultural bloom of the Kingdom of Kush before our era. One last time, we fill the water and gasoline tanks in Sudan before heading back fully fueled into the merciless desert, which will surely demand our last strength until we reach the border at Railway Station 1 to the Kingdom of the Pharaohs.

God willing, the border processing will go smoothly and we can embark on the last leg of the Africa expedition. Throughout the Transafrica Enduro tour, the borders and especially the bureaucracy are our core concerns, and the border situation between Egypt and Sudan drives every tour operator to their last nerve. Perhaps this is the reason why no one else offers this crossing. We leave Lake Nasser and arrive, crossing the border into Egypt, at Lake Nasser. Ahead of us lie the port city of Abu Simbel and a marathon of bureaucracy to register and insure the motorcycles in Egypt. With our new Egyptian license plates, we ride into Abu Simbel for the long-awaited shower.

We leave Abu Simbel on paved roads heading north along the Sahara. The desert landscape with its isolated volcanic craters alternates with the monotonous mirages of the Sahara and the boredom of the asphalt road stretching behind the horizon. After 250 kilometers, we reach the Assuan checkpoint, finally a few curves, and the Assuan Dam is there. On the Khazan Assuan Road, we cross the Nile and follow it north to the Valley of the Kings, the lifeline of Egypt. Luxor, the largest city in Upper Egypt, is our last supply base. From Luxor, it’s just a stone's throw through the land of the Pharaohs. We spend the night not far from the Karnak Temple and decide the next day whether to take the boat on the Nile or traverse the land as planned on the motorcycle.

We leave the green Nile belt and dive into the Arabian Desert in the early morning hours, a sub-desert of the Eastern Sahara. We traverse the desert peninsula of Quena on our motorcycles, as far as the trail conditions and our stamina allow, and continue traveling along the Nile to our major destination, Cairo. The roads become busier, and you can almost feel the metropolis announcing itself with the throngs of people. West of the Nile, we can already see the Pyramids of Giza from afar. The great goal of the Africa expedition is achieved: we stand before the Sphinx and the pyramids, the destination of Africa has been reached after about 15,000 kilometers, and we have traversed the black continent once in length. Time for a good cold beer.

We can approach the last kilometers through Egypt relaxed, as the route from Cairo to Alexandria consists of well-built asphalt roads: time to unwind and reflect on the journey once more. In Alexandria, we are greeted by Ali, with whom we go out for dinner before checking in and taking the motorcycles to the nerve-wracking Egyptian customs the next day, where the shipping container is already waiting for us and the motorcycles. For the return flight, we first head back to Cairo and from there by plane towards home. Thus ends one of the greatest motorcycle adventure journeys in Africa.

Service Description, OVERCROSS Expeditions, important: This journey is an expedition, not a package tour in the legal sense. Overcross organizes and conducts expeditions worldwide, aiming to provide experienced adventurers with a true sense of freedom, nature, and encounter: rough, unpredictable, real.

Important Note: This trip is not a tourist-standardized service, but an expedition with unpredictable external influences, including weather conditions, political situations, technical failures, as well as road and terrain conditions. Overcross takes care of the organization, preparation, and execution, but provides no guarantees for fixed stages, accommodations, travel times, or route progressions. Changes are part of the expedition character and may become necessary at any time.

Nature of the Expedition: These trips are aimed at participants with a spirit of adventure, personal responsibility, and the ability to improvise. An Overcross expedition is not a package product as defined by the EU Package Travel Directive, but rather a collectively conducted endeavor with expedition leadership and logistical framework. The unpredictable is part of the experience, not an exception.

Organizational services provided by Overcross:

• Planning and coordination of the expedition
• Provision of experienced expedition leadership and a guide team
• Organization of transport and supply logistics
• Administrative support for visas, border crossings, and vehicle documents
• Safety and route planning based on current information

Liability and Personal Responsibility: Participation is at one’s own risk. Each participant is personally responsible for themselves, their vehicle, and their equipment. Technical preparation, physical resilience, and mental resilience are prerequisites.

Important Safety Notice: We strongly point out that risks and dangers may exist in all visited countries. We highly recommend that you inform yourself about the current travel and safety advisories from the Federal Foreign Office before embarking on your journey: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit