In May 2007 when the world still speculated about whether or not BMW would launch the new F 800 GS, Herbert Schwarz was already on a secret mission in Africa with a pre-production bike. Accompanying him to photograph and film the adventure, Ramona Eichhorn rode a BMW G 650 Xchallenge. Herbert, the director of Touratech, tested some of his company’s pre-production accessories under extreme conditions off-road. Their journey around Lake Victoria covered 5 087 kilometres of sand, gravel, corrugated metal and mud, from the white sandy beaches bordering the Indian Ocean through the Masai steppe in Kenya, the savannah of Tanzania, the green hills of Burundi and Rwanda, around the extinct Mt. Elgon volcano in Uganda, and back to Mombassa in Kenya.

Reader’s & other interesting tours

Here you have the opportunity to send us little stories of past trips you have done, including the ones you plan on doing. All trips in Southern and the rest of Africa are welcome. We are particularly interested in getting updated information on things such as border posts and crossings in other African countries. All tips would also be greatly appreciated.

A Motorcycle Adventure Around Africa’s Lake Victoria - Into The Great Rift Valley with the new BMW F 800 GS

Jupiter’s Travels – Ted Simon

The (converted) Grand Daddy of adventure

Motorcycle travelling.

I have always been fascinated with travel books and travel writers, and some of their abilities to absolutely make a place come alive, that gives me that frustrated ecstasy and make me want to shout, “I must leave right away” Having said all this, I must confess that I have quite by accident stumbled across (or over?) Ted Simon’s book “Jupiter’s Travels” in a book shop in downtown Johannesburg one rainy day. At that time I was ignorant of his phenomenal achievements, and since have become a huge fan of this extraordinary man. I cannot try to imagine how many people his books have inspired, and as a result, take the plunge and embark on the trip of a lifetime.

“Often I dream of riding over the hard floor of a great forest, beneath a high canopy of translucent green, spreading on and on. An enchanted forest, perhaps, where men may still sometimes play at being gods.”

– Ted Simon

Of mad dogs and Englishman…

Simon & Lisa Thomas

There are the stories of what I like to call the heroes of motorcycling. While these stories make great reading, there is another purpose in including them here. Those who tell the stories have so much valuable advice to offer on this marvellous pastime. Simon & Lisa Thomas embarked on the trip of a lifetime a few years ago. Whilst you are reading this they are still on the road. This is a teaser of what they are doing. For more information visit their web site at www.2ridetheworld.com