Tour d'Afrique News

The Grand Finaleā€¦

This was my third time guiding a group of cyclist between Paris and Istanbul, and this was a finish to remember. In years past we have convoyed the last 23 km down the Bosphorus into Ortakoy. Istanbul and its suburbs were not designed with cyclists in mind. But this year we arrived in style. The final stage of the tour was a 52 km ride... Continue Reading

Posted 2008-07-22 06:50:46 in the Orient Express Blog

Home stretch

It has definitely been an easier trip for me the second time around; not worrying about getting lost and knowing what to expect certainly makes it much easier to plan for what is coming. Feeding 50 people from a campsite is always challenging though, regardless. Whether it is standing over a stove in the hot sun, or trying to source ou... Continue Reading

Posted 2008-07-18 08:57:21 in the Orient Express Blog

La situation cycliste dans les ex-pays de l Est

Apres avoir chante dernierement les louanges de l Allemagne et de l Autriche, je vais essayer de vous rendre compte de la situation cycliste dans les ex pays de l Est. En quittant Vienne, nous sommes brievement passes en Slovaquie, pour arriver en Hongrie. Ce pays est en pleine reconstruction et il agreable de voir que les pistes cyclab... Continue Reading

Posted 2008-07-14 11:59:00 in the Orient Express Blog

Varna

So this would appear to be the year of half tours for me. First, Arusha to Cape Town and now, Budapest to Istanbul. There are many challenges in joining a tour at the halfway point. My biggest struggle is trying to learn everyoneā€™s name. This is the largest group ever for the Orient Express. In just less than week we will cross the... Continue Reading

Posted 2008-07-14 11:21:17 in the Orient Express Blog

Good Bye Romania

We will not miss the bad tempered automobile drivers, thundering trucks, poor neglected dogs or Luminati, the proprietress at the only accommodation in Dragodana who, no matter how much money we tried to throw at her, refused to let us pitch our tents on her weed infested patch of grass for one night. We never did find out the reason for... Continue Reading

Posted 2008-07-12 09:31:21 in the Orient Express Blog

LA ROUMANIE

Nous voici donc depuis 3 jours en Roumanie et ce pays nous a deja fait forte impression. En effet, c est le premier pays reellement depaysant depuis le debut du tour. Les paysages sont vallones,on peut y observer une vie agricole - a l ancienne -, le foin est coupe a la faux et empile en mottes a l aide de fourches en bois. On croise des... Continue Reading

Posted 2008-07-04 15:22:48 in the Orient Express Blog

Into the East

Even though we are averaging a gentle 100 kms a day, the journey seems to be going by too fast. Over the past week we whizzed through Slovakia and Hungary and have just crossed into Romania. After a fantastic rest day in Budapest, we said farewell to the pastry and coffee route along the Danube river and the Danau cycle path and, now we... Continue Reading

Posted 2008-07-02 09:16:23 in the Orient Express Blog

What Riders Are Saying about the 2008 Tour d'Afrique

Ashleigh Emerick

"For 4 months I spent every day seeing a part of the world that I had never seen, in a way that few people get to experience it. To visit a continent on a bike is so unique and exciting -- bringing you so close to the people, the land, and the wildlife. It's exceptional. I felt like the phsycial effort, which was tough, coupled with the comraderie of the Tour and the magic of land made for one of, if not, the most remarkable, memorable, life enhancing experiences I could have. Bravo, TDA!

Natalia Dziegielewska

"It was the best decision in my life! Africa is still the land of dreams! You start in Cairo and 12,000km later emerge as a changed person! The severity of every-day life makes you appreciate what is really important and how lucky we are being brought up with everyting at our disposal - or are we?
Life is so simple! The bounty of nature, good health and sheer joy of exploring, having a safe spot to rest, full belly and great friends around
is more then enough to put a smile on your face every day of the tour! Loved it!!!"

More Testimonials...

The Tour d'Afrique Foundation

The Tour d’Afrique Foundation is an integral part of our company vision. The foundation was set up at the same time as the Tour d’Afrique Bicycle Race/Expedition to fulfill key elements of our mission. Read More

Community

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, two more transcontinental tours have been added; the Orient Express, crossing Europe from Paris to Istanbul, and The Silk Route, crossing Asia from Istanbul to Beijing.
Read More