Africa

Jul/Aug '23

Review: 2023 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition—An Explorer in South Africa

Expedition implies a long journey. It’s curiosity put into action. The pursuit of wonder, mystery, and the unknown. It’s something that comes naturally to motorcyclists. That’s part of the magic of riding, right? Husqvarna thinks so, too. Just over a year after releasing the Norden 901, the

WEB Exclusive Premium Content

Riding Mopeds from Paris to Dakar

A motorcycle trip in Africa is always demanding, but on a moped like the Piaggio Ciao, it turns into an enormous challenge. That’s especially true when your journey takes you from Paris to Dakar in Senegal, covering almost 2,900 miles over 23 days in the summer. When preparing

May/Jun '20 Premium Content

South Africa: The Cape Crusader

It doesn’t get better than this. I’m on the pegs, piloting the Honda Africa Twin up a steep, rocky climb in the middle of the vast Cederberg Wilderness Area. Ahead of me, a troop of baboons scatters away from the track and up into the deep red cliffs,

Mar/Apr '19 Premium Content

Morocco: Traveling the Kingdom

Gusts of salt-filled air blow sharply against my face as I gaze across the open water. We’re onboard the ferry that will take us from Algeciras, Spain, across the 36-mile Strait of Gibraltar, to the shores of northern Africa. In the distance I spot the strip of thin coastline

May/Jun '17 Premium Content

Reader Ride: Namibia, Africa

There comes a time in every man’s life when you realize you are never going to meet certain goals you set for yourself. Call it the proverbial “midlife crisis” or just a healthy dose of reality brought on by too many years treading water in the flotsam and jetsam

Sep/Oct '14 Premium Content

South Africa: The Rainbow Nation

It’s a long flight, whichever way you spin it. Even though I remind myself of the old adage that it’s about the journey as much as the destination, I think that philosophy doesn’t apply here. Yet as I read my travel guide from the constricted comfort of

Mar/Apr '14 Premium Content

Ethiopia: One More Cup of Coffee before the Desert

After an extreme experience in 2001, I was forever done with Ethiopia. Nonetheless, ten years later, I went back with my husband, Herbert, in search of the best coffee in the world. Much to my surprise, I saw the country from an exciting new angle. My old picture of Ethiopia

Nov/Dec '09 Premium Content

East Africa

We are in Cape Town, South Africa, our bikes parked behind us. Bathed in the pink glow of the evening sun, our bodies weary and worn, we have ridden 24,000 miles through 11 African countries. We walk over the sand down to the water's edge, where the

Sep/Oct '09 Premium Content

West Africa

In the dim morning light, a glance down at my watch confirms it's 6:30am. We broke camp and left Dakhla (Morocco's southernmost town) an hour ago. I ease my grip on the handlebars and take in a deep breath. The wind drying my face does

Jul/Aug '09 Premium Content

Into Africa

Clinging precariously to the northern tip of Africa, Ceuta is the last Spanish enclave in this vast continent and the point from which our Moroccan adventure begins. At the border, it's late November and 100 degrees. We park in the shade, and Lisa has to remain behind, guarding

Jan/Feb '08 Premium Content

East Africa

The horizon is pink and yellow and purple and we are airborne, high above East Africa. Our destination is close  - Mombasa at the Indian Ocean. Some 200 miles south of the equator in northeastern Tanzania, we see the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. The rising tropical sun catches the flanks of

Jul/Aug '05 Premium Content

South Africa: Between Cape and Kingdom

Braai (equivalent to an American barbecue) is the first word in Afrikaans that many travelers learn simply because they're invited to them so often. Having a braai involves grilling something over a fire, from huge succulent steaks to whole fresh fish. And it always tastes very lekker. In

May/Jun '05 Premium Content

East Africa: Among Gorillas, Lions and Elephants

A washed-out track that winds through green banana plantations to the Ugandan border has led us here. And once inside the post on the Kenyan side, it's obvious we've committed the serious offense of disturbing a well-fed immigration officer during his power nap. Call out the

Mar/Apr '05 Premium Content

Northeast Africa: Fear & Roving in Africa

If not for these unnerving roadblocks all the time, Egypt could be really enjoyable. A boiling hot ribbon of tar takes us through the densely populated Nile Valley. Palm trees lining the shores of the mighty river rush by. The lush green sugarcane plantations are dotted with workers dressed in

Jan/Feb '05 Premium Content

Egypt: Eventually, All Roads Lead to Egypt

Our ridiculous predicament in Ras Ajdir, the small border post between Tunisia and Libya, began three days ago. The slow emigration procedures on the Tunisian side of the border had taken ages and we arrived dead-tired late at night, obviously not the best of times to cross a frontier. Despite

Fall '02 Premium Content

North Africa: Trans Sahara Part Two

Sitting on the terrace of the Grand Hotel in Niamey, I order five gorgeous, grilled meat skewers in broken French, "Cinq brochettes, s 'il vous plait!" To get on in West Africa, French is essential since neither English nor German are commonly spoken. Everyone who wants to

Summer '02 Premium Content

North Africa: Trans Sahara Part One

Using the worldwide web to make my travel preparations, I sit for hours in front of my monitor, scanning maps and calculating GPS-data. Immersed in the process, I almost feel like I'm already motoring north of Tschad in the Tibesti Mountains. In reality I am still at home