In early April Scottish cyclist and Active Traveller contributor Mark Beaumont will leave from Cairo in Egypt with the aim of cycling to Cape Town in South Africa in less than 50 days. To spell out the scale of that undertaking, that’s 200km a day, every day for 50 days, finding somewhere to pitch his tent every night.
The only person to come close to riding this quickly through Africa has been South African rider Keegan Longuiera, who completed the route at the beginning of March in a new World Record of 59 days and 8 hours.
Beaumont’s record attempt is raising money and awareness for Orkidstudio, an impact design organisation whose focus is to benefit children and communities worldwide through innovative architecture and construction. Many of their projects are in Africa and as their patron Beaumont has seen the incredible impact this grassroots organisation for himself.
Supporting Beaumont’s attempt are LDC, Drum Property Group, Martin Currie, The Wood Foundation, Weir Group, Endura and Koga: “Without their generous support, the Africa Solo expedition and the work of Orkidstudio would not be possible,” said Beaumont.
It was over seven years ago, in 2008, that Beaumont cycled just shy of 30,000km for a new circumnavigation World Record, his account of which – The Man Who Cycled the World – was a UK best-seller. His next adventure was the Americas expedition, where he cycled 21,000 km from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego off the southern tip of South America but after that the ultra endurance athlete left the bike behind to row oceans, climb mountains and be a TV presenter. But there was always the ambition to get back to what he loves most, riding his bike.
“But there was always that burning question of how fast could I go, how far I could push myself as an athlete,” says Beaumont. “Well, we’re about to find out.”
You can follow Mark Beaumont's expedition on markbeaumontonline.com where the GPS map will update his position every 30 minutes. And on twitter you can join the conversation using #africasolo.
