Africa-Motorcycle-Travels = Afrika-Motorrad-Reisen

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How to see and print out (free of charge) or to buy maps for your mc-tour ?
See a good view for all continents or countries at: http://sunsite.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/Maps
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Copyright by Bernd Tesch. Motorcycle-WORLD-Travel-Expert. It is free for you to read this and learn out of it. It is not allowed to take off or to publish any information of this without written permission of Bernd Tesch. This all is a part of the books"Afrika-Führer für Selbstfahrer" = Africa-Guide for Individual Travellers" ISBN 3-9800099-0-4 (5th edition, out pf print). And a second book in German: "Afrika-Motorrad-Reisen" = Africa Motorcycle-Travels. ISBN  3-9800099-2-0 (available) and another book in work "Afrika-Motorrad-Abenteuer" ISBN  3-9800099-4-x.
GLOBETROTT-ZENTRALE Bernd TESCH. Zur Fernsicht 18. D-52224 Zweifall. Germany.
Tel + Fax: 0049 (0) 2402-75375. email: berndtesch@gmx.de homepage  http://www.berndtesch.de





< So sicher fällt man auf Tesch-Travel-Taschen und TTTräger.
Foto: Steffen Müller und Min Tesch in Afrika.

Bernd Tesch has been travelling in Africa until 2001 about 111.111 kms himself. But much more important is that he knows hundreds of Africa-Motorcycle-Travellers himself. He is working in this field since 1962 (his first tour to Africa). In this times I had to write letters and to phone or to visit the Africa and World-Travellers to get contact / informations. Later Fax helped. In 1991 I visited the most famous motorcycle-travellers in Denmark, in 1993 in Britain, in 1994 in USA and in between in Belgium, France, Germany, Namibia, Netherland, South Africa, Switzerland. Many of  famous Africa Motorcycle Travellers have been at my yearly Motorcycle-Meeting for World-Travellers in april. I own the largest archive of  Africa-Travellers and TRANS-Africa-Travellers. Especially I am as well best  informed the history: "Discovering Africa by Motorcycle". See below. In this summaries you find nearly all the mc-pioneers and other intersting mc-tours. I konw many Transafrica-travllers which are not inside here so far. In 02.1998 I started in internet to publish informations about Motorcycle-World-Travellers (>http://www.berndtesch.de >under NEWS). This collection was first published 28th of may 2000 first time.

To find all this and all my activities was a "life-long job" and cost me a lot of money. Since many years I am working in a two new books called "Afrika-Motorrad-Reisen (3rd edition) = Africa Motorcycle Travels" and "Afrika Motorrad Abenteuer" = Africa Motorcycle Adventures. All books about "Africa by Motorcycle" which have been published until 1994 are published in my in German written, but very international understandable book called "Motorrad-Abenteuer-Touren" = Motorcycle-Adventure-Tours (432 pp, 500 pictures / drawings. About 264 Motorcyle World-Tours. ISBN 3-9800099-55-5. DM 38.90). I own all this books in all languages.

If there is shown "Book:" under the traveller and you want to read / order this you can check if it is still available:
> http://www.berndtesch.de > German or  English version > Bestelliste or order. If you find this book there you can order it from me. I offer about 199 international available Motorcycle-TRAVEL-Books for sale.

If you are an Africa-Motorcycle-Traveller or plan to do this or "on the road" already or know anyone who is not listed here, please send my any details, addresses, publications, homepages and most important: best pictures.

If there is any chance give me at first a complete view LIKE this EXAMPLE in the SAME STIL in English:
01.10.1980 - 27.10.82
Müller, Sven (German)  your http://www.???
Solo Africa with BMW R 100 GS. 50.000 kms. Or: I rode together with Susan Smith (British) who rode a HONDA 500 XL.
Route: Europe 12.000 kms (Germany - Austria - Switzerland - Italy - Greek - Turkey ....) - Asia 15.000 kms (Iran - Pakistan - India - Nepal. Bike solo by plane to Singapure. I flew to Singapure. Malaysia - Thailand - back to Singapure). - Australia 16.000 kms (I flew together with bike to Darwin. Around  Australia 16.000 kms. Or offer names like: Darwin - Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney ...) - North-America (I flew with bike to Los Angeles. LA - New York) - Africa - Europe (Bike by ship to Netherlands / Amsterdam - Germany / Cologne).
The best: I wanted to find myself. Freedom. Sun. Friendship of  Turkey people. invitation by Pakistani. Climbing the Himalayas........)
The worst: I got Malaria in Nairobi. Attack of soldiers with weapons in Iran.....)...
Important useful informations for others:...
Book or publication (about your tour):...

I am very grateful to all the individuals who knew that I am working in this field. They informed me worldwide by sending letters, later faxes and emails since 1970 about Motorcycle-World-Around-Travellers. Without their help I could not get to this high level. Please give me your "pardon" that there are mistakes inside of the informations and a lot in the language. At least you will never have seen such a huge collection of informations. I could add hundreds huge Motorcycle-Travels of  Africa- and especially Trans-Africa. But this will take much more of my time in future. One special field of me is to reseach the "Historical conquer and special interesting Africa-tours". The earliest motorcycle tours through Africa should be relatively complete. If you know any of them who are not registered here please inform me.

Bernd Tesch

Overland to, in and around Africa by Motorcycle

Plan or experience? You can talk with 300 high experienced Motorcycle-Travellers who rode all continents so far :

Most of this is in German. I could NOT translate all in English so far. The new one below are in English written.

All the great Motorcycle-Travellers who rode / ride Around-The-World and possibly crossed this continent as well are not included here. See http://www.berndtesch.de >Englisch or German version >continents >world

10-20 billion (= Millarden) years ago
The universe started to exist somehow.

4.5 billion years ago
The Sun and Earth were created. The earth is one of nine big planets of the sun. Possibly out of change of gravity in the universe it was caused that dust attracted each other at first to smaller parts which are getting bigger and bigger. Finally becoming big rocks which attracted each other to big planets. Most of them were attracted by the biggest part which is the sun. The nine planets could escape somehow the gravity of the sun and started to circle around the sun. All of the men / women who have been in satelits speak about the "blue planet earth" because about 70 % of the earth is water.

1-3 billion years ago
First signs of life on the earth.  After the earth got colder the first cells grew in microbe "Archeos"  (= das Ursprüngliche, the basic). If this came by meteroits from other planets or developed emcame up,

170 Mio years ago
The One-Piece-Continent separated in two big blocks. The southern part was called Gondwana.

160 Mio years ago
Madagasgar seperated from Africa and started therefoer his own development

25.000 years ago
The "homo sapiens" exists.

1885
Erstes Motorrad von Gottlieb Daimler
Um 1883/84 bemüht sich Gottlieb Daimler, Erfinder des Verbrennungsmotors, darum die menschliche Kraft durch die Kraft der Verbrennung  - "Explosion"  zu ersetzen. Gottlieb war ein Schüler des Erfinders Otto, der den schwerfälligen und gewichtigen Otto - Gasmotor gebaut hatte. Dieser Motor stand fest am Boden, um Arbeitskraft zu erzeugen. Gottlieb suchte ein leichteres Aggregat, das Bewegungskraft erzeugen sollte. Eines nachts wagen sich Gottlieb und sein Sohn Paul auf die menschenleeren Straßen zur ersten Fahrt mit diesem "teuflischen Gefährt", einem Holz - Motor - Rad mit eisenbeschlagenen Rädern. Am 29.08.1885 wird dieses Gefährt vom Kaiserlichen Patentamt in Berlin als erstes Motor - Rad der Welt gesetzlich geschützt. Am 10.11.1885 legt Sohn Paul Daimler in aller Öffentlichkeit drei Kilometer von Bad Canstatt (Baden Würtemberg) nach Untertürkheim zurück. Das erste Motor - Rad mit Holzrahmen hat einen Verbrennungsmotor mit gesteuerten Auslaßventilen und automatischem Einlaß. Wilhelm Maybach fährt erstmalig damit. 1 - Zyl. Viertakt - Motor. 264 ccm. 0,5 PS (0,37 kw). Max 12 km/Std. - Daimler wird nie Motorräder bauen, sondern hat nur mit dem Motor in Motorrädern und Booten experimentiert. Mit Carl Benz wendet er sich dem Vierrad zu und baut 1901 den ersten Daimler Benz. In Untertürkeim wächst die heutige Daimler - Benz AG.

1887
Stevens, Thomas. Around the world on a bicyle. Solo-Weltumrundung auf einem Hochrad von Stevens.


1891-1900

1892
Villiers (Auguste). Les voyages impossiblea, la traversée de l´Afrique an vélocipède. III. De Teller. Paris: Boulanger. 1892. In-4. 564 p.: III. In 4°. Buch vermutlich über erste Afrika-Durchquerung per Fahrrad durch einen Franzosen. Ungeklärt.
23.11.1998 1. Info von Prof. Dr. Hans-Erhard Lessing. Aus einer Bibliographie von "Pomme Bibligraphie du Cyclisme. FFC, Paris 1984. Autor: Keizo Kobayashi.

1894
Heinrich und Wilhelm Hildebrand und Alois Wolfmüller gründen in München die erste Motorrad - Fabrik.
Bis 1896 bauen sie mehr als 1000 Maschinen: Wassergekühlter 2 - Zyl. Viertakt - Motor. 1488 ccm. 2,5 PS (1,85 kw). Ca. 40 km/h. Glührohrzündanlage.

1900
Im ersten Produktionsjahr von Motorrädern der 1892 neu bezeichneten Firma NSU (NeckarSUlm) wurden 100 Motorräder und 7000 Fahrräder hergestellt. NSU erfand die gefederte Vorradgabel und baute riesige Stückzahlen von NSU - Motorrädern.


1901-1910

1901
Ein Automobilbesitzer wagt sich als erster auf Panhard & Lessor bis nach Ghardaia (Algerien).

12.09.1903 - ?
Tom Silver
Capetown - Cairo. Tom hat den ersten bekannten Versuch unternommen, die Tour "Capetown - Cairo" zu fahren. Er startet am 21.09.1903. Toms Motorrad war eine Quadrant aus Birmingham. Das war ein Fahrrad mit verstärktem Rahmen ohne Vorderrad - und Hinterrad - Federung und mit Keilriemen - Antrieb. Als Ersatzteile waren eine komplette Vorderradgabel, ein Satz Räder und Maschinenteile dabei. - Tom kam immerhin 6000 Meilen (= 9600 km) weit, bevor sein Versuch im Sudan (?) scheiterte (?).
24.06.2000 Who knows more about this tour or owns publications or knows what happened with him after 1903??

1908
Sahara. 1. Versuch, die Sahara per Motorrad zu durchqueren, durch Major Pein. In Ouargla (Algerien) streikt der Motor.
Erwähnenswert ist, daß bereits 1897 Hauptmann Pein, ein erfolgreicher Saharaforscher, einen Plan ausgearbeitet hatte, wie man Kamele durch Lasrwagen ersetzen könnte und damit Touggourt mit dem südlichen Vorposten von Fort Faltters verbinden könnte. 1908 (1909 ?) versuchte der wackere Kapitän, seinen Plan umzusetzen, indem er mit dem Motorrad nach El Golea fahren wollte. Er blieb allerdings in den Dünen stecken und kehrte traurig nach Laghouat zurück.

1908
Sahara. Das erste Motorrad erreicht El Golea. Allerdings das Motorrad, der französische Offizier und Mechaniker auf dem Rücken eines Kamels.
08.06.1999 Info von Dr. Werner Nöter aus Buch "Der Wüste begegnen" von Troßmann. 1993.

1908
Sahara. Der Franzose Gaston Liégard bewältigt die 400 km lange Strecke nach Biskra und Touggourt und die Strecke von Tebessa nach Gafsa (Tunesien). Ein gewöhnlicher Peugeot, dessen Räder über abgestütze 36 cm breite Kokosmatten liefen. Dem lag die Erkenntnis zugrunde, daß Autos mit "Kettenantrieb" und einer Übertragung des hohen Gewichtes auf eine breitere Fläche weiche Sandgebiete leichter durchqueren können.


1911-1920

1912 - 1913
South-West-Africa. Wie seit ur - Jahrhunderten reitet Frl. Fischer in Nambia noch auf einem Ochsen im besten Kleid aus zum Einkaufen. Das Original - Foto befindet sich im Tsumeb - Museum in Namibia bei Ilse Fischer.

Vor 1914
Sahara. Erste Flugzeuge erkunden die Randgebiete der Sahara.

1915
South-West-Africa. Im ersten Weltkrieg bei dem Einmarsch der Engländer in der deutschen Kolonie Südwest - Afrika in der kleinen Stadt Tsumeb wurden hier die ersten Motorräder der englischen Truppen gesichtet.

08.1916
Sahara. Der französische Generalkommandant von Algerien, General Laperrine, beginnt die ernstzunehmende Erkundung der Sahara mit Autos. Französische Armeeautos kommen von Ouargla 750 km südlicher bis Ain Salah. Der erste Fiat-Lastwagen Typ 15 TER braucht 20 Tage von Ouargla mit einer Kamelkarawanr als Begleitung. Die Eroberung der Sahara wurde einerseits durch die fortschreitende Technik begünstigt, vielmehr aber durch die Notwendigkeit, daß die Franzosen im ersten Weltkrieg die Resourcen ihrer westafrikanischen Kolonien einfacher als auf dem Seeweg oder mit Kamelen haben wollten.

1918
Sahara. Der französische Generalkommandant von Algerien, General Laperrine ,kommt mit französischen Armeeautos von Ouargla 1050 km südlich.

03.1919
Sahara. Der französische General Nivelle befiehl, daß unter dem Kommando von Bettenbourg und Louis Audouin - Dubreuil sieben Autos und drei Flugzeuge eine erfolgreiche Fahrt entlang der Militärstationen tief in die Sahara entlang der nördlichen Tanzefrouft. Diese Strecke erwies sich als viel einfacher durch Fahrzeuge zu befahren. Deshalb wurde die Tanezrouft auch viele später als erste dauerhafte Verbindung zwischen Nord - und Westafrika genutzt.

1920
Sahara. Der französische Generalkommandant von Algerien, General Laperrine,versuchte von Tamanrasset per Flugzeug den Niger zu erreichen und stürzte dabei ab. ¾ der begleitenden Fiat - LKW ging bei der mörderischen Fahrt nach Tamanrasset verloren. Nur zwei/drei Autos erreichten im Juli wieder Ouargla. Siebzehn Soldaten starben.


1921-1930

1921
Richard Cliver (?)
Cairo - Capetown. Erste Afrika - Durchquerung Cairo - Capetown per Gespann von Richard Cliver (?)
Diese Information stammt aus dem Buch von Sulkowsky (1926 - 36 um die Welt. Siehe Literatur Sulkowsky). Er soll die Reise mit einem 1000 - er Modell J - Gespann von Kapstadt - Mombasa - Kairo gefahren sein.
22.06.2000 Alle meine Versuche, mehr darüber zu erfahren,  scheiterten bisher. WHO knows more?.
B.T.: Erste Afrika - Durchquerung Cairo - Capetown per Gespann von Richard Cliver (?). Ungeklärt..

1921
Im Tsumeb - Museum in Namibia zeigte Ilse Schatz mir ein mit 1921 beschriftetes Foto eines Gespannes, daß 1921 in Tsumeb war.

1921 - 1922
Sahara. Im Winter wurden acht Citroen "Auto - Chenilles" unter dem Kommando von Audouin - Dubreuil erfolgreich mehrere tausend km in der Sahara getestet. Vorstufen dieser Halbketten - Fahrzeuge wurden als "Mehrzweckfahrzeuge von dem französischen Ingenieur Adolphe Kégresse seit 1902 im Auftrage des russischen Zaren in Russland entwickelt.

17.12.1922 - 07.01.23
Sahara. Hoggar - Route: Erste Durchquerung der Sahara in 21 Tagen mit fünf 10 PS (1452 ccm, Hinterachse mit sechs Gängen, max 45 km/Std) Citroen - Raupenschlepper von "Tuggurt (Touggurt)" bis Timbuktu mit einer Geschwindigkeit von 25 km/Std. Zwei Fahrzeuge waren davon Tankfahrzeuge. Treibstoffverbrauch ca. 22,5 Liter/100 km. Elf Mann Besatzung und der Hund Flossie als Besatzung: Georges - Marie Haardt, Louis Audouin - Dubreuil, Leutnant Georges Estienne, Dr. Castelnau (Geograph), René Estienne, Charles Brull und fünf Mechaniker. Eine Kamel - Karawane brauchte dafür 6 - 7 Monate. Ein Kamel kann nur 130 kg transportieren. Ein reinrassiges Mehara (Reitkamel) konnte diese Strecke ohne Last in 8 - 10 Wochen zurücklegen. Dabei wurden von anderen Autos vorher Benzin - Depots in Ouargla, Inifel, Ain Salah und in den Mouydir - Bergen (Hoggar) und im Süden von Dakar über Timbuktu Lager in Bourem, Kidal und Tin Zaouten angelegt, die von "meharistes" bewacht wurden. Dazwischen lagen 1.300 km Wüste ohne Versorgung. Das Ergebnis dieser Expedition war, daß man beabsichtigte, Forts alle 250 km entlang des Weges anzulegen und diese mit den Halbketten - Fahrzeugen auszurüsten.
Route: Touggurt - Ouargla - Fort Hassi Inifel - Plateaut du Tademait - Bordj Ain Guettara - goldene Ebenen von Tidikelt bis Ain Salah - Mouydir - Berge - Quellen von Tadjmout - Arak - Schlucht (3000 m hohe Berge) - Arram Tit  In Amguel (nahe Tamanrasset) - Silet - 400 km Tanezrouft bis zu den Quellen von Tin Zaouaten (2000 km bis hierher) - Tin Touaten - Kidal - durch "Cram Cram (Stachelschweingras) bis Tabankort - Fort Bourem am Niger - Timbuktu. Die Rückreise ab 10.02.1923 erfolgte nur mit unbedeutenen Zwischenfällen.
Buch: Haardt. 1927.

09.09. - 14.09.1923
Estienne
Sahara. Die erste Non - Stop - Fahrt durch die Sahara via Tanezrouft durch Estienne mit einem Dreirachsen - Fahrzeug von Renault (2 hintere Antriebsachsen mit Niederdruck - Reifen und Zwillingsreifen vorne) der Companie Générale Saharienne. Auf der Rückfahrt deponierte Esetinne 5 leere Benzin - Fässer als Kennzeichen, die für spätere Generationen dienten. Die Route wurde daher auch als "BIDON 5" bekannt.
Route: Colomb Béchar - Adrar - Quallen - Tessalit - Bourem.

1923 - 1926
Egypt. Libya. Der ägyptische Prinz Kemal el Din erreicht von Ägypten aus das Uweinat-Gebirge (Grenzdreieck Libyen - Ägypten - Sudan)

23.09.1924
Major Court - Treatt mit Frau
Capetown - Cairo. Start zur ersten geglückten Autofahrt Capetown - Cairo durch den Engländer Major Court - Treatt mit Frau auf  2 Crossleys, 30 PS.

15. - 21.11.1924
Algerien - Dahomey. Vier Autos Renault durchqueren die Sahara und erreichten Save in Westafrika in fast sieben Tagen.
Route: Algerien (Colomb Béchar) - Dahomey (Save in in Westafrika) -  Dann weiter nach Kotonou (Golf von Guinea)

1924 - 25
Das französische Militär organisiert eine Erstdurchquerung von Tunesien - Djanet - Bilma - Tchadsee.

15.11.1924 - 03.07.1925
Delingette und seine Frau
Algeria- Westafrica - Eastafrica - Capetown. Erste Auto - Durchquerung Afrikas durch den Franzosen Delingette, seine Frau, einen Mechaniker Bonnaure (und später einem jungen Afrikaner). Sie starteten als eines der vier Autos Renault in Colomb Béchar, durchquerten die Sahara und erreichten Save in Westafrika in fast sieben Tagen. In Niamey trennten sie sich und fuhren alleine bis Cape Town. Die größten Schwierigkeiten waren die 129 Brücken, die neu errichtet oder repariert werden mußten.
Route: Algerien (Colomb Béchar) - Dahomey (Save in in Westafrika) - Dikoa - Zinder nördlich um den Tchadsee (Mao) - Fort Lamy - Rort Archambault - Bangui - Stanleyville -  Kampala - Nairobi (03.19925) - Arusha - Iringa - Abercom - Elisabethville - Kashitu - Lusaka - Livingstone  (Iringa - Livingstone war das schlechteste Wegstück der ganzen Reise) - Wankie - Bulawajo - Mafeking - Johannesburg - Kimberley - Cape Town.

1924
Kairo - Siwa. Die beiden Engländer Dunelt und Motorrate fahren diese Route mit Seitenwagen.

1925 - 1950
Der Südwester Gustav Heinzelmann war Fotograf in Südwest - Afrika und fuhr zwischen 1925 - 50 dort mit einem Gespann umher, um sich seinen Lebensunterhalt mit Aufnahmen zu verdienen.

17.03.1925 - 08.1925
Söderen, Einar
Sweden - Europe - Africa. A booklet in Swedish: "Pa Motorcykel". Genom Europa och Norra Afrika.
Using a husqvarna model 170 the author started 17.03.1925 from Stockholm and was back after 14.000 km in august. He went down through Europe to Gibralta and took a boat to Casablanca. Frther on to Marrakech which was at that time a true oriental town. He went along the Mediteranian coast to Tunis and took a ferry to Italy. Here he visited Roma and Nepal. After he took a ferry to Egypt (Alexandria) and visited Cairo. Went on to Jerusalem but depending on bad health, went to Port-Said. Took a ferry to Genua and returned home. This booklet has only 26 pages.
Verlag: Oscar Isacsos Boktryckeri. Schweden. Göteborg. 1926

26.12.1926 - 21.07.1927
Robert Fabry
Algeria- Westafrica - Eastafrica - Southern Africa. Der Belgier Robert Fabry fährt solo mit einer Gillet 350 qcm mit Seitenwagen als erster Motorrad - Fahrer die Route von Europa bis Elisabethville. Der Grund war, daß der Leiutnant Aviateur erkunden wolle, wie man per Flugzeug Belgisch Congo erreichen könne. Nachdem er 1928 noch einmal Transafrika mit Renault-Autos gefahren war, brachte er als erster 1930 per Flugzeug Post nach Belgisch Congo.
Route: Liege - Alger - Casablanca - mit Schiff nach Dakar - Bamako - Zinder - Bangassou - Stanleyville - Elisabethville (Belgisch Kongo). Ich hatte das große Vergnügen, das am 01.02.87 von Herrn Colonel Fabry (87 Jahre) im Lütticher Krankenhaus persönlich zu erfahren! Obwohl diese Fahrt ein Meilenstein in der Motorrad - Reise - Geschichte Afrikas war, hat es hierüber kaum Publikationen (keine in Deutschland bekant) und kein Buch gegeben. In seiner Wohnung zeigte seine Tochter mir lediglich eine eingerahmte Routenskizze von Afrika an der Wohnungswand. Das Gespann steht im Valone - Museum in Liege (Belgien) und ist nur nach vorheriger Vereinbarung zu besichtigen. (Robert Fabry hat damals auch mit einem Mini - Flugzeug "Himmelsfloh" Lüttich überflogen. Er hat darin einen Einzylinder Motorrad Gillet - Motor eingebaut. Robert starb 1987 in Liege.
B.T. besuchte Robert Fabry und mehrfach seine Tochter in Liege.

1927
Joseph Weerens (Belgian) Brunetau and Gimie (French)
Algeria - Senegal. Der Belgier Joseph Weerens durchquert mit den 2 Franzosen Brunetau und Gimie erstmalig die Sahara via Tanezrouft per Motorrad auf einer belgischen FN Herstal Sahara M 70 (1 Zyl., 350 ccm). Joseph Weerens hatte eine kleine Motorrad - Werkstatt in der Nähe des Hauptbahnhofs in Liege (Belgien). Er war nicht verheiratet und hatte auch keine Kinder. Er starb ca. 1942/3 im deutschen Konzentrationslager in Dachau. Seine Maschine müßte im Wallone - Museum in Liege in einem Außenlager unrestauriert liegen. Diese Informationen stammen von dem belgischen Schriftsteller Gilbert Gaspard, der vier Bücher über belgische Motorräder geschrieben hat.
Alger - Tam - Agadez - Ouagadougou - Dakar.

16.06.1927 - ?
Fontguyon et Sacchetti (French)
Tunis - Tripolis (365 km, Start 16.06.1927) durch Fontguyon et Sacchetti auf zwei Terrot L Sport. Monocylinder. 4 Temps. 174 ccm.

1927 - 28
Erster französischer Liniendienst mit Luxusbus mit Sechsrad-Renault von Algerien - Tanezrouft - Niger.

30.05. - 24.08.1928
Robert Fabry (Belgian)
Transafrica. Alger- West - East - South-Africa. 1. Sahara - Durchquerung dieser Route und erste Trans - Afrika - Tour mit zwei serienmäßigen FN 10 C.V. - Geländewagen bis Capetown. Unternehmen: "La Croisiere Blanche" durch Robert Fabry.
Route: Bruxelles - Alger - Ain Salah - Reggane - Gao - Niamey - Kano - Belgisch Congo (Fort Lamy) - Buta - Niangara - Uganda (Kampala) - Nairobi - Tanganyika (Arusha) - Elisabethville - Capetown:". Robert Fabry startet 1 Jahr nach seiner Afrika - Motorrad - Fahrt nochmals zu einer ganzen Durchquerung des Kontinentes mit Jaques (La) Marche, M.Hubert Carton de Wiart und M.Roger Crouquet: 23 000 (25.000 ?) km in 103 Tagen.

24.03.1929 - ?
Hult, Bertil (Swedish)
Sweden - Niger. Four person started with two sidecars Royal Enfield from Sweden with the intension to travel to Capetown and back. Three went back already from Europe. Bertil continued solo as far as Gao in Niger where the sidecar broke down and he got Malaria. Bertil wrote a book about this in Swedish: "Genom Äventyrens Land". Ensam över Saharas Öknar pa Motorcykel.
Deutsch: Zum Abenteuer Land. Vier Personen starten auf zwei schweren Royal Enfield-Gespannen von Stockholm mit der Absicht nach Capetown und zurück zu fahren. In Europa reisen bereits drei zurück nach Schweden und der Autor fährt alleine weiter. Nach vielen Abenteuern und Anstrengungen kommt er bis Gao im Niger. Dort muß er seine defekte Maschine stehen lassen und nach Schweden zurückkehren, um seine Malaria auszuheilen. 253 S. 7 Kartenskizzen. 92 SW-Fotos. Softcover. Schwedisch.
Route: 24.03.1929 ab Schweden (Stockholm - Malmö) - Dänemark (Kopenhagen - Kolding) - Deutschland (Hamnburg - Osnabrück) - Holland (Den Haag) - Belgien (Antwerpen) - Frankreich (Calais) - England - (Dover - London - Birmingham - London - Dover) - Frankreich (Calais - Rouen - Paris - Tours - Bordeaux - Toulose - Foix) - Andorra - Spanien (Barcelona - ...) - Algerien (Biljarden - Iforas - Beni-Abbes - Tabankort - Gao...)
Verlag: Albert Bonniers Förlag. Stockholm. Schweden. 1931.
Gedruckt in Alb. Bonniers Boktryckeri 1931.

1930
Motorrad mit Beiwagen fährt von Alexandria nach Kapstadt und Lobito. Keine Details mehr bekannt.
22.06.2000 Who knows more ?

1930 - 40
Die Hoggar - Route (Alger - Tamanrasset - Agadez - Kano - Fort Lamy) wurde fahrplanmäßig von der Satt (Societe Automobile de Transports Tropicaux) befahren.

1930 - 40
Die Tanezrouft - Route wurde mit Wüsten - Autobussen von der "Compagnie Generale Transsaharienne" befahren.
Route: Oran - Colomb Bechar - Reggan - Bidon V - Gao.

1930
Algeria - Belgish Congo.
Der Franzose Pierre Martineau fuhr solo ab 02/1930 mit einem Solo - Motorrad Peugeot P 107 (350 ccm).
Route: Alger - Gao - Tschadsee - Elisabethville. Er führte einen extra Wassertank von 60 Liter mit sich. Wegen dieser außergewöhnlichen Reise wurde er auf dem Titelblatt der Moto Revue des Salon de Paris von 1930 abgebildet.

18.05. - 15.10.1930
A.W. Hayter
Cape to Cairo by sidecar. Der Engländer A.W. Hayter war der erste Engländer, der diese Traumroute, die vorher nur vom Flugzeug und Auto bewältigt wurde, meisterte. Er reiste mit einem Gespann "Sun - J.A.P.". Sein Neffe, Mr. W. B. Boulton, war im Seitenwagen sein Begleiter. Dieser bekam aber Fieber in Kenya, so daß Hayter von dort alleine bis Cairo fuhr. Als er ankam, hatte er 6.500 Meilen gefahren, davon 3.000 ganz alleine.
25.06.2000 Da die dokumentierten Informationen von Cliver 1921 fehlen wird dieses oft als die erste Motorrad-Tour Capetwon - Cairo gesehen.

??.02.1933 - 19.06.1933
Hermann Jerutka (geb. 10.08.1907 in Böhmisch Aicha nahe Reichenberg)
+ Marokko, Tunesien, Algerien per Rucksack. Ankunft mit dem Schiff in Melilla, Marocco, im Feb.33. Danach Seereise über Alhucemas nach Ceuta; weiter über Tetuan, Tanger, Alcazar, Meknes, Fez, Taza. Einreise Algerie nach Oman, weiter über Orleanville. Ankunft Algier am 1.April 1933. Über Setif , Constantine, Bone nach Tunis. Verlassen Tunis am 24. Mai 1933 Richtung Sahara. "Das ist mein Afrika, von dem ich in meinen Jugendjahren geträumt habe.. Souk-Ahras, Timgad, El Kantara, Biskra, [...]. Meinen Rucksack lasse ich in Biskra zurück und ich wandre durch die Oase auf der Straße nach Süden. Schöne Palmen wachsen in großer Anzahl von niedrigen Lehmmauern umgeben, es ist ein einziger Garten von Wassergräben durchzogen, die die Oase überall hin bewässern [...]. So sitze ich und lasse den Sand durch meine Finger rieseln. Ich sehe nur Himmel und das ewige Sandmeer. Alles ist ewig, nur ich kleiner sterblicher Mensch sitze hier. Ich komme mir in diesem Augenblick ganz winzig und unbedeutend vor [...]". Abreise Biskra: 30.05.1933. Abreise Tunis Richtung Sizilien: 19.06.1933, danach Sizilien-Reise..
Sohn Heiner Jerutka 28.03.2008: Dies sind nur Auszüge aus dem Tagebuch, das zum Teil durch Fotos und wahrscheinlich Zeitungsbilder ergänzt wird, darüber hinaus existiert ein Kriegstagebuch, auch sehr beeindruckend, aus der Zeit des Afrikafeldzugs und der anschließenden Zeit der Gefangenschaft (USA). Ich hoffe, dass Sie diese Angaben interessiert haben, wenn Interesse besteht, kann ich Ihnen auch noch Fotos einer selbst erstellten Landkarte schicken. Übrigens, mein Vater war Designer und hat seine Bücher zum Teil selbst illustriert, durch Werbezeichnungen hat er sich während seines Aufenthaltes ein wenig Geld verdient. Auftraggeber Bata Schuhe und Messner Tee, eine eher lustige Anmerkung.
28.03.2008 Übersandt auf Bitte von B.T. vom Sohn Heiner Jerutka.




1931-1940


Richard S. Köckler and Kenneth D. Poulton 1933. Foto kindly send to B.T. 20.03.2009 by Bryan Poulton in Capetown, grandson of Kenneth.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/diablovtse/London1933.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/diablovtse/Trip.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/diablovtse/AfricatoEurope1.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/diablovtse/AfricatoEurope2.jpg http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/diablovtse/AfricatoEurope3.jpg http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/diablovtse/AfricatoEurope4.jpg
Copyright: Brian Poulton

Ende 11.1931 - >> 12.01.1933
Richard S. Köckler and Kenneth D. Poulton
+ Transafrica. South Africa - East-Africa - Cairo. Richard Köckler, ein ausgewanderter Deutscher, wollte mit dem neuen Sachs - Motor eigentlich einen Handel in Windhuk (früher Deutsch - Südwest - Afrika) einrichten. Infolge einer Wirtschaftskrise kam es nicht dazu. So kam er auf die Idee, mit seinem "Muster eines Sachs - Rades" Afrika zu durchqueren. 1931. Fichtel & Sachs - Motor (74 ccm, Zweitaktmotor, Zweischeiben - Kupplung, Zweigang - Getriebe, Durschnittsgeschwindigkeit 30 km/Std, einbaubar in jedes Fahrrad).
Mit dieser "Westentasche - Maschine" durchqueren sie mit 16.000 km Afrika in 7 Monaten. Am 15.02.1996 schrieb mir der 86 - jährige Robert Schultheiss (siehe dort, 1934 per Gespann nach Capetown), daß er 1934 auf der Polizei - Station El Aduscha in der Sinai - Wüste eine Eintragung fand, daß sie am 12.01.1933 dort waren.
Route: Süd - Afrika (Windhuk - Kapstadt - Johannesburg (Start 03.06.1932 now accompanied with an English journalist Poulton - Transvaal) - Rhodesien (Viktoria - Fälle) - Ostafrika (Tanganjika - See - Njassa - See - Kilimandjaro - Nairobi) - Sudan (Juba - Chartum by ship) - Ägypten (Assuan - Kairo (Arrived around Christmas) - Jafa - Beirut - Adana - Türkei (Angora) - Istanbul - Sofia - Österreich (Wien) - Deutschland (München - Schweinfurt - Berlin) - England (London).
06.08.2004 Evald Bengtsson send me a copy of a newspaper of THE MOTORCYCLE with a picture
25.064.206 Bryan Poulton from Capetown asked me if I know more about his grandfather.
25.06.2006 I asked Kenneth for update.
20.03.2009 I got many pictures of a Sachs-brochure by email. And asked for a CD or DVD.
20.03.2009 I asked Bryan Poulton if he knows the exact dates of aariving in GB and what happened to Richard S. Köckler later.

1931
Transafrica. Die deutschen Fern - Fahrer Dingler, Mielke und Millauer durchquerten Afrika von Nord nach Süd und zurück mit zwei 500 - er Standard - Maschinen mit Stoye - Seitenwagen (14 PS, Gesamt - Gewicht 400 Kg) in sechs Monaten. Zeitweilig fuhren sie im Konvoi mit einem Rollce Royce.
Quelle: Ernst Leverkus Bericht.

Ca. 1931
Transafrica. Cairo-Capetown. Die Engländer Johnson und Farrel durchquerten Afrika mit einem Ariel - Gespann in drei Monaten und zwei Tagen: Cairo - Khartum - Capetown: 7.800 miles (= 12.500 km)
Quelle: Ernst Leverkus.

Ca. 1931
Werner Tödt bereist mit einer Ardie mehrere Jahre Afrika.
Quelle: Ernst Leverkus.

Ca. 1931
Das Bruderpaar Auffermann aus Essen bezwang auf zwei Gespannen die Sahara und Afrika.
Quelle: Ernst Leverkus. "Mit dem Motorrad durch die Sahara. Vermutlich Artikel in "Auto Motor und Sport (?). 1932. Heft 44.

1932
Nord - Afrika. Der Österreicher Max Reisch fährt nach Algerien und Tunesien per Auto.

1933
Robert Schultheiss, den ich 1995  86 - jährig gefunden habe, beschreibt 1996 in einem Brief an mich eine Geschichte. Er hat 1934 unterwegs in Nairobi einen finnischen Motorrad - Fahrer (Name hat er vergessen...) getroffen, der mit einem Freund schon 8 Jahre unterwegs war. Über seinem Gespann hatte er eine Plane als Wetterschutz gegen Hitze und zur Übernachtung gespannt. Der Freund hatte allerdings unterwegs einen "accident": Er hatte in Australien geheiratet und war dort geblieben. Er war alleine auf dem Wege nach Ägypten. Er hatte ein Album bei sich, daß von lauter hohen Persönlichkeiten und Behördenleitern aus aller Welt unterzeichnet war. Wer dieser Motorrad - Traveller war, konnte ich nicht herausbekommen.

Ca. 30.07.1933
Robert Suhr, einer bekanntesten Karlsruher Leichtathleten, verläßt 1930 Karlsruhe und ist Gymnasial - Lehrer der Höheren Deutschen Privatschule in Windhoek in Süd - Afrika. Der Studienassessor und Gruppenführer der NSDAP, Robert Suhr, ist rund 10.000 Meilen mit seiner von Deutschland mitgebrachten BMW (750 ccm) im früheren Deutsch - Süd - West - Afrika "auf Pad" und erreicht als erster Motorrad - Fahrer die Etoscha - Pfanne im Norden. Ca. 1931 fährt er an die Küste von Swakopmund im heutigen Namibia und weiter nach Norden auf einer Piste nach Cape Cross, wo tausende von Robben leben. Hier kommt er auf die Idee, mit seiner BMW "als erster Motorrad - Fahrer von Windhoek über Kairo nach Deutschland zu gefahren" (siehe Köcker 1931). Letztere Geschichte erzählte mir 11/1995 Roberts Lehrer - Kollege Herbert Nöckler (80) in Namibia, der mir auch drei Original - Fotos zur Verfügung stellte.
Der Auslandsdeutsche plant eine sportliche Großtat, eine Afrika - Durchquerung und schafft sie nach 17.000 km. Robert kehrt ca. 1937 per Schiff nach Süd - Afrika zurück und wird später Direktor der Höheren deutschen Privatschule In Windhuk.
Route: Süd - Afrika (Swakopmund - Windhuk ? - Tsumeb - Namutoni - Capetown - )

1933 - 34
Die erste West - Ost - Durchquerung Afrikas via Tchad durch James C. Wilson und Francis Flood mit 2 englischen 1 Zyl. Motorrädern mit Seitenwagen.
Route: Lagos - Tchadsee - Sudan - Äthiopien - Rotes Meer. 3800 miles = 6800 km. (Wilson 1935).
1994: Ich habe den Pionier Jim Wilson 1994, als er 96 war, noch in Nebraska / USA besucht und ein Video von ihm gedreht.
Robert hat über diese Reise bücher geschrieben und in der Rezensionzeit in USA davcon gelebt, Vorträge darüber zu halten.

1934
Die Mauretanien - Route wird als Militär - Straße (Piste!) ausgebaut.
Route: Marokko - Tindouf - Bir Moghrein - Atar - Nouakchott - Dakar.

11.12.1934 - 29.07.1935 (arrivel in Capetown.)
Theresa returned to London autumn 1935. Florence arrived in Algiers back by motorcycle again 10th.02.1936. Return in London ca. late march 1936.
Publication 09th.04.1936 about her return.
Wallach, Theresa  (British, 30.04.1909 - 30.04.1999) and Miss Blenkiron (both British)
+ 2x Transafrica London - Capetown and back    See North-America as well.
1934 Theesa rode with Miss Blenkiron  London - Capetown: 14.000 miles in 8 months on a side-car with a trailer behind. Because "Blenk" got Malaria in Johannesburg Theresa went back solo.
In German: Die beiden Brittinnen Miss Blenkiron und Miss Theresa Wallach erreichen nach 14.000 Meilen und 8 Monaten von London aus Capetown. Sie fuhren auf einem Gespann Panther "Redwing" (1 - Zylinder, 600 ccm) - Gespann mit einem 2 m langen Schlafanhänger. Da Miss Wallach in Johannesburg auf der Rückreise krank wurde, fuhr Miss Blenkiron solo bis London zurück. Route: Alger - Ain Salah - Kano - Belgisch Congo - Uganda - Kenia - Süd - Afrika.
1997 fand ich Theresa Wallach und hatte mir ihr brieflichen Kontakt. Sie arbeitete bis 1999 an dem 1. Buch über ihre legendäre Transafrika-Tour. In 1999 starb sie mit 90.
1997 I found Theresa Wallach being 88.
08.10.98 A next letter to Theresa Wallach. She just published the second edition of "Easy Motorcycle Riding"!  Since 20 years I know that the British Theresa Wallach is one of the real women travel pioneers.1997 I found Theresa in USA and I was really happy to recieve her first letter in July 1998 with the folowing informations: After the WW.2  Theresa rode in North-America for 2,5 years and 32.000 miles with a Norton, having had 18 different jobs like riding horses with cowboys and trecking west with Indians Routee 66 to pay her mc-trip. After she stopped importing British motorcycles in USA she founded  a "Motorcycle Research Riding School". In 1972 she published a book "EASY MOTORCYCLE RIDING" of which she sold 200.000 copies. 1998 she just finished writing two new books: "Motorcycling for Business and Leisure" (TRUE-and-TRIED" informations) and "THE RUGGED ROAD of AFRICA". The last will be the first book about her famous mc-tour 1934 Transafrica.
In 11.1998 I got the second edition of  "Easy Motorcycle Riding", the ABC for riders not so much for long distance travellers. ! 17.05.1999: I got a letter from Wesley Warren Brown, that Theresa died of liver cancer on her 90th birthday. Tears were coming to my eyes that this woman-pioneer of motorcycling and especially motorcycle travelling died before she finished her book about her great TRANSAFRICA-TOUR.
21.10.01 I got the information form USA that her book "THE RUGGED ROAD of AFRICA" is published in GB. Panther Publishing, 10 Lime Avenue, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 1DP.
15.11.01 I tried by many, many letters to different persons to get the information, what happened with Theresas manuscript, the fotos and old articles of her mc-travels.Finally I got the information that all is stored in Arizona State University Foundation. The boos - Mr. Rodney L. Houts - has been very unfriendly and not helpul from the start until his last email. In this he forbit me to contact him again.
28.11.01 British RTW-Traveller Paul Pratt infomred me. He owns three articles about Theresa: One piece in the motor cycle 1949 three pages photos only no text. Two articles in the "Motor cycling" "Unconventional Traveller" - Two articles two pages 1950. One article "The American scene" - 1951 - Two pages both have text and photos.
Wallach, Theresa
"The Rugged Road". In English.
Transafrica in 1934. The manuscript of Theresa Wallach has been published by PANTHER PUBLISHING LTD as abook along with a video of her movie film taken during the expedition.
B.T. 22.10.01: I found British Theresa Wallach in 1998 in USA being 88 years. Then I had a wonderful exchange by letters with her. She told me that is writing first time a book about her Transafrica-tour from England with a sidecar and MIss Blenkitron to Capetwon and solo back to GB. Theresa died before the book was published. She is one of the great mc-pioneers and women-mc-pioneers.

Ca. Ostern 1934 - ca. 07.34
Robert Schultheiss und Ernst Schröder
+ Transafrica. Cairo - Southwest Africa. Beide fuhren 1934 mit einem Tornax - Gespann (600 ccm, engl. Jap - Motor. PS ?) von Deutschland über Cairo nach Windhoek.
26.10.95 Info von Frau M. Kreuzberger, Sam Cohen Bibliothek. Swakopmund via Frau Arendt.
17.11.95 Ich hatte die große Freude, mit Robert Schultheiss in Freiburg erstmalig zu telefonieren. Er berichtete mir: Er ist am 13.02.10 in Windhoek geboren. Mit seinen Eltern war er mehrere Male in Deutschland. In Tier lernte er seinen Freund, den Koch und Konditor Ernst Schröder, kennen, der gerne ins Ausland wollte. Da Robert schon mehrere Male mit dem Schiff zurück nach Windhoek gefahren war, kamen sie auf die Idee, mit dem Motorrad zurückzufahren. Robert wußte damals von Robert Suhrs Motorrad - Reise von Windhoek nach Deutschland, aber konnte diesen nicht vorher über diese Route befragen, da Robert Suhr in Windhoek war.
Route: Deutschland -  Schweiz - Italien - Jugoslawien - Bulgarien - Türkei - Syrien - Libanon - Israel - Ägypten - Sudan - Kenia - Tanganjika - Portugiesisch Ost - Südafrika (bis Johannesburg) - Windhoek.


Foto oben aus MOTORRAD

1935
Valentine de Quervain (geb. 1901 in Bern, CH - 20.01.1991 in Bangalodore, India)und Werner Schwab
+ Sahara-Durchquerung 1935 auf einer Solomaschine von Osten nach Westen.
Die Geschichte steht auf 4 Seiten in einem Buch von Thomas Kohler: Motorradfahren in der Schweiz, Band 2, 1930-1959.
10.07.2008 Erste Info von Steffen Ottinger.
10.07.2008 Steffen um mehr Info gebeten. Will mir die 4 Seiten scannen und emailen.

1939
Der französische Kapitän Couet, Lieutenant Thiriat, Lieutenant Martinau und Marechall de logis Gaucher. Ab Marokko kamen Capitaine Almeras und Marechall de logis Vely dazu. Die Männer wollten die Gespanne Gnome & Rhone AX 2 unter Beweis stellen, nur ein extra Sandluftfilter wurde ausgetauscht. Mit extra Benzintanks wurde ihre Reichweite auf 600 km erweitert. Capitaine Couet überschlug sich im südlichen Marokko und mußte ausgeflogen werden. Es waren die vierten Besucher, die jemals soweit südlich kamen.
Route: Paris - Port - Vendres - per Schiff nach Oran - Algerien - Marokko  (Tiznit - Tindouf ) - 1200 km bis Mauretanien (Atar) - Foum El Hasse(?)an - von dort auf LKW - Piste noch 5.300 km bis Dakar.
1939 Motorrevue Nr. 844, 845 und 846.

1940
Mit einem überdachten Dreirad (genannt "Suzie") Raleigh 5 PS, 800 kg, fahren der Niederländer Alfred Mazure und der Engländer Martin Marshal durch die Sahara.
Route: England - Alger - Lagos.


1941-1950

1949
Antoinet, Met Madame (French)
+ Algeria. 1406 km en moto, plus de 308 camion 1949. Mit einer Motebecane B 45 S (oder 5 ?), 1948. 1-Zyl. 4 temps, 125 ccm.
Route: In Algeria: Ouargla - Touggourt - El Golea.

Anfang der 50 - er
war das Gesangsduo Hein und Oss mit dem Motorrad unterwegs.
1998 Erste info von Rox Schulz. Er hat sie getroffen unterwegs (Sie wollten fahren: Asien, Süd - Amerika?)

Ca. 1950 - 1960
Gilbert Gilles (French)
Gilbert was working at the Terrot Motorcycle Dealership of Oran in Algeria. He tested a new 4-stroke scooter by riding from Oran to Gao which he did in 36 days. He lost 12.2 kg. His second wish to ride back via Tamanrasset to Oran did not happen
B.T.: In the Guineesbook of records it is mentioned that this was this first crossing of the Sahaha by a scooter: 27 years before Paris-Dakar.


1951-1960

09.12.1950 - 15.02.51
Raid - Moto: Sieben belgische Fallschirmspringer - Offiziere unter Leitung von Major Cassart fahren von Bruxelles nach Kamina (in Belgisch Kongo, Zaire). 13 000 km in 67 Tagen.
Route: Alger - Tam - Agadez - Fort Lamy - Fort Archambault - Fort Crampel - Bambari - Bangassou - Buta - Stanleyville (heute Kisangani) - Nia Nia - Butembo - Rwindi - Costermannsville (heute Bukavu) - Usumbura (heute Bujumbura) - Albertville - Manono - Elisabethville (heute Lubumbashi) - Kamina. 7 Motorräder: FN Type XIII S.V. Das waren Gespanne in Militär - Ausführung. 450 ccm. 4 Zyl. Kompression 6:1.

1951
+ Transafrica. Auto Rallye Alger - Kapstadt. Außer Wertung machte der Franzose Pierre de Langlade die Rallye mit einer BMW R 75 mit. Seine Erlebnisse: Reifenpannen, Einsanden trotz Beiwagen - Antrieb, Überschlag bei Ausweichmanöver für LKW, Ausfall der Elektrik durch Rüttelei, blockierte Gaszüge und Gasschieber durch Sand und Schlamm, Gliedersteife und Schmerzen durch Wellblech - Piste und - ein paar kaputte Schuhe! Zeit: 44 Tage inklusive Reparaturen - schneller als das schnellste Auto. Mit der gleichen Maschine machte Pierre de Langlade 1954 mit seiner Frau eine Sahara - Fahrt.

1953
Mari, Edoardo (Italian)
+ Transafrica. Edoardo rode solo 17.000 kms with a Lambretta D 150.
Algeria - Sahara - Uganda - Kenia (Nairobi) - Capetown.
1999 1st information by Frontanini

1953 - 56
+ Transafrica. In seinem Buch Sterne über sieben Höllen, beschreibt der 27 jährige Dr. August Jentsch (s. Lit.) wie er und sein Begleiter Wolfram Hannig auf dem ersten Abschnitt ihrer Welt - Reise (Europa - Afrika -  Süd - , Mittel -  und Nord - Amerika, ca. 120.000 km, 05.1953 bis 01.1956) auf einem BMW R 75 Wehrmachtsgespann die Transafrika - Route meisterten.
Route: Deutschland (München) - Österreich (Wien) - Spanien - Nordafrika (Tanger) - Sahara via Tanezrouft - Piste - Kongo - Angola - Südwestafrika - Kapstadt.
Dieses ist die erste B.Tesch bekannte Motorrad-Reise im Westen Afrika via Angola bis Capetown.

03.03.54 - 05.06.1955
Eine Roller - Rundreise um Afrika. Die Franzosen J. C. Marq und S. Gauquelin haben Afrika per Motor - Roller in 457 Tagen umrundet.
Route: Paris - Marseille - Alger - Marokko - Mauretanien - Sudan - Cote d'Ivoire - Senegal - Congo - Rhodesien - Capetown - Uganda - Ägypten - Libyen - Alger.
B.T.01.01.2004: Nach meinem jetzigen Kenntnisstand ist dieses die erste und bis heute einzige wirklich komplette Zweirad - Umrundung Afrikas. Mir ist auch nicht bekannt, daß dieses ein Auto komplett geschafft hat !

ca. 1954
Igendwie rund ums Mittelmeer: 18 000 km. Herr und Frau Cassiers, Antwerpen, mit einer belgischen FN 350 ccm S.V.

1954 - 55
Mauretanien - Route: Der Franzose und Völkerkundler Claude Mahe und Ciret führten bei dieser Fahrt mit 2 Zündapp KS 750 Gespannen der Wehrmacht Forschungsarbeiten im liberianischen Dschungel durch. Ihre Probleme: Rahmenbrüche. Defekte Seitenwagen - Federn. Kondenswasser im Vergaser. Bei Differential - Bruch und Hitzschlag bestand Lebensgefahr.
Route: Agadir - Tindouf - Dakar - Monrovia - Abidjan - Ouagadougou - Zinder - Agadez - Tam - Alger - Tanger.
Buch: Mahe, 1958.
Ca. 1996 Bernd Tesch visits Claude Mahé in Paris.

1954-55
Nielsen, Jörgen (Sweden)
+ Europe > Transafrica.
Route: Europe (Sweden - Demark - Germany - France - Spain - Gibraltar) - Africa (San. / France-Morocco - via route Bir Moghrein - Atar !! - Mauretania - Senegal - Cote d´Ívoire - by ship to Gabon - Zaire - via Brazzaville - Leopoldville - Port Franqui - South Africa (Capetown)).
Book: Med Moped genom Europa Sahara och Afrika. 1954-55 per Moped Europa und Afrika .Moped Crescent 50 ccc Sachs. Förlag: Författares Bokmaskin. Stockholm. Sveden. 1980.
2002.10.15 First info by Evald Bengtsson, scooter-expert

<1955
Sauvage Daniel and Francoise (French)      Who knows their address ???
+ Around Mediterranean Sea. I have been searching Daniel and Francoise since many years without success. In 1995 and 1996 I have been visiting already the most famous mc-travellers in France. In 1998 I heard that Daniel should live with his parents in Cannes in France but could not find him. Even the French Mc-Travel friends Lagrot did not find him.Although I know most of the ways how to search persons in France I could not find the Sauvages. As well nobody of French mc-travellers I know and even not the mc-magazines do not know them although they are famous mc-travellers. Because of "liberte" you do not have to register in France at the community. Book: Both Sauvages wrote a book: "Ma Vespa, ma femme et moi". 25.000 kms total around the Mediteranen sea with a Vespa about 1955.
B.T.: So far I do not know any other person who rode TOTALLY around Mediterranean Sea.

20.02.1955 - 10.05.55
Manfred Müller und Fritz Goldbeck (Germans)
Zwei Südwester, der Schlachter - Meister Manfred Müller und Fritz Goldbeck, durchqueren Afrika mit einer BMW und AJS von Windhoek bis Alexandria.
Route: Südwest - Afrika (Windhoek) - Botswana (Grenze Kurumann) - Süd - Afrika (Pretoria)) - Rhodesien (Livingstone) - Tanganjika (Arusha) - Kenia (Nairobi) - Sudan (Juba) - die Motorräder fuhren auf Lastkähnen bis Kosti  - Wadi Halfa - Alexandra.
B.T.: Dieses ist nach meinem jetzigen Kenntnisstand die erste Motorrad-Tour Capetwon - Alexandria mit einer BMW.

1956
Transafrika per Auto - Stop. 1959 Mit VW - Käfer Capetown - Cairo. 1962 Mit VW - Bus bis Kenia. Ein Kunde von Bernd Tesch. Ich glaube er hieß Müller.

1956
Erste Ölfunde in der Sahara in Hassi Messaud (Algerien). Danach wird die Sahara weitgehend wie ein Spinnen - Netz von ölsuchenden Fahrzeug - Teams durchquert.

Nov. 1956 - Feb. 1957
Dreling, Robert
Conakry - Abidjan: Ca. 6500 km gefahren. Mit einem Maico - Roller, 250 ccm, 16 PS, fuhren Robert Dreling (1987  schon 77 Jahre) und Herr Deutz mit einem Bella - Roller, 150 ccm, 11 PS,
Route: Mit Schiff von Marseille nach Conakry. Mit Rollern Conakry - Kindia - Daloa - Kissidougou - Gueckedou - Macenta (die Urwald - Piste war hier nur manchmal 60 cm breit!) - Man - Daola - Abidjan. Rückfahrt: Abidjan - Bouake - Ferkessedougou - Korhogo - Tengrela - Bougouni - Kankan - Dabola - Conakry.
1987 Robert hielt einen Dia-Vortrag auf dem TTTreffen mit SW-Dias. Er wurde mit steheden Ovationen gefeiert.

12.1956 - ?
Ebert, Guy (Swedish)
"En Svensk Pa Afrika-Semester" (Sweden)
Sweden - Spain - Afrika - Spain - Sweden.
A swedish guy rode solo 11.000 km with a Vespa-Scooter. In Africa he rode 3.000 km off-road. He had only three punctures and had to change several times sparkplugs.
Route: Sweden -.. France - with a ferry to Senegal (Dakar) - Gambia - Senegal (Casamanca) - Portuguese Guinea - mountains area Fouta Djallon - Senegal (Tambacounda - Kaolack - Dakar) - by ferry back to Spain (Las Palmas - Sevilla) -...Sweden (Stockholm)
1958, Nr. 5. An article in Swedish magazin FART. Motor-revy.
24.06.2002 1st information by Evald Bengsston

05.1957- ?
Engh, Rohn (American) and Rudolph Thurau (German)
The student of art Rohn (28) and the journalist Rudolph (23) started with a Vespa Grand Sport in Holland (Amsterdam). They had only DM 500,00 and two guitarres. They earned all for the trip playing in the countries they rode to: Europe - North- and Zentral-Africa as far as the Gulf of Guinea. They had no big technical trouble with the Vespa.
Article in magazine VESPA-Tip of German Vespa-Club.

03.05.1958 - ?
Engelbert, Victor (Belgium)
Victor crossed Africa in four months. 20.000 kms. 600 liter petrol. 1958. Victor Englebert.
Puplication: "20000 km door Africa . "Vespa Club Nr. 26, 1958, S. 19.
17.01.2006 2nd information by Thomas Vongehr .
Er ist ursprünglich aus Brüssel und lebt nun in Amerika als Photograph. Ich habe ihm eine mail geschickt, auf die er mir sehr freundlich geantwortet hat
19.01.2006 1st request for update like example "Müller".

11.1958 - 02.1959
Dreling, Robert
+ Africa West > East > West. Douala - Mombasa - Pointe Noire: Ca. 6000 km gefahren. Mit einem Maico - Roller, 250 ccm, 16 PS, fuhr Robert Dreling solo.
Route: Mit Schiff bis Douala. Per Roller Douala - Yaounde - Bangui - Libenge - Lisala - Bumba - Aketi - Buta - Stanleyville (= Kisangani) - Nia Nia - Mambasa - Irumu - Lubero - Rutshuru - Gisenyi - Mbarasa - Mombasa. Zurück über Kampala - Beni - Nia Nia - Stanleyville - mit Schiff nach Leopoldville (= Brazzaville) - Pointe Noire.
1987 Robert gave a slides-show on the ? TTTreffen when he was 87 already. He got standing ovations. Bernd Tesch bought his scooter

1959
Kling, Karl und Günzler. Auf der Rallye "Alger-Kapstadt" sind beide Sieger im Mercedes 190 D.

< 02.1959
Hartkopf, Paul
+ Europa-Marokko. Der 25-jährige Konditorgeselle Paul Hartkopf fuhr in vier Monaten ca. 20.000 km mit einer NSU-Max nach Afrika. Die NSU hielt auch bei + 59 ° C zuverlässig. Bei einem schwarzen Schwarm von Heuschrecken galt sie ihm als einzige Deckung. Er verbrauchte 800 Liter Benzin. 22 l Öl. 1 Paar Reifen und 1 Gasbowdenzug. Die Reise muß vor 02/1959 stattgefunden haben. - Information aus der Werbezeitschrift "Besser fahren" von NSU.
Route: Deutschland - Schweiz - Frankreich - Spanien - Portugal - Kanarische Inseln - Marokko und zurück.


1961-1970

07.08.1962 - 15.09.1962
Ulrich Barthel (German, born 07.02.1936, emigrated in 1966 first to London/ England and then in 1967 to Canada till 2002 return to Germany) no www
+ Europe - North Africa - Europe. Ulrich started solo a 5 weeks trip with a 200cc DKW. From Morocco on a new friend. Horst rode with him the African part on a BMW R 27. In total they rode 6150 km.
Purpose of travel: Circum navigate the western mediteran and to see what is over the horizon.
Route: Europe (France (Southern France - Lyon - Nimes - Montpellier) - Spain (Barcelona - Zaragosa - Madrid - Toledo -Badajos - Portugal (Lisabon ) back to Spain (Sevilla - Cadiz - Gibraltar - Algeciras - Ceuta). On the ferry I met a to be lifelong friend but he was without his R27; he wanted to hitchhike to Morocco (Casablanca). But then he went back to Spain-Mainland got his BMW R27 and we carried on together. Africa (Morocco (Ceuta - Tetuan - Fes - Oudja; while knowing all along that we may not be able to cross the eastern border into Algeria. On from Oudja to Oran. Please note: This was about two weeks after the shooting (war of liberation) between the Algerians and the French had cooled down to a cease fire.The local German Honor Consul in Oran stated: absolutely not possible to go along the coast to Tunesia. He issued a Letter of Protection in German + French + Arabic. We disregarded his advice and carried on to Algiers - Tunis - then by ferry to Palermo and back home through Italy. Meeting the best girls / boys worldwide???
The best: Landscape along the North African coast/vineyards in Algeria
The worst: Having my friends sleeping bag and airmatress stolen in Morocco
Book or publication (about your tour): none
Useful informations and TIPS:watch your bike and luggage at all times.
Earlier experiences: 1955 / 6 First MC trip via 98er NSU from Germany (Muenster) to Austria (Schladming).
1999 Lima Peru to Machu Pichuu on Honda 500 XL (Rental)
2001 Canada-Japan on Canadian R1100RT mit Candian Carnet 5 weeks 5000 km on Honshu only from Sendei to Hiroshima-Kanzawa-Biwa Lake
06.09.2003 I met Ulrich first time in Gieboldehausen.
08.10.2003 1st update
14.11.2003 Plan 14 days in Australia on a rented bike and 14 days on a rented bike in NZ.
31.03.2009 Tel. mit Ulrich und den Namen Horst verkürzt. Ulrich ist noch fit, hat vilen Reisen in 2008 gemacht, plant viel in 2009. Will mir Kurzübersicht schicken. Und das Beset Foto von 1962. Hat Rückwanderungsantrag gestellt.

03.1963 - ca. 09.1964
Liska, Danny (American)
+ North Cape in Norwegian - Transafrica - Capetown. With a sponsored BMW R 60, model 1962, Danny rode solo "North-Cape - Capetown" in 18 months. He called his motorcycle "Little Bit". With a ship he came back to America (Boston) and rode back through bitterly cold in december 1964 to Nebraska.
Earlier experiences: In 1959 - 1960 Danny rode with a BMW R 60 the Panam in total (and many routes aside): 32.000 kms. In 1960 he rode the motorcycle back to North-America.
Route: Unknown. America (N.Y. - Chigago) - Europe (Island - from Luxembourg via Germany by bus - by bike Danmark- Sweden - Nowegian (Cape North). Here he met a 26 year old American from Green Bay, Wiscon, USA who had been traveling by auto-stop two years in Europe and parts of Africa. So he got some informations - Finland - Germany. Here he visited the BMW-factory in Munnich - Italy - Spanien (Madrid - Gibraltar) - Tunisia - Libya - ..
Book: Danny wrote many years a book about this tour but he did not finish it because he died of cancer.
B.T.: Danny Liskas 95.000 miles Reise entlang der PAN AM ist im Guinessbuch unter "motorcycle facts and feats" festgehalten. The first overland journey from Alaska to Argentina including Darien-Gap without Motorcycle.
18.05.2001 Bill Waren in USA informed me that his two BMW's r/60 t in a museum in Niobrara. Danny Liska´s Harley (1948) is owened by Joe Pelster, living in Elgin, Nebraska.
17.11.2001 B.T. got a photo-copy of Danny´s 242 pages book in Spanish without any picture from Pedro Batarske in USA via his wife Regina from Colombia.
B.T.: I think Danny is the first motorcycle-traveller who crossed "Northcape - Capetown".

Frühjahr 1963 - 12.1964
Tönsmann, Jürgen
+ Germany - Angola - Germany. Ca. 10.000 km (geschätzt).  Jürgen  fuhr solo mit einer DKW RT 175 1,5 Jahre.
Route: Deutschland - Frankreich -  Spanien - Marokko - Algerien (Tanezrouft - Adrar - Bidon 5 - Gao) - Niger - Haute Volta - Ghana - Togo - Dahomey - Nigeria - Kamerun - Rio Muni (Spanische Enklave) - Belgisch Kongo - Französisch Kongo - Angola. Er wollte nach Capetown, weiter nach Süd - Amerika und dann nach Asien.
The best: Jürgen was personal guest of Albert Schweizer in Lambarene and owns original letters from him.
1995 Jürgen visited Bernd Tesch in Zweifall.

11.1963 - 02.1964
Holzmann, Heinz
+ Transafrica: Alger - Capetown. 22 000 km. Heinzselten befahrene
Route: Alger - Tamanrasset - Agadez - Fort Lamy (Ndjamena) - De Behagle - Bangui - Bumba - von hier mit Fluß - Schiffen (keine Fähren!) auf dem oberen, langen Fluß Kongo (= Zaire) bis Stanleyville (= Kisangani) - an den Boyoma Wasserfällen vorbei per Schiff nach Kindu - Kongolo - Bukama - Kolwezi - weiter mit Motorrad nach Elisabethville (= Lubumbashi) - Lusaka - Salisbury (= Harare) - Livingstone - Victoria Falls - Bulawayo - Gaborone - Mafikeng - Kimberley - Beaufort West - Capetown. Das schlimmste Stück damals war die Route durch die Kalahari - Wüste von Tonota bis Gabarone durch Sand, Schlamm und Dornen mit 14 Reifen - Pannen! Heinz Holzmann fuhr mit einer tschechischen Jawa, 1 Zyl., 250 ccm. Maschinell und antriebsmäßig keine Probleme.

02.09.1964 - 20.12.1964
Barthel, Ulrich (German, born 07.02.1936, emigrated in 1966 first to London/ England and then in 1967 to Canada till 2002 return to Germany) no www
+ Europe - Asia - North Africa - Europe. Ulrich rode a 16 weeks trip with a BMW R 67 plus sidecar from Steib. A friend Uwe Scheid (I had searched for a reisepartner in mc-magazine "Das Motorrad") rode along in the sidecar. . In total they rode 11.250 Km.
Purpose of travel: Circum navigate the Eastern Mediteran- see what is over the horizon. See new countries/meet new people.
Route: Germany (ADAC Muenchen) - Austria (Wurzen Pass) - Jugoslawia (Belgrad) - Bulgaria (Sofia) - Turkey (Istanbul - Ankara - Samsun - Trabzon - Erzurum) - Iran (Taebriz + coast Caspic sea - Rushant - Teheran - Kermansha) -Irak (Bagdad) - desert road to Jordania (Amman - Aqaba - Petra - Jerusalem [divided Jordanian part only])- Syria (Damaskus - Homs - Hama - Libanon ( Crak de Chevaliers - Balbeck - Beirut) - Ferry to Egypt (Alexandria - Kairo - Luxor - Theben - Valley of Kings - Hurgada - Suez canal - Ismailia - Kairo - El Fayum - El Alamein) - Libya (Tobruk - Leptis magna - Benghazi - Tripoli) - Tunisia (Tunis) - ferry to France Marseille - home to Germany.
The best:Egyptian Museum in Kairo, Valley of Kings, Leptis magna:
The worst: Hepatitis in Kairo:
Book or publication: none
Useful informations and TIPS for others: Travel while you can.
Earlier experiences: 1955 / 6 First MC trip via 98er NSU from Germany (Muenster) to Austria (Schladming).
1962 Europe > North Africa > Europe. See Africa.
1963 Europe (Germany - Sweden - Norway - Finland - Sweden - Demark - Germany). See Europe.
1999 Lima Peru to Machu Pichuu on Honda 500 XL (Rental)
2001 Canada-Japan on Canadian R1100RT mit Candian Carnet 5 weeks 5000 km on Honshu only from Sendei to Hiroshima-Kanzawa-Biwa Lake
06.09.2003 I met Ulrich first time in Gieboldehausen.
08.10.2003 1st update
14.11.2003 Plan 14 days in Australia on a rented bike and 14 days on a rented bike in NZ

1968
Schleinitz, Egon Gustav (geb. 20.05.1912)
+ Transafrica by Caravan: Europe - Africa. In 1968 Egon rode about 27.000 kms in 1968 without any puncture and change of  tires with a Caravan Eriba-Touring.
Route: München - Jordania - Kenia - Malawi - Rhodesia - Capetown.
Book: 100 Tage Afrika
1987  1st contact
12.07.1993 Bernd Tesch visited Egon G. Schleinitz in München in an home for Seniors. He was 80 years. He has been 12 times in Africa and wrote 30 books (28 published).
B.T.: Although Egon took a boat from Suez (?) to Kenya (Mombasa) it was the first Caravan-tour this route.

1970   August-Dezember.
Tesch, Bernd and Wolfgang Hensel. Transafrika mit VW-Bus.
27.000 km per VW-Bus (34 PS) in 6 Monaten durch 18 Staaten von Aachen über Gibraltar nach West-, Ost- und Süd-Afrika bis Kapstadt.



Foto from Judy Levy from N.Y. in 2008 of herself
B.T. (29) and Judy (26) met in 1970 in Algeria when she and her two boy-friends Patrick and Jake crossed the desert SAHARA norht-south. They drove the first in USA imported Landcruiser from TOYOTA while we crossed with a VW-bus (34 PS). We had a wonderful time together in the desert. In the south they decided to ride on quicker. After a while we heard "on the off-road" in Africa that a Toyota had turned over because the brakes did not work so good after having crossed a river. So we visited the three in Tahoua / Niger. Bernd helped to repair the car and he drove the Landcruiser as far as capital Niamey. Judy and Patrick visited Bernd Tesch two times in city Aachen in Germany a few years later on the beginning of new Africa-tours.
Bernd wrote his book "Afrika-Führer für Selbstfahrer" 1971-1976 (5 editions) and put a picture of pretty Judy into this book. Many years passed and Bernd tried to find Judy intensively in N.Y. without success.
In about 2005 Judy found Bernd Tesch by internet - and I was very happy ! We have not seen since ca. 1975 but I hope that we will meet another time soon to speak about old times, the present and the wonderful future.

Of course this tour has nothing to do with motorcycles but with lovely Africa ! I hope to get the time to put some more pictures here about the tour and Judy.


1971-1980

20.08.1973 - 24.12.1973
Engel, Gerhard (German, born 23.07.1941)
+ Transafrica by car: Johannesburg - Tanger. Gerhard drove back solo in a car "VW-Käfer" (30 PS. In the back double tires, in the front a wrench (Handseilwinde) in nearly four months. About 29.024 kms through 21 countries. In whole Africa Gerhard met no tourist at that time travelling Transafrica by car or bike.
Purpose of travel: Gerhard worked for a year in South Africa. Then he wanted to drive back instead of flying back.
Route: Africa (South-Africa (Johannesbourg) - Swasiland - Lesotho - Rhodesia - Mozambique - Malawi - Zambia - Zaire - (Kisangani) - Central Africa (Bangui) - Cameroun (Doula) - Nigeria (Lagos) - Dahomey (Cotonou) - Togo (Lome) - Gahna (Accra) - Obervolta (Quagadougou - Bobo) - Mali (Bamako) - by train form Bamako to Senegal (Tambacounda - by bike to Dakar - St. Louis) - Mauretania (Nouakchott - Atar ???? - Bir Moghrein ???) - Spanish Sahara (El Layoune) - Morocco (Marrakech - Casablanca - Rabat)) - Europe (Spain (Algeciras) - France - Germany (Karlsruhe)).
The worst: A lot of trouble withe VW-car. Being robbed in Africa.
The best: He made solo all the distance.
B.T.: The mechanic Gerhard visited me 15.11.2003. He had white hair but his not very high body was in an excellent shape. Gerhard was full of his plan. The reason of his visit was to get recommendation from me for his new Transafrica plan. Orginally he wanted to cross Africa in 3-4 months starting in january 2004 on a bike: Tunisia - Libya - Egypt - Sudan - Ethiopia - Kenia - Uganda - Tansania - Zambia - Zimbabwe - South Africa. At this stage of planning he did not have a bike.
It came out that he made an extra-ordinary Transafrica-tour in 1973. Because it was so long ago he even did not remember all countries in the row. He promised me to write me in detail the route through Zambia and especially in Mali - Mauretania - Spanish Sahara. If re eally had driven Atar - Birg Moghrein - El Layoune this would be a very seldom used route. Because his car was robbed in ?? he did not haver a camera and foto of his VW-Käfer (which finally came to the rubbish in Germany). Gerhard owns two hours of super 8 mm of his Transafrica tour. And promised me a foto of his VW.
11.12.2003 I got a short written summary and a video of his Transafrica-Trip in 1973. Because of illness of his wife he cancelled the plan of his motorcycle-tour Transafrica.

1974
Sahara. 100 Motorräder für das Abenteuer. Regieautor: MICHEL DER GEHILFE
Zusammenfassung: 1974 hundert motards versuchen die Überquerung der Sahara... Neunzehn werden nur bei der Ankunft sein.
Datum erste Verbreitung:
Dauer: 50' 31 ". Träger: Farbfilm. Produktionsjahr: 1974. Inhaber- oder Verwahrorganismus: Michel der Gehilfe, audiovisuelle Schwell
10.07.2002 im Internet gefunden.

1974
Simon, Ted (British)
+ Transafrica. Alexandria - Capetown.
Route: Aswan - per Zug bis Atbara - Kassala teilweise auf  LKW - Gedaref - Meterna - Gondar - Addis Abeba - Moyale - Nairobi - Lusaka - Johannesburg - Capetown: Ted befährt auf seiner 4 jährigen Motorrad - Welt - Tour durch 53 Länder mit 100 000 km wahrscheinlich erstmalig die angegebene Gesamt - Route. Motorrad: Triumph 500 qcm, Modell T 100 - P (XRW 964 M).

02.1974 - 10.1974
Bootherstrone, Linda (England)
+ Transafrica: Tangiers-Capetown. Linda rode solo on a 1957 R 50 BMW. Stayed in Durban until may 1975 working in Durban in a mc-shop and then from Capetwon to GB. Started alone. Bike broke down before Tam - with a Tuareg-truck with two different trucks to Kano in Nigeria. Suspension units came from GB . Travelled with a guy on a 175 HONDA to Zaire (Kisangani) - with a couple in a LR to Kigali - alone to Mombasa and Nairobi - together wit a Combi-van to Zambia - with another girl on the back to  Rhodesia - to Pretoria with another mc-traveller - alone to Durban - Capetown alone.
Route: Morocco - Algeria (Tam) - Niger (Agadez) - Nigeria (Kano) - Chad (Dlamena) - CAR (Bangui) - Zaire (Bangassou - Kisangani) - Rwanda (Kigali) - Tanzania - Kenya - Tanzania (Mombasa) - Zambia - Botswana - Rhodesia (worked in an office in Salisbury two months) - S. Africa.  Do not no my miles because speedometer never works and I am not interested how many.
The best:  Meeting people, other travellers, other way of life.
The worst: Breakdowns all over. Had Malaria and Dysenterie. Dampers blue out "first MCN´s Bike birds".  Linda found a fellow traveller on a honda 175. She put two gallons of fuel in her panniers. ThIs was much eaisier by the fact that my leathers, overtrousers and other clothes wer stolen from my tent. The rainy season started in Zaire and it rained every night and the weight of water brought her tent down.
1975 Linda returned by ship to Capetown and toured in Namibia. Working in Windhoek for a year as secretary and Touring Nambia.
1977 Linda took her bike back from South Africa to Australia and stayed there until 1988

Ca. 1975 - 85
Parsons, Ann and Peter (England)
Ann and Ing. Peter rode their first tour in Africa in 1975 on a Russian Ural M 66.
Route: England (London) - Frankreich - Spanien - Marokko - Algerien - Niger - Nigeria - Obervolta - Ghana - Togo - Benin - Cameroun (9000 km).
??.??.197. - ??.??.197?
Their second tour in Africa was on a Dnepr MT 9 with sidecar.
Route: London - per Schiff nach Senegal - Mali - Obervolta - Cameroun - Zentralafrikanische Rep. - Zaire - Tanzania - Kenya (11.000 km).
Sie machten überall gute Erfahrungen mit all den russischen Gespannen.
Im Buch von Martin Franitza erwähnt. Bernd Tesch hat mit Ihnen korrespondiert.
11.06.99 Info von Martin Franitza: Erste Reise der Parsons war 1975. Eine Zusammenfassung der Reisen findest Du in M-G 3/89.
15.10.2002 Ann Parson contacted me by email. Peter was klled in an air crash in 1990.
16.10.02 1st request for update.
13.01.2004 2nd request for update

1975
Tesch, Bernd
Die Enduro Yamaha XT 500 wird geboren. Dieses Fahrzeug mit Straßen - und Gelände - Eigenschaften läutet eine neue Afrika - Reise - Generation ein. Auf dem ersten Tesch - Travel - Treffen für Motorrad - Fernreisende 1978 sind gleich mehrere ( 3 oder 4) XT - Fahrer, die nach Afrika wollen. 1979 bekommt Bernd Tesch von Yamaha Deutschland und der Zeitschrift MOTORRAD einen Auftrag, ein fernreisetaugliches Motorrad mit großem Tank, pistenfesten Trägern und stabilen Alu - Taschen. An der dieser Entwicklung ist Klaus Treibel erheblich beteiligt. Die vielen Publikationen darüber und die der Reise 1979 von Nord - nach Westafrika danach (siehe unten) haben die Fernreise-Akivitäten mit Enduros erheblich gefördert.

Tesch-YAMAHA XT 500 in 1979 with equipment Tesch-YAMAHA XT 500 in 1979


















Photo: Erwin Fritsch: Bernd Teschs-YAMAHA in Africa:


1975
+ Sahara. Hoggar - Route: Im Oktober und November (kühlere Zeit) durchquert Reinhart Scholl im Alleingang die Sahara von Abidjan nach Alger. Suzuki RV 90. 6,3 PS. 1 - Zylinder. 2 - Takter.

1975 - 1976
Transafrica: Alger - Kapstadt - Kairo. Rudolf  Kadlicek fährt mit einer Zündapp, 1 - Zyl. 125 ccm 1,5 Jahre Afrika Nord (Alger) - Süd (South Africa) - Nord (Cairo). Diese Reise wurde in mehreren Folgen in der Motorrad - Zeitschrift PS besprochen.
25.06.2000 Who knows where Rudolf has been living / is living now ? I tried everything so far to find him.

11.1975 - 05.1976
Heinz Holzmann
+ Ceuta - Aden, 15.000 km in Afrika. Die gesamte Reise betrug ca. 46 000 km. Heinz Holzmann fährt mit einer BMW R 27, 1 - Zyl., 250 ccm, 15 PS.
Route: Ceuta - Colomb Bechar - Reggane - und weiter durch das Tassili - Gebirge via Amguid - Toukmatine - Fort Gardel - Djanet - In Ezzane - Djado (Niger) (ein sehr schweres Stück über Schotter und Sand durch das Gebirge) - Seguedine - Zouar (Tibesti - Gebirge) - Largeau - Ellila - Oum Chaloubae (laut Polizei - Anweisung war es notwendig, das Motorrad 400 km (= 3 Tagesfahrt) auf einen LKW zu verladen - mit Motorrad weiter bis Abeche - Adre - Ft.(El) Geneina (3 Wochen Knast wegen unerlaubter Einreise ohne Visum in den Sudan) - El Fasher - El Obeid - Khartoum - Kassala - Asmara - Dessie - Addis Abeba - Djibouti per Eisenbahn - Verladung - Aden mit Fähre. Africa - Asia : Als Rostklopfer mit schwedischem Frachter kostenfrei von Aden per Schiff nach Bombay - Ceylon - Madras - Karatschi - mit Flugzeug nach Dubai zurück. Über Saudi - Arabien - Jordanien - Syrien zurück nach Europa.
B.T.: Dieses ist die einzige mir bis heute bekannt gewordene West - Ost - Durchquerung Afrikas via Tibesti - Gebirge. Wahrscheinlich die erste und zugleich einzige. Bemerkenswert bleibt, daß Heinz vorher eine sehr seltene Nord - Süd - Route Afrikas gefahren ist.

1976
+ Germany > Transafrica > Asia > Germany. Siegfried Wolf aus Freimühlen, Kraftfahrzeugmeister, (GIROD bei Montabour) hat auf einer 2 jährigen Tour mit einer BMW 750 mit Beiwagen folgende Route bewältigt: Montabour - Kapstadt - Durban - Indien - Ladakh - D.

11.1977 - 02.1978
Heinz Holzmann
Ceuta (Span. Seite in Afrika) - Banjul (Gambia): 4000 km. Heinz Holzmann fährt mit einer russischen Voskhod, 1 - Zyl. 2 - Takter, 175 ccm, 10 PS, 95 kg.
Route: Ceuta - Agadir - Tindouf - Ain Ben Tili - Ft. Trinquet - Ft. Gouraud - Pt. Etienne (= Nouadhibou) mit der Erzbahn verladen - Nouakchott mit polnischem Fischdampfer verladen - mit Motorrad weiter bis Dakar - Kaolack - Farafenni - Banjul. Diese Mauretanien - Route ist bis heute extrem selten per Motorrad befahren worden. Heinz hält dieses Motorrad für sein Idealstes, was er für Afrika besessen hat: "Ähnlich wie die DKW RT 175 ccm kann man den Bock mit 3 Schlüsseln bis auf die Kurbelwelle zerlegen und mit Bordmitteln reparieren!"

1979
Klaus Treibel und Bernd Tesch
+ Nort > West > North-Africa.entwickeln große Alu - Tanks (27 - 30 Liter) und pistenfeste Gepäckträger mit großen Alu - Packtaschen für die XT 500 im Auftrage des deutschen Yamaha - Importeurs Mitsui (Dank an Herrn Peter Gesche !) und der Zeitschrift Motorrad (Dank an Ilse Reuter!). Treibel und Tesch probieren die Sachen aus auf der
Route: BRD - Tanger - Figuig - Adrar - Gao - Niamey - Togo: 11 500 km, 2 Monate, 1500 km ohne Benzin zwischen Adrar und Gao, 640 km ohne Wasser - Station bei 50 C. Klaus Treibel fährt via Hoggar - Route alleine zurück. - Die vielen Publikationen über die Motorrad - Umrüstung, die geglückte Reise und die seit 1978 stattfindenden Moto - Fernreise - Treffen beeinflussen den aufkommenden Motorrad - Fernreise - Tourismus nachhaltig.

1979 Frist organised Rallye Paris > Dakar by Thierre Sabine.

08.1979 - 01.1980
Rob van Driesum
+ Transafrica. Cairo - Capetown with 4 Yamaha XT 500.
Rob wrote the very best article with FEELING about a "Tesch-Mc-Meeting for WORLD-TRAVELLERS" in the Dutch Mc-Magazin MOTOR.
1983/84 Rob rode from Holland overland to Australia with his BMW 1973 R 60/5 , called "open ticket". He rode to Australia to live there because he could not find a job in Holland. After some jobs as a redacteur at Australian mc-magazines in 1999 he was responsible for all guides of famous LONELY PLANET books in Sydney. We kept contact many years by exchanging letters. Rob was the one who helped me to get two motorcycles in Australia from BIKE TOURS AUSTRALIA for which we are very grateful.
27.10.1999 Patricia and I met Rob in Australia near Melbourne. He made a great carrier: He is now responsible for many Travel-Guides from Lonely Planet. Most important was that he did not change his mood: He is as friendly as he always has been. Rob travlled extensively in Australia.
B.T.: The Dutch mc-traveller were the first Dutch going overland from Cairo to Capetown.

06.12.79 - 28.01.1980
Miebach, Anton (German, born ???)
+ Senegal - Germany. Anton fährt mit einer BMW Dakar - Köln.
Route: Dakar über Tambakounda - Kidira - Diboli - Kayes - Waila - per Zug nach Kita - Bamako - San - Bobo Dioulassou - Niamey - Tahoua - Agadez - T. - Tessum - Tam - Tunis. Anton hat 1984 ein Tagebuch über seine Fahrt geschrieben.
28.01.2004 1st request for update

06.1980
+ Transafrika. Capetown - Tanger. Der Amerikaner James K. Schmidt startet im April 1979 auf einer Suzuki T 500 in USA zu einer Motorrad - Weltreise. Dabei durchquert er Mittel - Amerika und fährt rund um Süd - Amerika. Von Santos (Brasilien) geht sein Motorrad per Schiff für ca. 300 US $ nach Capetown. James muß fliegen (800 US $). Seine Route: South Africa - Botswana - Zimbabwe - Tansania - Kenia - Uganda - Zaire bis Kisangani - mit Schiff nach Kinshasa - dort 1 Jahr bei Amerikanern gearbeitet - Congo Brazzaville - Gabon - Cameroun - Nigeria - Benin - Togo - Ghana - Obervolta - Niger - Hoggar - Route - Alger - Marokko - Spanien - Portugal - France - Belgien - Nederland - BRD. Rechtzeitig zum Tesch - Travel - Treffen 1982 kam James an. Er kaufte sich eine Yamaha XT 500, einen großen Tank und fuhr weiter nach Asien.

Nov. 1980 - Feb.81
Heinz Holzmann
+ Westafrika. Gambia - Cameroun - Gambia: 9000 km. Heinz Holzmann fährt auf einer BMW R 27, 15 PS, 250 ccm. Route: Von Banjul auf den Spuren seines Urgroßvaters nach Basse in Ost - Gambia - Tambacounda - Kidira - Kayes am Fluß entlang - Bamako - Bougouni - Odienne - Man - Daloa - Toumodi - Abidjan. Mit einem Küstenschiff nach Buchanan (Liberia). Per Motorrad weiter nach Monrovia. Da es kein Visum für Guinee gibt, muß die Überland - Reise ähnlich zurückgehen. Es gibt auch unregelmäßige Verbindungen nach Dakar! Zurück nach Buchanan. Mit Bahnverladung nach Sanniquellie - Man. Von dort die gleiche Route zurück bis Banjul. Motorrad dort konserviert bis zur nächsten Tour. Die Route Kayes - Kita - Bamako wird extrem selten befahren und kann überhaupt nur in der Trockenzeit befahren werden !


1981-1990

1981
Menn, Günther
Solo Deutschland - Westafrika mit YAMAHA XT 500
25.-26.09.82  Dia-Vortrag auf dem 5. deutsche MOTORRAD - TREFFEN für FERNREISEN. 99 Teilnehmer

1981
Kernchen, Andy
Germany - Egypt - Kenia. Mit selbstgebauter BMW-Enduro Motorrad-Expedition "Kairo-Mombasa"
25.-26.09.82  Dia-Vortrag auf dem 5. deutsche MOTORRAD - TREFFEN für FERNREISEN. 99 Teilnehmer
08.12.2006 Wer weiß wo der LKW-Fahrer Kernchen abgeblieben ist ?

1981
Tesch, Bernd (German)
Nachdem die Ur-Enduro Yamaha XT 500 1975 geboren war und dieses Fahrzeug mit Straßen - und Gelände - Eigenschaften eine neue Generation von Afrika - und Weltreisen eingeleitet hatte, bekam Bernd Tesch 1979 von Yamaha Deutschland und der Zeitschrift MOTORRAD einen Auftrag, ein fernreisetaugliches Motorrad mit großem Tank, pistenfesten Trägern und stabilen Alu - Taschen zu entwickeln. An der dieser Entwicklung ist Klaus Treibel erheblich beteiligt. Die vielen Publikationen in zig Motorrad-Magazinen über die Tesch-YAMAHA XT 500 und die Reiseumbauten beobachte BMW wohl sehr aufmerksam, denn 1981 kam die erste BMW-Enduro raus: R 80 G/S. 1981 bekam Brend Tesch den Auftrag von BMW eine fernreisetaugliche Tesch-BMW R 80 G/S zu bauen: 36 Liter Alutank, pistentauglicher Tesch-Travel-Träger, dazu Tesch-Travel-Taschen, Solo-Sitzbank, etc. Die BMW wurde mit ihren Nachfolgermodellen R 100 GS, R 100 GS PD, R 80GS Basic das meistgefahrene Weitreise-Motorrad weltweit bis ca. 2005. Die YAMAHA XT 500 war die Ur-Enduro als meistbenutztes Fernreise-Motorrad. Ab ca. 1982 wurde dann die BMW-Enduros die meistgefahrenen Motorräder für weite Reisen.
Bernd Tesch baute in späteren Jahren nochfolgende Prototypen von Fernreise-Motorrädern: Tesch-YAMAHA XT 550. Tesch-YAMAHA XT 600 E. Tesch-Suzuki DR 650 Dakar.

06.01.1981 - 25.05.1982
Patricia Govers und Nik de Nijs (Dutch) http://www.patriciagovers.de
Plan: Nederland - Capetown. Die Niederländer Patricia Govers und Nik de Nijs fahren jeder auf einer Yamaha XT 500: NL - Cairo - Khartoum. Nik brach sich bei einem Sturz in der nubischen Wüste das Bein. Patricia organisierte Hilfe: Transport mit Landrover nach Shendi, mit Frachtzug nach Khartoum, Unterkunft besorgen. Sie arbeitet 9 Monate in Khartoum in der NL - Botschaft für den Unterhalt beider, während das Bein von Nik ausheilt. Hier treffen Alfred Reetz und Bernd Tesch beide wieder. Im Westen des Nil fahren sie dann eine nie von Motorrad - Travellern vorher befahrene Route über Wau - Juba - Nairobi. Patricia und Nik fliegen zurück, da es politisch kein Durchkommen durch Tanzania gibt. Nik fährt später mit einem Freund von Ostafrika bis Capetown (Am 22.11.1996 trifft Bernd Tesch Patricia ertsmalig wieder und wohnt seit 1997 mit ihr zusammen).
15.10.99 The Dutch Patricia Govers (my life-girlfriend) and Nik de Nijs rode with two YAMAHA XT 500 in 1980-81: Amsterdam - Egypt (Cairo, Wadi Halfa) - Sudan (Nubian desert. Here Nick broke his leg. Patricia had to ride alone in the desert to organise the help and transport - Khartoum (There they had to stay for 9 months to recover while Patricia was working, searching a house, taking car for Nick. By accident Bernd Tesch came bye with YAMHA XT 500) - east of the river south through Sudan on a very lonely route no motorcycle has done before and so far to Wau and Juba - Kenia - Rwanda (get in prison because no visa) - Kenia - flew back to Holland after two years.
B.T.: I have been searching Patricia for years in Holland without success because I wanted to publish her mc-story in my book "Woman Motorcycle Travelling". So the mc-magazine MOTOR in Holland published my search 21.05.1996. So I found her and heard that she has been living in different countries of Africa (Senegal, Congo, Zaire, Mauritius) for 8 more years married to the American Hy Hoffmann. When we met first 22.11.1996 in Amsterdam having been invited to the representation of  Ted Simons new book Jupiter´s Travel there we fall in love until now.

05.04.1981 - 15.11.1981  and  24.10.1989 - 23.05.1991
Rietzler, Gaby and Rudi (German)
Two times Trans-Africa. Gaby and Rudi crossed Africa two times by Motorcycle North-South.
In 1981 both rode solo with two YAMAHA XT 36.000 kms.
In 1989 - 91 they travelled within 17 months with a Moto-Guzzi-Mille GT with one sidecar Carell Enduro 80.000 kms through enormous 30 countries.
Route 1981: Germany - Austria - Switzerland - France - ferry from Marseille to Algeria (Algiers) - Algeria - Niger - Burkina Faso - Togo - Benin - Nigeria - Cameroun - Central African Rep. - Zaire - Rwanda - Tanzania - Kenya - Tanzania - Zambia - Maalaawi - Zambia - Zimbabwe - South Africa - Namibia - South Africa - return flight from SA (Johannesburg) to Germany (Frankfurt)
Route 1989-91: Germany - Austria - Switzerland - France - Spain - ferry from Algeciras to Ceuta - Morocco - Algeria - Tunisia - Algeria - Niger - Burkina Faso - Ivory Coast - Guinea - Senegal - Gambia - Senegal - Mali - Ivory Coast - Ghana - Togo - Benin - Nigeria - Cameroun - Central African Rep. - Zaire - Rwanda - Burundi - Rwanda - Uganda - Kenya - Tanzania - Malawi - Zambia - Zimbabwe - South Africa - Botswana - Zimbabwe - Namibia - South Africa - Lesotho - South Africa - Swaziland - South Africa - return flight from SA (Johannesburg) to Luxembourg with the motorbike in the aeroplane - Germany.
1983 and 1993 The gave two slides - at the Tesch-Travel-Treffen. Last one: "Zwei Afrika-Durchquerungen".
The best of both tours: African Wildlife. Especially visits of elephants and hippos at night to our tend.
Book: Their second tour was published in 2/1992 in German mc-magazine TOURENFAHRER. Gaby rode a long report. A part of this will be published later in B.T. book "Frauen-Motorrad-Reisen"
B.T.: Gaby and Rudi are the only couple I know who crossed Africa two times North-South. They are the only couple I know who rode once on solo-bikes and second time in a sidecar. Gabi was until 1991 one of only 4 women I know who crossed Africa on an own bike.

11.1981 - 02.1982
Banjul - Cameroun - Banjul: Ca. 6000 km gefahren. Heinz Holzmann fährt wieder mit der BMW R 27, 15 PS, 250 ccm. Die Route von Kayes - Bamako entlang des Niger ist eine sehr selten, nur in der Trockenzeit mögliche, befahrene Route: Banjul (Gambia) - Kaolack - Kayes - Bamako - Mopti - Ouahigouya - Ouagadougou - Niamey - Sokoto - Zaria - Bauchi - Yola - Garoua - N'Gaoundere - Tibati - Yaounde - Douala - Victoria. Per Linienschiff zurück nach Banjul über den Golf von Guinea. Ab Banjul Verladung per Charterflug nach Kopenhagen (Dänemark).

08.11.1981 - 12.07.1983
+ Transafrika. Auf seiner langen Weltreise fährt der Schwede Frank Eliasson mit einer Honda Goldwing Kairo - Khartoum - Kampala - Mombasa.

1982
+ Transafrika. Nordkap - Hoggar - Route - Capetown mit 2 BMW R 80 G/S. Ralf Zeller und ein Bekannter.

1982
Capetown - Lubumbashi - quer durch Zaire bis Kinshasa - France. Der Franzose Yves Beaumont fährt in Zaire eine ganz selten befahrene Route.

1982
+ Transafrika. BRD - Capetown. 1,5 Jahre fuhren Mechthild und Rudolf  Bilfinger "ohne Motorrad - Probleme" auf einer Yamaha XT 500 zusammen!
Route: Hoggar - Route - Douala - Kinshasa - mit Schiff bis Kisangani - Goma - Kigali - Capetown.

??.10.1982 - ??-??.1983
Scholl, Patricia (Austrian) and Martin Schoibl (Swiss)
Plan: Transafrika. Both rode from Europe to East Africa on one YAMAHA XT 500.
Route: Austria - Hungaria - Jugoslawia - Greece - by ferry to Egypt - Sudan (possibly the route via Wad Medani - El Obeid - El Fasher - Wau - Juba - Lokichokio) - Kenia - Uganda - ????
04th.11.00 1st information by World-Around-Travller Marcel Kersten. They met first time in Kenia.
05.5.11.00 Who knows any details if they reached Capetown and their present address?
23.02.1983 Publication about Patricia and Marcel in THE EQUADOR = National Uganda Newspaper: "Riding across Africa"

1983
Bartels, Wolfgang:
Germany - Senegal. Schnellritt in 28 Tagen von Deutschland (Leer) nach Senegal (Dakar) mit BMW R 80 G/S:
10.-11.02.84 Dia-Vortrag auf dem  6. deutsche MOTORRAD - TREFFEN für FERNREISEN. 110 Teilnehmer

1983
Bartels, Wolfgang:
Germany - Senegal. Schnellritt in 28 Tagen von Deutschland (Leer) nach Senegal (Dakar) mit BMW R 80 G/S:
10.-11.02.84 Dia-Vortrag auf dem  6. deutsche MOTORRAD - TREFFEN für FERNREISEN. 110 Teilnehmer

09.1983 - 05.1984
Rudi Kretschmer
+ Tunesien - Senegal - Nigeria.  Lehrer Rudi ist ein begeisterter Afrika - Motorrad - Fahrer. Er hat 4 Afrika - Fahrten unternommen ab 1977. 1979 traf ich ihn in Togo. Er hat bei der Zeitschrift MOTORRAD 1986 eine Motorrad-Weltreise gewonnen. Auf dieser Reise benutzte er eine Scheck-BMW mit gleich grossen Reifen vorne und hinten.
Afrika-Route: Tunesien - Algerien (Djanet) - Niger (Agadez - Bilma alleine mit einer Tuareg - Karawane, 5 Tage Gefängnis in Bilma) - Obervolta - Mali (mit Einboot von Mopti - San) - Senegal (Kita - SW - Tambakounda, Rudis Kommentar dazu: Hölle) - Senegal - Gambia - Sierra Leone (poln. Frachter von Banjul) - Liberia - Elfenbeinküste - Ghana - Togo - Benin - Nigeria - Holland (mit deutschem Container - Schiff). Siehe >World für die Weltreise.

27.10.- 21.12.1983
Tesch, Bernd
Solo Afrika-Reise nach West-Afrika mit Motorrad TESCH-BMW R 80 G/S.
Route : D- F - CH - F - Spanien - Portugal - Spanien - Marokko - Westsahara - Marokko - Algerien - F - LUX - D. 11.500 km.
10.-11.02.84 Dia-Vortrag auf dem  6. deutsche MOTORRAD - TREFFEN für FERNREISEN. 110 Teilnehmer

12.1984 - + Ca. 4 weeks
Wiechert, Hans-Joachim (geb. 30.05.1934, German)
With YAMAHA DT 175.
Route: D - Italy (with Habib Line) - Tunisia - Algeria - Tunisia - Italy - Germany
09.08.01 Personal visit here. Will send me all details later via Arne Ulmman.

??.03.1985 - ??.08.1985
Kerle, Werner (German, born 1958) no www.
+ Gerrmany > Egypt - Sudan > Germany. Werner started to a long tour with BMW R 80 G/S (1982) solo ca. 20.000 km. Because the motorcycle broke down in Sudan he returned via Jugloslawia.
Route: Germany - Jugoslawia - Greece - Turkey - Syria - Jordan  (from Aquaba by a new ferry to Nuweiba ) - Egypt: Crossing through the Lybian dessert back to Aswan. Near Aswan on lake Nasser the ferry netwenn Egypt and Sudan burnt and sunk two weeks before. So Werner succeded to get ide along the coast to Sudan. "I had 3 days paperwork und a lot of  trouble to get the permisson to cross the military-area at the coast of  Egypt and the border to Sudan. I had to finish the exit-papers in Assuan on the 27.5.1985 and to cross the borderline between the next two 2 days. From Assuan to the coast (a little bit south of Marsa Alam) and then south to the border abaut 500 kms. I had to carry 80 liters of fuel and 20 liters of water, also little food and all my luggage on the BMW for this 1000 km-trip. From Marsa Alam it was always off road. On the way were only 2 military controls on the Egypt side. The track stopped about 100 kms before the Eygpt border where you find the last Egypt military control - Sudan:  There is no sign when you enter Sudan, but a camp with huts and tents (military I think). No paperwork here. From here you have to find your own track somehow along the coast. Until Port Sudan you have to find your own rough and sandy route as well. There are no villages until Port Sudan.
In a tired moment I didn`t see a small sanddune and had a good flight. The front from my bike was destroyed and when I woke up again my hole drinking water was gone. Some hours later I was able to drive again. The track was going more inland and one and a half  hard days later I arrived in Port Sudan (31.5.1985) where I had to do my paperwork. My bike broke down totally, because a part of the shaft to the backweel was broken. I could fix them a bit and  found a ship to Jugoslavia (Pula, 26.07.85).
The best: Heartly inviatation in Deir a Zor in Syria.
The Worst: Died nearly of thirst on the way from Egypt ashore to Port Sudan. Lost ca. 20 kg.??
Useful tipps for others: I had a Tesch-Träger (rack) and leather bags and a 40-liter fueltank. Never rode alone such lonely roads. Take part of the Tuareg-Rallye in march in Morocco !
B.T.: Diese Route an der Küste ist normalerweise verboten. Ich habe extrem selten davon gehört, daß das Fahrzeuge (meistens von Süden kommend) geschafft haben. Es ist die erste mir bekannte Motorradtour entlang der Küste.

06.03. -30.09.1985
Gotthold, Ulrich (German, geb. 02.12.1961)
+ Transafrica: North - West - East - South - Africa . Ulrich rode solo 20.000 km with YAMAHA SR 500 with and a 38 liter-fueltank (from B.Tesch) Transafrica.
Purpose of travel: To find out in life what he wants..??
Route: Europe: Germany ..??? - Africa: Morocco - Algeria - Niger - Burkina Faso - Togo - because of political problems the mc was send by ship to Congo (Pointe Noire) - Ulrich flew to Congo (Brazzaville) - Kinshasa - by boat with the mc on the river Congo to Zaire (Kisangani = Stanleyville - by bike to Bujumbura) . Rwanda - Burundi - Uganda - Kenia - Tansania - Zambia - Simbabwe - South Africa (Capetown). Back via ??
Publication: No Earlier big mc-tours: ??
Useful tips for others: ??
06.12.2006 1st contact and information about Ulrichs tour after 21 years. During the tel call Ulrich informed B.T. that he knows a Swiss couple: Eddi Anstatt who rode 2,5 years at his time in Africa and 90.000 kms. Ulrich promised to contact them to ask for a summary like this for my website about African travellers.
08.12.2006 1 st request for update

21.12.1985 - 13.01.1986
Wiechert, Hans (German, born in 1934)
Tunisia. Algeria. Hans rodo solo with a Yamaha DT 175 MX.
Route: Italy (Genua) - by boat to Tunis - Algeria (El-Qued - Deb-Deb - Illizi - Djanet - Assekrem - Tamanrasset - In Salah - El Golea - Ghardaïa) - Tunis.
The best: Grand Erg oriental. Gravures rupestres. Assekrem. Meeting the Rallye Paris-Dakar in Tamanrasset.
Reason: Adventure. Sadnroses in desert.
The Worst: All Zähne des Zahnrades des Primärantriebes abgeschliffen.
06.04.2002 1st sumary by Arne Ullmann.

26.12.1985 - 04.03.1986
Bernd Tesch
+ Solo Dakar - Germany against Rallye Paris > Dakar.  Bernd fährt 11.500 km durch 9 afrikanische Länder auf einer Tesch - BMW R 80 G/S von Dakar nach Aachen entgegen der Rallye "Paris Dakar" (und trifft sie 1,5 Tage), um zu zeigen das "Reisen besser ist als Rasen". Das Besondere ist die erste Befahrung von Guinee (Guinea) in Nord - Süd und West - Ost - Richtung nach 25 Jahren für Touristen geschlossene Grenzen.

1987
Thöne, Petra und Jörg Granderath
Senegal - Germany.Senegal (Dakar) - Deutschland (Aachen) in 3 Monaten 13.200 km auf einer BMW.
23.-24.04.88  Dia-Vortrag auf dem 10. MOTO - FERNREISE - TREFFEN

02.1989 - 08.1990
Henniges, Rolf (German, born in June 1965 in the University-City of Göttingen)
+ Transafrica. 43.230 Kilometer. Rolf has education as an industrial-salesman, a dieselengine-mechanic and an editor Transafrica from February 1989 till August 1990. His other three Africa-Tours 11.000 kms.
Route: Tunesia - Algeria - Niger - Burkina Faso - Ghana - Togo - Benin - Central-Africa - Zaire - Rwanda - Burundi - Uganda - Kenya - Tansania - Malawi - Mosambique - Botswana - Namibia - South-Africa
Purpose of travel: Always heading for adventure and fun. As an old moto-crossi he always looked at most of rough roads and tracks.
The best: Deep mudded, 300 km long track between Tansania to Malawi in rainy season. Also a rough and funny ride on an old Honda CB 200 with piston-collaps from Göttingen to Genua (Italy) and retour. (It was a funny story for motorcycle Magazine MOTORRAD in winter 98/99). Reaching Capetown after 18 month of journey
The worst: Stone-throwing children in Zaire.
Useful informations and TIPS for others: If there is a wish and a deep will, every time it will be come real.
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: Rolf startet his bigger trips after he hang up his moto-cross career in 1987. First he rode six weeks through Algeria. Infectet by the spirit of the black continent, he startet his big trip a year later and spent nearly two years travelling in several countries of Africa. Ending up in September 1990 in Capetown. There he worked together with a guy from Australia fixing engines. Surely he had the idea to visit him later.So he spent 27 months between 1991 - 1997 in Australia. He rode 100.000 km. Nearly all Outback-tracksavelling. Did trips to Asia as well cross all over Europe. Every time on bikes, mostly of the Yamaha XT-Series. Sometimes he worked for food and petrol and travelled without money as well. In Australia he was also digging for saphires as well as for opals. While he was back in Germany he worked in several jobs. Beside his travels he startet writing in 1990, sold the storys to many magazines and presented slideshows through Germany. Since May 1999 he is redacteur of MOTORRAD, Europes biggest Motobike-Magazin, working as a motorbike-tester and editor. The bike, with which he has done most of all journeys, is now part of his living-room. The good old Yamaha XT 600 Ténéré counts 241.000 km. After more than half a million km on a motorbike, now he is riding pushbikes as his hobby and still working on his next book which will be a novel and has nothing to do with bikes and journeys "Only women, drinks and rock'n roll". One of his dreams of life is, to live on novels. After six years in the past 20 years on the road, Rolf is still hungry for freedom: "There is no guarantee, that I will be a strickly hard working man for the rest of my life". He wants to travel as much as he can. "There's only one life. Live it". See more in this homepage Australia 1991 - 1997.
Book or publication: In 1996 his first book, named "Australia", was published in Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart. Meanwhile his has written some short-storys for Lappan-Verlag Oldenburg and is one of the co-authors of the Travellbook "Best of 20 Years of Travel" from the Motorbike-Photographer Klaus H. Daams which will be published in december 2001.
B.T. Rolf is an extensive mc-traveller being able sometimes to travel with no money. He crossed Africa and rode extremely in Australia by mc. Rolf  has written the portrait about Bernd Tesch in 1996 in MOTORRAD and has been visiting the Mc-Meeting for World-Travellers since many years. Rolf is a co-author of SHELL´s BIKER BIBLE as well. Although Rolf has sometimes a "special view" of Mr. Tesch and different opinons we always kept a good contact with each other since a long time.

24.10.1989 - 23.05.1991 and 05.04.1981 - 15.11.1981 
Rietzler, Gaby and Rudi (German)
+ Two times Trans-Africa. Gaby and Rudi crossed Africa two times by Motorcycle North-South.
In 1981 both rode solo with two YAMAHA XT 36.000 kms.
In 1989 - 91 they travelled within 17 months with a Moto-Guzzi-Mille GT with sidecar Carell Enduro 80.000 kms through enormous 30 countries. See above 1981.

12.1989 - 02.1990
Steinhauser, Hubert (German, 09.05.1964)
+ Tunisia. Algeria. Hubert rode with Yamaha XT 600 K without luggage with his friend Wolfgang Bader by car 4 WD Lada Niva 15.000 kms.
Purpose of travel: Wolfgang Bader asked him to travel with him into Sahara.
Route: Germany - Austria - Switerland - France - by ship from Marseille to Africa (Tunisa (Tunis) - Algeria (Tozeur - Deb Deb - Djanet - Tamanrasset - Ain Salah - El Golea - Ghardaia - Ouargla) - Tunisia (Tunis) - by ship to Europe (France (Marseille) - Switzerland Austria - Germany).
Higjhlights: Full moon in the dunes of Algeria. Oasis. Petrified wood.
The worst: We lost orientation sometimes in the dunes
Earlier experiences: 1988 renting bikes in in Morocco (Agadir).

01.12.1989 - 28.01.1990
Kuik, Fred van (Netherland, 20.08.60) and Nout Beeker (Netherland, 10.03.60)
+ North > West-Africa. The physiotherapis Fred and civil engeneer Arnout rode together from Tunis to Ouagadougou on two XT-600 Tenere 1983 ca. 7.000 kms. Then two dutch friends flew to Ouagadougou and they rode back via Niger (Agadez) - Algeria (In Guezzam - Tamanghasset). Nout and Fred toke the plane to Moscow (in wintertime) and spend there some days before going home with aeroflot to Bruxelles.
Route: Utrecht to Genua (motorcycles in van) - by boat to Tunisia (Tunis) - Tunis - Tozeur - Algeria (El-Qued - Touggourt - Ouargla - Hassi-Messaoud - In Amenas - Illizi - Djanet - Ideles - Tamanghasset - Assekrem - Timiaouine - Tessalit) - Mali (Gao - Mopti) - Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou) - by plane to Moscow - by plane to Belgium (Bruxelles) - Holland (Utrecht).
Purpose: enjoy holiday
The best: Assekrem sunset. Area around Djanet. Friendly people of Mali. Trip from Tam to Tessalit.
The worst: Getting petrol mixed with water in Timiaouine.
Useful Tips: Take two the same bikes.
Earlier experiences: 1992-1993 Marocco-Algeria-Libya-Algeria-Tunisia. - 1996-1997 Kampala - Zaire - CAR - Camerun-Niger. -2001-2002 plan to visit Libya or Algeria if Libya is not possible.


1991-2000

1992
Jebli, Abi (Moroccan)
+ Transafrica. The engineer Abi (living in Netherlands) has crossed Africa already with HONDA 600 XR. See Marcus Bruns below!
Route: Algeria - West-Africa - Central Africa - South Africa.
27.05.2001 Asked for his block.
B.T.: For sure he is the first Moroccan Motorcycle Traveller crossing Africa in total. I am not sure if he is the first African. There are very few Africans TRAVELLING by motorcycle great distances through Africa.

11.03.1993 - 18.07.1994
Ellis, Heather (Austalian, born 08.04.1964) 
+ Transafrica: Capetown - East Africa - West-  North-Africa - England. The Australian Heather at 28 years old woke up one morning realising there was more to life than working for a multinational mining company. She wanted to fullfill her own dreams. Riding down the West Australian coast road, her and travelling companion, John travelled across the Indian Ocean by cargo ship to Durban. From South Africa they rode to East Africa. Heather on her Yamaha TT600 and John on a Honda XR600. However, once they arrived in Nairobi, her companion did not want to continue the trip through Africa and shipped his bike to Europe. Heather then managed to ride solo from East to West and then to North-Africa taking a cargo ship from Mauritania to Belgium. Total distance: 43,146 kms.
Heather's TT600 was rebuilt in Germany. In Hamelin, by Manfred Strubbel (please check spelling) - the European expert on Yamaha TT600. And why on a motorcycle? "Because for me it represents freedom, not just transport. On a bike you are 'in' what is around, not just an observer", Heather says. In London, Heather continued her travels as a motorcycle courier and over 12 months covered a distance of about 40,000km. After writing her African story in six months, Heather failed to attract a publisher and so began the homeward leg of her world motorcycle adventure (see Asia).
Mobil Oil is sponsor, giving Heather oil and petrol from their depots and on occasions accomodation in Lagos, Nigeria.
Heather got to Bachelor of Journalism in may 2001.
Purpose of travel: To explore the world and grow from the experience.
Route: Australia by ship to South Africa - Zimbabwe - Mozambique - Malawi - Tanzania - Kenya - Uganda - Zaire - Congo - Gabon - Cameroon - Nigeria - Benin - Togo - Ghana - Burkina Faso - Mali - Mauritania - motorcyclye broke down - by ship to England.
The best: Zaire River. Ruwenzori Mountains - Zaire (now DRC). Freedom.
The worst: ??.
Book or publication: Awaken to Africa. Published for Xmas 2001. Would like to complete Vietnam Asia leg back to Australia before publication.
Useful informations and TIPS for others: Pack your bike, put on your helmet, turn the key and ride down the driveway.......and then you will live a thousand life times everyday.
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours:... None.
05.11.01 Heather and Matt will have a baby in 2002 - I suppose. They want to vist me when they are on their "RTW" when they are 60. They forgot that B.T. will be possibly dead then.
B.T.: Out of my knowledge Ellis is the first who rode solo on a solo-bike Transafrica as far as Mauretania from Capetown to East - West- North-Africa without being together with a man the whole trip to London.

01.08.1993 - 25.03.1994
Erker, Dirk (German, 07.02.1967)
+ Europe > Trans-Africa. The mechanic-master Dirk rode solo with Erker-BMW R 100 GS PD. 30.000 kms.
Route: Germany (Duisburg) - France - Spain - Morocco - Mauretania - Senegal - Gambia - Senegal - Mali - Burkina Faso - Ghana - Togo - Benin - Nigeria - Cameroun - CFA - Zaire - Uganda - Kenia - Tanzania -  Malawi - Mozambique - South Africa (Capetown).
The best: Zaire - it makes or destroys men. Saw gorillas in Zaire without paying......
The Worst: Killing the rainforest.  Stopped counting his falls after 234...
Book: Planned
Tesch-Tip: Contact Dirks firm "Do it" ! The master of  two-wheels Dirk (Trans-Africa in 1993/94 and Trans-Asia in 1996/7 and in 1999 10 years visitor of the Mc-Tesch-Meeting for World-Travellers) has specialist for repairs of enduros and especially the preparation of  HONDA- and BMW-enduros for motorcycle-overland-tours: Huge petrol-tanks and e.g. shortining the 1st gear and making the 5th gear longer of BMWs. Tuning. Wider rims. Used motorcycles.... You, the rider, can they besides the motorcycle when Dirk makes the total-check of your bike and you get personal explanations and become more fit for your travel. Very recommendable ! Dirk also takes care for the Tesch-BMW ! His one-man-garage is called "Do it !": Tel. /Fax in Duisburg/Germany: Tel / Fax: 0049 (0) 2065 701669. Mobil No. 0179 4155007. Email: dirk_erker@hotmail.com
13.01.2004 Next request for update.
02.05.2006 Next request for update. Wann kommt das Buch raus ?


18.09.1993 - 02.03.1994
Zuelch, Martin (German, born 20.02.1970)
+ Transafrica: Cairo - Cape Town. Martin rode solo 22.000 km on a Kawasaki KLX 650
Purpose of tour: personal experience; realising a long kept dream
Route: Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa.
The best: Friendly people all over the place, Sudanese desert, mountain landscape in Eritrea / Ethiopia, X-Mas at Victoria Falls, political situation in Eritrea just after independence and in South Africa just before the first democratic elections.
Worst times: Getting a bit too brave and trying to tackle a track which the Michelin map classified as "impassable during the rainy season" in Tanzania in the middle of the rainy season (mud holes that trucks disappeared in); falling and overturning at about 80 km/h on a desert track in the Kalahari (luckily no broken bones, but quite a concussion in spite of wearing a helmet)
Useful tips for others: try to save every kg you can on your bike & equipment; always travel with an open & unbiased mind; come to the TTT for lots more useful tips!
Publication about the tour : Tourenfahrer 9/1995; Motorrad News 2/1998
Earlier experiences: Hitchhiking through Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia in 1989
Date of first contact with B.T.: Spring 1993 when I returned with my new KLX 650 from Aachen and a new rack (The only one Bernd Tesch ever made for a Kawasaki) and a lot of useful equipment and tips.
Visitor of the Tesch-Meeting for World-Travellers: Four times since 1997 - 2002
January 2004: Plan: 3 weeks by car to desert in Libya. Part of Sahara: Hammadah al Hambrah. Martin promised to bring me a bit of sand as a present.

17.10.1993 - 20.03.1995
Griep, Astrid (born 1969) and Daniel Duwe (born 1971, both Germans). Astrids homepage: www.womanontour.de
+ Transafrica: Nort > West > East > South-Africa. Astrid and Daniel rode on one Honda Transalp 41.000 km through Africa.
Route: Europe (Germany - Spain) - by ferry to Africa (Morocco - the Sahara we crossed in company with Swiss car-salers - Mauretania - Mali - Cote d´Ivoire - Ghana. Because there has been a revolution in Togo at this time the border was closed. So we had to ride a "little round of 700 km" via Burkina Faso - Togo - Benin - Nigeria - Cameroon - Central Africa - Zaire - arriving in Rwanda in march 1994. Because of a visit of friends we left bike and equipment in Rwanda and hitchhiked to Kenia. From here we flew home to Germany to earn money in summer. A short time later after we left Rwanda the war started there. It is bad that we lost all of our our bike and equipment there. But comparing this with the war there this was not important. In october 1994 we flew with another used Honda Transalp to Kenia to continue. Tansania - Malawi - Mocambique - Zimbabwe (Rafting on the Zambesi-River!!!) - Namibia - South Africa (Capetown).
Purpose of travel: Adventure, visiting other cultures, see diffrent countries
The best: Crossing the Sahara, driving through Zaire, diving-course in Malawi, Rafting on the Zambesi-River, driving through the deserted Kaokoveld in Namibia, reaching Capetown after 41.000 km!
The Worst: Corruption in Westafrika, especially in Zaire
Earlier experiences: Backpacking through Brasil, Mexiko, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Thailand. See her next trip Alasca - Tierra del Fuego under Americas\NorthSouthAmerica
Useful tips to others: Don´t ask too many questions before you leave the first time. Jjust do it ! It is easier then you imagine back home
05.1998 Personal visit of Astrid visited. I was astonished to hear how easy she managed Alasca - Tierra dle Fuego on her 350 ccm. She belongs to the few women who dare everything and is always positive thinking. It is wonderful to listen to Astrid.
planing again with her 350ccm SUZUKI. Who wants to travel next with her?
2001: Astrid has been more than three times at the Tesch-Travel-Treffen: 1995, 1996, 1997.
B.T.: Astrid is a very intelligent-humores and sweet-femine woman. She is a very experienced traveller and always waiting for the next tour...

??.??.1994 - 02.04.1995
Lichey, Peter and Dirk Schneider
+ Transafrika: North > West > East > South-Africa. Peter and Dirk rode 30.300 kms through 20 African countries with two BMW R 80 G/S in 5 months.
Purpose of Tour: ??
Route: Marocko - Senegal - Cote D'Ivoire - Nigeria - Zaire - Uganda - Kenia - Namibia - SA (Capetown)
The best: Christmas evening in a mountain village Mali in Guinea.
The worst: ??
Earlier experiences: ??
Useful tips for others: ?
01.05.1994: Participants of the 18.Meeting for Mc-World-Travellers.
01.04.1995 Both tried to finish their tour at exactly on the 17th. Meeting for Mc-World-Travellers. They missed it one day, because the bikes were one day late by ship. I liked their idea very much.
30.-31.03.1996 Participant of the 18. Meeting for Mc-World-Travellers. They gave a slides-show: "Transafrika".
10.04.02 Peter wrote me that my Motorcycle-Meetings for World-Travellers caused him to travel. Since 1992 he will visit the Tesch-Meeting this year 8 times.
28.03.2008 Peter wrote: Seit 4 Jahren fahre ich sehr wenig Motorrad. Das Fahrrad hat dieses fast ersetzt. Ich werde mit unserem Radclub mal eine kleine Reise unternehmen. Diese Reisen sind von uns selbst geplant und gehen in alle Kontinente der Welt. Mit dem Fahrrad ist es momentan leichter für mich, da man dieses leicht in das Flugzeug bekommt. Mal sehen, was sich die nächsten Jahre tut.
Ursprung und ausschlagebend für meien Transafrika-Reise und die Lust auf Fernreisne war das 22. Tesch-TRavel-Treffen 1992, wie auhc das Buch "Motorrad Abentuer Touren" von B.T. Ich freue mich schon aufs Treffen.
28.03.2003 Asked for update

03.11.1994 - 16.04.1995
Krämer, Peter (born 05.01.1961) http://home.t-online.de/home/peter.kraemer/
+ North and West-Africa. Peter (BMW R 100 GS) rode with Heinz Köstenberger (HONDA Africa Twin), Thomas Schmid (BMW R 100 GS) and Anita 17.200 kms through Westafrika.
Route: Germany - France - Spain - Morocco - Mauretania - Senegal - Guinea - Cote d´Ivoire - Ghana - Togo - Benin - Niger - Nigeria - Cameroon. By plane back to Paris. From here back by bike to Germany.
Purpose of travel: I like to travel.
The best: Many different, but nothing special.
The worst: Pushdown on the last day and one hour from home. Had to stay 8 days in hospital.
Book or publication : No.
Useful informations and TIPS for others: 1994 is a long time ago. My tips are not up to date.

19.01.1995 - 08.1996 and
Ca. 12.1997 - 20.02.1999
Gnoth, Anselm und Marianne Haug
+ Trans-Africa two times: Capetown - Cairo and Tanger - Capetown
19.01.1995-08.1996 Anselm rode Trans-Africa solo by Mc BMW R 80 G/S 30.100 kms: Capetown - Kenia - Ethiopia - Eritrea - with a lot of luck he got the transitvisa for Saudi Arabia in Eritrea - Saudi Arabia - Jordan - Syria - Turkey - Germany. He gave a slides-show about this at a "Tesch-Globetrotter-Meeting". For this tour I gave him the tip to put a picture in his passport as a "priest with his black robe". At one border "the holy man" even did not have to pay the fees!
05.1998 Letter from Congo Brazzaville to Heinz and Christa Jansen (Trans-Africa-Traveller with HANOMAG 4 wheel drive car, 2.5 years and 50.000 kms), of which I got a copy. The priest Anselm was so fullfilled, that he wanted to discover Africa via the westroute. With two motorcycles Anselm (BMW R 80 GS) and his girlfriend Marianne Haug (XT 600) are now on the way: Germany - Spain - Maroc - Mauritania - Senegal - Togo - Nigeria - Cameroon - Gabon - Congo Brazzaville - Congo Kinshasa (05.1998). After 4 weeks they made the decision to fly with the motorcycle from Kinshasa/Zaire to Lubumbashi/Zambia (2.600 kms to Zambia) because of the dangerous war-situation in Zaire. Friends of them who went by car without a special permission in Zaire where stopped by the police after 500 kms (which took them 2 weeks to travel). Police took their car (which was not given back) and they had to leave the country. From Lusaka Anselm and Marianne rode first north to Kenia (Lake Turkana) and then to Capetown.
06.09.91998 Letter from Mombasa (Kenia). They have travelled now 11 months and make "holidays from travelling". They come back in march 1999: Now 31.000 kms. 23 countries, 19 African countries. Two times robbed. 1 time Malaria. Each two fronttires, 3 backtires. 4000 l petrol. 800 l beer. 200 pushdowns. 6 times motorcycles under water. 270 nights in tend. 22 nights just on hard grounds. 28 nights in beds. The most imprtant: Uncountable meetings with kind Africans. Vist of 40 different churches. They met David Woodburn (see there) in Kampala.
20.02.1999 a postcard from Capetown: "We are sad to leave this fascinatic continent Africa after 17 months and 52.000 kms". 26.03.99 As wonderful surprising guests Anselm and Marianne showed up on the "21th Meeting of Motorcycle-WORLD-Travellers" 26.03.99, just being home in Germany a few days after working back on a ship. Marianne and Anselm wilh give a slides-show at the "23rd Meeting for Mc-World-Travellers in april 2001".
04.2000 Anselm was sacrified as a priest.

25.09.1995 - 12.05.1997
Daniela Drechsel and Offergeld, Gerd
+ Transafrica somehow: Nort > West > South > East-Africa. The plummer Gerd (BMW R 80 G/S) and the civil-engineer Daniela (DR 350) rode 14.000 km with BMW and SUZUKI DR 350 28.000 kms.
Route: Germany (Aachen) - Luxembourg - France - Spain - Morocco - Mauretania - Senegal - Gambia - Senegal - Guinea (Conakry). In Guinea Gerd was hit by a truck and the mc was destroyed. They flew to South Africa. Here Gerd bought there a DR 350. South Africa - Namibia - Botswana - Zimbabwe - Mocambique - Malawi - Tanzania - Rwanda - Uganda - Kenia. Both sold  their DR 350 and flew back to Germany.
The best: Desert of  Mauretania. Capetown - Elisabeth most besides the official road. North of  Namibia. North of Mocambique to Malawi.
The Worst: Accident in Guinea.
1978 1st contact
1994 / 5 visitor of  Tesch-Mc-Meeting

04.11.1995 - 01.03.1996
Lamers, Harald und Udo (Dutch)   www.gopherpublishers.com Ride till it hurts...
+ Transafrica. The BikeBrothers Harald & Udo rode with two SUZUKI DR600 25.000 km through 18 African countries.
Purpose of Tour: learning cultures, discovering Africa.
Route: Europe (Netherlands - Belgium - Spain) - Africa (Morocco - Mauretania - Senegal - Mali - Burkina Faso - Niger - Nigeria - Cameroons - Central Africa - Zaire - Uganda - Kenia - Tanzania - Malawi - Sambia - Zimbabwe - Botswana - South Africa.
The best: Zaire, very adventurous riding.
The worst: Zaire, too much corruption, 2 times arrested.
Earlier / later experiences of motorcycle tours: All our motorcycle tours are made on Suzuki DR600's.
01.06.1991 - 01.09.1991: Canada - USA - Mexico. 24.000 km.
04.11.1993 - 03.02.1994: Australia. 23.000 km
01.11.1997 - 05.03.1998: South America: Venezuela- Brasil - Bolivia - Peru - Chile - Argentinia. 24.000 km
11.05.2001- 01.10.2002: Asia: Holland - Germany - Tsjechie - Slowakije - Hongaria - Rumania - Bulgaria - Turkey - Iran - Pakistan - India - Nepal - Thailand - Laos - Vietnam - Cambodia - Malaysia - New Zealand - Australia - Japan - Russia - Baltic States. 64.000 km.
Information: Our website is: www.geocities.com/bikebrothers. Harald's book is available at the Verlag Gopher. Book: "Waar de weg opgoudt". Dwars door Africa. 2001. 8 chapters. 258 pp. 18 b&w pictures. In Dutch language.
B.T. in 12.2002: Both have been several times on the "Motorcycle-Meeting for World-Travellers". I am still grateful that they offered me a wonderful picture for my catalogue many years ago.

10.1995
Tesch, Bernd   http://www.berndtesch.de
+ Namibia. Bernd rode solo 3000 kms (1.700 kms off-road without falling) in 4 weeks around Namibia with YAMAHA XT 500. He visited the nature people Ovahimbas in the north near border of Angola. Before he had to drive a Volkswagen bus within two days from Windhoek to Capetown for firm ASCO car hire and came back by bus.
The best: I found information about the historical Motorcycle Travellers Robert Suhr (rode in 1933 as the first with a BMW from Windhoek - Cairo - Germany) and Robert Schultheiss (1934 with a Tornax-sidecar  Germany (Trier) - Cairo - Windhoek). Arndt Asmus (owner of ASCO) was inspired at two Tesch-Treffen to cross Africa with Thomas Buse. After he came back he crossed Africa again with his 19 year girl fried Constanze in a Land Rover 109. Now they have a big firm with a garage for cars and motorcycles and hire cars. Anrndt kindly offered his "Trans-Africa XT 500 to Bernd Tesch.
The Worst: Ovahimbas showed me a "track" back from the mountains. It was a river bed with extremely big stones which I had to climb fo a bout 5 kms. Worst route I ever had in Africa (111.111 kms).
30.-31.03.1996 Participant of the 18. Meeting for Mc-World-Travellers. B.T. gave a slides-show: "Namibia".

1996
Gut, Ted   
+ Kenya. Der deutsche frühzeitig pensionierte Lehrer Ted Gut (Tel / Fax 0049(0)8662-419990) vertritt in Deutschland die "Diani Marine Kenya" (P.O.Box 340. Ukunda Kenya. email: dimarine@africaonline.co.ke). Ted ist aber einige Monate pro Jahr in Kenya. Ted hat seit 1996 seine Leidenschaft fürs Motorrad-Reisen entdeckt und somit einen neuen Anlaufpunkt für Motorrad - Traveller in Kenya erdacht. Sicher ein schöner Anlaufpunkt zum Relaxen am Indischen Ozean. Der Schweizer Rudi Schlatter betreibt in der Nähe eine Motorrad-Werkstatt. Der Belgier Christain Colette eine Auto-Werkstatt. Der Inhaber von "Diani Marine" ist seit 1979 der Deutsche Thomas Sollacher. Er hat ein kleines mit Schilf gedecktes Hotel mit ca. 10 Zimmern (22 Zimmer) in Ukunda, ca. 30 km südlich von Mombasa, ca. 100 m vom Strand mit Palmen und einigen eigenen Schiffen.  Er bietet Unterkunft, Garten mit Bar, Swimmingpool, Grillplatz, Tauchen, Tauchausbildung, See- und Landsafaris und Urlaubsorganisation. Obwohl die Preise Zimmer-Preise niedrig sind, kann man dort auch sein Zelt notfalls aufstellen.

10.02.1996 - 0 4.06.1996
Büttner, Volker" (German, born 24.08.1967) and Ralf Schiffers (German, born 08.11.1965)   www.buettnervolker.de
+ Germany - Togo. Volker ( BMW R 100 GS) and Ralf Schiffers ( BMW R80 G/S) rode from Germany ( Colonia) to Togo ( Lome ) 14.000 kms.
Purpose of your travel: fullfill my dream
Route : Germany ( Colonia ) - ??? - Africa ( M orocco - Mauretania - Senegal ( Dakar ) - Mali - Ivory Coast - Ghana - Togo - and then ??
Highlights:   crossing the desert, reaching Dakar , people in Ghana
The worst: Malaria in Togo ,  Police in Bamako , lost the track in the desert
Book or publication : homepage.
My useful informations and TIPS for others: don't look back - there is always a light at the end of the tunnel (or desert)
Earlier experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: Egypt 1989 with streetbikes.
20.04.2008 1st summary.
20.04.2008 First request for update

01.06.1996 - 06.06.1997
Gregg J. Flower  (Danish)  http://www.gregg@forum.dk
+ Trans-Africa: Denmark >Egypt > Saudi Arabiy > Capetown.. 38 year old Gregg travelled on a new Cagiva W16, 600 ccm. 40.000 kms. The first 20.000 kms of the trip was done with Carsten Bistup also on a Cagiva W16.
Purpose: Visiting save the children projects. Writing articles and photography.
Route: Denmark - Germany - Poland - Chech Rep - Slovak Rep - Hungary - Romania - Bulgaria - Turkey - Syria - Lebanon - Syria - Jordan - Egypt - Saudi - Eritrea - Ethiopia - Kenya - Tanzania - Zanzibar - Kenya - Sudan - Uganda - Rwanda - Tanzania - Malawi - Zambia - Zimbabwe - Zambia - Namibia - Botswana - South Africa, where the bike was shipped home from Cape Town.
Most interesting country: Sudan.
Hell on earth: Egypt.

18.09.1996 - 01.07.1997
Türk, Sabine (born 15.12.1966) and Franz Löhle (21.12.1968, both Germans)
+ Transafrica: Germany - Morocco - Capetown. Sabine (YAMAHA XT 600) and Franz (BMW R 100 GS) rode ca. 25.000 kms.
Route: Germany (Kleve/Köln) - France - Spain - Morocco - Mauretania - Senegal (4 weeks stay) - Mali - Burkina-Faso - Togo (7 weeks of stay because Sabine had Malaria) - war in Zaire - borders to Nigeria closed because of rebellion in Nigeria - via freighter (with 50 refugees from Togo, Mali and Burkina-Faso we had to stay for 8 days on the ship) to Libreville in Gabon - by motorcycyle to Point Noire - Kongo - (5 weeks stay because of Malaria, borders closed to Zaire, could not get a ship) - with French surply-boat with a captain of Malaysia to Angola (Luanda) - by motorcycle through Angola to Namibia - Botswana - South Africa (Capetown).
Purpose of travel: It was the plan of Franz to visit his oncle in South Africa in Pretoria! He promised his uncle: If I come then by motorcycle ! This was 10 years ago since this time he collectes experiences in Europe, East Europe and North Africa. At first with his XT 500 and then with BMW R 100 GS. 6 weeks before he start to travel to Africa, we fall in love. At first Franz started alone as far as Agadir (Morocco). Then he didn't want to go on solo. So I (Sabine) took a flight to Agadir in Januar 1996 and we rode back to Germany on his bike. We decided to do this journey together at 18th of ocktober 1996. 3 months before we started the trip I (Sabine) made the driving licence for the motobike. Back in Germany: August 1997
The best: - All the little funnyest things with people and their friendship. Die fascinating landscape and our journey through Angola. Visit of Etosha-Parks in Namibia ! Krüger-National-Park ! All "Big Five" ! To reach Capetown by sunshine and a view to the table mountain. Visit of Straussenfarm in Cape Point.
The Worst: Eine Piste die mehr aus Bergen und riesigen Steinen bestand und unser Tagesdurchschnittskilometer 16 km/h betrug, haben die Mopeds mehr heben und schieben müssen in voller Montour und bei ca. 38 Grad!! Wurden aber durch Landschaftliche Highlights entschädigt!! - an accident with an einheimischen Frau in Mali. Hat mich (Sabine) 2 Tage ausgenockt ! Die Frau ist mir ins Mottorrad gelaufen. Ich war nicht sehr schnell (50 km/h) und die Strasse sehr breit. Völlig unerklärlich warum sie über mein Vorderrad springen wollte. Vielleicht wollte sie als Kühlerfigur mitfahren?? - Malaria in Togo, quälte mich 7 Wochen mit Malaria. Artzt behauptete ich hätte keine Malaria weil ich kein Fieber hatte!! Ein Trugschluss da es auch einheimische gibt die ohne Fieber reagieren!!!
Extrem schlechte Piste nach Piont Noire musten wegen Malaria aufgeben und den Zug nach Point Noire nehmen. Franz jetzt auch mit Malaria. Endlich durch einen Test Malaria bestätigt und erfolgreich behandelt, es folgten 2 Wochen mit starken Muskelschmerzen und ständigen Schwächezuständen. Habe uns erst in Nambia davon erholt! - In Pretoria bekommt Franz Windpocken mit hohem Fieber. Ca. 2 Wochen ausgenockt!! - 2. Unfall in Südafrika auf dem Weg nach Capetown. Bin (Sabine) Franz mit 120 km/h in die Koffer gefahren. Franz muste ein Ausweichmanöver wegen Schafen fahren!! Konnte, da leider völlig durchgefrohren und steif, nicht mehr mithalten. Hatte aber nur blaue Flecke am Arm und einen etwas steifen Nacken. Franz war o.k. Franz hatte in der Nacht darauf eine leichte Lebensmittelvergiftung!

02.11.(ab Garmisch) -  03.11.1996 an Tunis -  Tibesti -  15.12.97 (an Douala).
Tina Müller und Hans Ostler
+ Tunisia - Libya - Chad - Cameroun.Die für viele Jahre durch die politischen, auch kriegerischen Auseinandersetzungen gesperrte Nord - Süd - Verbindung Tunesien -  Libyen - Cameroun haben Tina und Hans erstmalig gemeistert. Die Idee kam Tina nachdem Klaus Därr das Tibesti mit einem Mercedes Geländewagen bereist hatte und die Reisen in Algerien durch die inneren politischen Auseinandersetzungen (Islamisierung) ohne militärische Sicherheitsbegleitung nicht mehr möglich sind. Heinz Holzmann war 1975/76 der erste Motorrad - Fahrer im Tchad. Tina und Hans sind die ersten, die Nord - Süd mit dem Motorrad gefahren sind, wobei Tina die gesamte Strecke auf dem Motorrad gefahren ist. Ein Begleitfahrzeug ist notwendig, weil es auf ca. 2500 km keine gesicherte Versorgung gibt. Die Fahrt eines solo fahrenden Motorrad - Travellers auf dieser Verbindung steht noch aus.
Ca. 1997 Tina and Hans gave a slide-show at the Tesch-Travel-Treffen
B.T.: First person and woman who rode by motorcycle Libya - Chad - Cameroun at all.

15.09.1995 - 03.02.1996
Dülks, Alexander Dr. (German, 27.10.68) www.duelks.de
+ Southern Africa.Alexander rode solo through Southern Africa with Honda Transalp 15.000 km and combined the trip with a 4 months practical medical training at the University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Route: Düsseldorf-Durban (ZA) (Fly & Bike), Naude's Nek-Pass, Qeenstown, Port Elisabeth, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, George, Oudtshoorn, Swartberg Pass, Prince Albert, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Blouwbergstrand, Lambert’s Bay, Springbok, Fish River Canyon (NA), Keetmanshop, Mariental, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Windhoek, Etosha National Park, Grootfontein, Caprivi Strip, Victoria Falls (ZW), Hwange National Park, Bulawayo, Matobo National Park, Great Zimbabwe National Monument, Birchenough Bridge, Hot Springs, Chimanimani National Park, Buffalo Range, Beitbridge (ZA), Pietersburg, Middelburg,
Volksrust, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, Drakensberge, Lesotho, Sodwana Bay, Durban, 15.000 km; Durban-Düsseldorf (D) (Fly & Bike)
Purpose of travel: Landscape, Freedom, Biking, Training at the University Hospital of Durban, ZA .
The best: Numerous, among all Royal Natal NP, Cape Town, Sossousvlei in Namib, Etosha NP, Victoria Falls, Chimanimani NP, student life in Durban.
The worst: Hit a cow in Natal. Ignored a Highway Patrol in Natal (I was lucky and got off, but stupid thing to do)
Book or publication: -
Useful informations and TIPS for others: see www.duelks.de
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: Iberian peninsula
Plan: 06.10.02 - 20.02.2003 SAmerika with Britta Duelks.

14.02.1997 - 23.12.1998
Noy, Paul  Trans-Africa (Dutch, born in Switzerland) http://www.paulnoyverlag.com

+ Transafrica 2 times. The The computer engineer Paul crossed Africa in 22 months N-S and S-N on a YAMAHA TT 600 with 54.000 km.
Route: Switzerland (14.2.1997) - Italy (Genova to Tunis with ferry boat) - Tunisia - Libya - Tchad (Tibesti) - Cameroon  - because of war in Congo and Zaire and a broken foot he flew to South Africa (Johannesburg) - Lesotho - South Africa (Capetown) - Namibia (3 weeks living with the Himbas) - back to South Africa (Capetown) - Swaziland - Zimbabwe - Mozambique ((the river Rio rovuma that builds the northern border got crossed on a small wooden-tree-boat) - Tansania - Kenia - Ethiopia - Sudan (By ferry boat from Wadi Halfa to Aswan) - Eygpt - Israel - Cyprus - Greece - Italy - Switzerland (23.12.1998).
05.08.1999: Paul told me today that he owns my book "Afrika Motorrad Reisen" but did not have contact before with me. Paul has finished his book about his in some parts incredible route but is still searching a publisher. He probably will come to the 22. Meeting of Motorcycle - WORLD - Traveller in 2000.
Purpose of travel: ........ fun and enjoy the experience. Since this trip I love tribes!
The best: -joining a stuntshow on own bike. Jumping through flames. -releasing a ship in front of the mozamican coast from a cable by a 27h divingjob where the water is 2000 m deep. -Made it!
The worst: rains in the borderregion from Ethiopia to Sudan got stuck for three days in the mud and after I made it to Sudan got in jail for suspected spy. Damned!
Book or publication: maybe coming. (watch my homepage)
Useful informations and TIPS for others: ....loose weight on your bike and don't expect to travel in luxury!
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours:... Motorbikes are the best way to travel! definatly!
05.08.1999: Paul told me today that he owns my book "Afrika Motorrad Reisen" but did not have contact before with me. Paul has finished his book about his in some parts incredible route but is still searching a publisher.
B.T.: Paul has a good stile of writing and hopefully will publish his book. He made this very rare route through Tchad / Tibesti.

01.06.1997 - 21.6.1997
Helmke, Anja (German, born 12.01.1970)and Gerd Middelmann (German, born 31.12.1962)
+ Germany > Tunisia. Gerd and Anja rode to Tunisia with Honda Africa Twin RD07 3,400 kms.
Purpose of your travel: Holidays and interest in culture.
Route:
Europe: 1,200 kms (Germany/Dortmund - France/Marseille), ferry (Marseille/Tunis). Africa: 1,000 km around Tunesia, ferry (Tunis/ Marseille). Europe: 1,200 kms (France/Marseille - Germany/Dortmund).
Highlights: the endless desert, so much sun :)
The worst: sunburn, stone throwing kids.
Book or publication (about your tour): -
My useful informations and TIPS for others: Need to talk French. Some words Arabian make friends. You find everywhere a cheap hotel.
My earlier experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: -
25.01.2008 1st and last summary

01.05.1997 - 16.06.1998
Lisa  Schibisch and Christian Frei   http://www.motorrad-fernreisen.de
+ Transafrica: Capetown - Cairo - Germany. The webmaster Christian and his girlfriend Lisa rode 39.000 kms in 13 months Capetown - Cairo - Germany with  two YAMAHA XT 600 E.
Route: Souht Africa (Capetown) - Swaziland - South Africa - Namibia - Botswana - Simbabwe - Mocambique - Malawi - Tansania - Kenia - Uganda - Kenia - Ethiopia - Eritrea (Asmara  - boat to Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) and by boat to Egypt (Suez) - Israel - Jordania - Israel - Greece - Turkey - Italy -Switzerland - Germany (Bottrop).
Earlier rides: Türkei, Tunesien, Europa, Alaska-Feuerland
Highlihts: Namibia. Mocambique. Ttanzania (Zanzibar). Eritrea. Especially to meet wild animals in nature.
The Worst: Too high prices in Nationalparks. Samburus, who attacked us with as speer and stones. Children in Ethiopia, who tried to jump in front of the motorcycle and threw stones. Dangerous minitaxis and goats and animals on the road. Traffic in big cities (Cairo, Kampala).

12.1998 + several months
Dienger, Kurt und Isabelle Jomini  (Swiss)
Africa. This couple plan to start in 12.1998 with two KTM an African Tour for some months.
28.05.01 No email

Way down: 18.04.1999 - 10.11.2001
Way up: 06.09.2002 - 10.01.2004
de le Vingne, Tanguy (Belgium, born 25.11.65)  http://tanguydlv.free.fr
Way down: + Transafrica: North- West- Central - East - South Africa.
Way back: + Transafrica: South- West- North- Africa..
Tanguy planned to ride solo around the world for 1.5 years with a Suzuki DR 600. He ended up riding around Africa for almost 5 years, 80.000km, most of it with Daniela Ruegsegger (Yamaha XT 600) who he met in Tanzania.
How many kms way down ????
How many kms way back ????
Route way down from Belgium (Brussels) - South Africa (Cape Town): Belgium (Brussels) - France (04.1999) - Spain - Morocco (may) - Sahara Occidental (june) - Mauritanie (june) - Sénégal (june) - Mali (Tombouctou+Dogon july) - Burkina Faso (July) - Ghana (august) - Togo (septemer) - Bénin (september) - Nigeria (october) - Cameroun (october) - Rep. Centrafrique (november) - Rep Démocratic of Congo (décembre) - Uganda (décember) - Kenya (1 + 2 + 3 jan - july 2000) - Tanzania + Zanzibar + Tanzania (02 juily-nov) - Mozambique (décember) - Malawi + Cape Maclear (january 2001) - Zambia (march) - Zimbabwé (april . may) - Swaziland (august) - Lesotho (september) - Afrique du Sud 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 juin 2001- september 2002
Route way up South Africa (Cape Town) - Belgium (Brussels): Way back: South Africa : Departure from Cape Town on Septembre 6, 2002 via Citrusdal (Sept 7), Garies, Vioolsdrift on Orange River - Namibian border (Sept 8-9) Namibia (Sept 10) Ai-Ais + Fish River Canyon (Sept 10-13), Hobas, Luderitz (Sept 16), Maltahohe, Windhoek - Namibia capital (Sept 19, Oct 1), Speetshoogte pass, Solitaire (Oct 5), Sossus Vlei - Dead Vlei -Namib desert (Oct 6-7), Swakopmund(Oct 8-12), Cape Cross, Mile 108 (1), Uis(1), Sesfontein(2), Puros, Orupembe, Sanitatas, Opuwo, Oshakati (4 nights: oct 23-27). Angola (Oct 27) Ondjiva(1), Xangongo(2), village between Mucope & Quiteve(2), Mulondo(1), Matala(1), Lubango(6 nights: nov 3-9), Namibe(3), Caraculo, Munkengo(1), Bibala, Lola(2), Quilengues(2), Chongoroi(1), Benguita(3), Baia Forta(3), Sumbe(1night, nov 24), Luanda - capital of Angola (nov 24 - dec 16), Caxito, Quifuata(1), Uige, Bungo(dec 23), Muchinga, Nsosso(Christmas), Damba(dec 26), Maquela do Zombo(dec 27-29). Dem. Rep of Congo (January 3, 2003) - Kinshasa (January 6-19) - Congo Brazzaville (January) - Brazzaville (January 18) - Gabon (March) - Franceville (March 5), Libreville (marsh 18 - april 12), Ntoum, Mela, Assok, Mbc, Medouneu(april 20) Equatorial Guinea - Bata (May 6) - Cameroon - Yaounde (May 27) - Bafoussan - Nigeria Kano (August) - Niger (Zinder)
>>>>- Algeria - Spain - France - Switzerland - Belgium.
>>it would be great if we could leave the much more and interesting information above. AND you could add the same information from your site for the rest of the route.
Purpose of travel: Must have been several of them; I can't remember them all; definitely freedom.
The best: Few magic seconds here and there.
>>>Nobody will believe this in such a wonderful long travel ! It would be very nice if you could inform your reasders with a few more short details
The worst: approaching too much freedom.
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: none
Useful tips for others: ???
>>>Here I and the readers would be very grateful for a short information how you managed to cross Angola and Congo.
1999 First contact
27.10.2003 Took this information from his website
28,02.2004 Next request for update

25.01.1999
Boyce Noel   NAMIB-KALAHARI SAFARI   Namibia - Botswana - South Africa http://www.freedomafrica.com
Noel, Chairman "Africa Touring Club" in Capetown, invited me to take part in a rallye like "Paris-Dakar" in the southern African hemisphere: 20 days from 2nd to 21st of september 1999 with maximum 200 motorcycles and 75 4WDs. The rallye gives the amateur on-offroad biker and 4WD enthusiast the opportunity to experience the thrills of an event without the inherent risks of  "Paris-Dakar" through three countries. I know SA and can promise you that you will like it very much! I will be in Australia but YOU can take part! Give me an email I will transport it to them. They offer Harley-Tours as well... 

06.03.1999 - ca. 09.2001
Goorberg, Chris van de  (Dutch)
+ Transafrica.
25.02.1999: The plummer Chris worked for 12 years. Last year he has been in Australia by backpacking. There he got the idea that there is more to see in the world and he should look more for adventure. Therefore he stopped working and sold his house. So far he toured a lot in Europa by motorcycle. He will leave Holland with YAMAHA XT 600 with Tesch-Equipment trying to ride to South Africa via Mauretania. He does not have any timelimite. He hopes to make a lot of friends "on the road" and is searching for a job for some time in South Africa. He will inform me by email.
Route: Holland - North Africa - Marocco - Mauretania - Senegal - Mali (Bamako - Timbuktou). After he travelled in West-Africa he met up with Tanguy from Belgium in Mali. With him he travelled in Burkina Faso - Ghana - Togo - Benin - Nigeria - Cameroon. From Ekang to Mamfe it took us 3 days for 80 kms. - C.A.R - we had to wait 4 days at the Garoea Bolai border - then had to turn back to cross 500 km more south. Visited the Pygmees - then crossed to Congo in december 99 in a piroggue - 1500 km in Congo, heavy roads but fabules - Christmas day we crossed to Uganda - there we split and I rode to nord east: Uganda - Kenia - lake Turkana - Tanzania - Malawi - here I broke my colourbone when I crashed in Nkota-Nkota gamereserve - Mozambique - Malawi - Zambia - Zimbabwe - Botswana - South Africa - here on the first day in SAfrica I had an accident and broke the moterbike and my other colourbone. The insurance from the one how caused the accident payed me a new XR 600 - with this I travelled in SAfrica - Swaziland - Lesotho and parked it some were when I flew to Madagascar. Last september he sold the bike in ??.
01.05.99 Chris informed me by email about the latest news about the route from Tanger - Layoune - Dakar. In "practise" there is no need to have a "Carnet de Passage" for motorcycles, although the official law changed 01.02.99 which means that you MUST have Carnet de Passage for Mauretania.
20.09.99 From Benin: He liked his mc-trip very much and rode 20.000 kms without big problems. In Guinee he broke my his back suspention and the frame, because "I was was so stupid to think I was in "Paris-Dakar-Rallye" speeding up too much and not seeing a very big hole.
29.10.2001 I am flying to Canada on the 8 of november for a new adventure. Many greetings to all travelers on this nice world.

03.03.1999 (SA, Capetown) - 18.06.2000 (Sweden, Stockholm)
Bovin, Anette (Swedish)  no www. In 2006 married as Anette Kay
+ Trans-Africa: Capetown > Cairo > Europe. Anette (31) rode solo on her SUZUKI DR 350 about  40.000 kms. Her originally plan was to travel 6-8 months but she came back after 15 months. Very broke...   because she would have liked to continue. "It was great !!! and really just positive travelling alone as a  female". I got to see "both sides".
Route: South Africa (Capetown) - Namibia - Botswana - Zimbabwe - Zambia - Zimbabwe - South Africa - Malawi - Mocambique - Tanzania - (crossing the Rovuma river) - Zanzibar - Tanzania - Malawi - Tanzania - Kenya - Uganda - Kenya (Nairobi - Marsabit) - Ethiopia (Moyale - Addis - circel in Ethiopia - Galabit) - Sudan (Khartoum - Atbara - along the railway to Wadi Halfa in company with an English guy) - Egypt - by ferry from Egypt to Greece and Italy - through a freeeeezing cold Europe to Sweden  (Stockholm)... Anette did not ride back via Syria because of lack of money.
The best: Etiophia (for its culture, scenery and "GREAT" roads for the SUZUKI).  Sudan (lovely desert and  amazing people! They stuff you with brown beans...). Namibia and Mozambique!
The Worst: Beeing very tirsty and burning the tung on the boiling water I carried on the bike. Struggling with the bike in deep sand having to take lots of luggage off before I could manage to lift it. So...I guess I can not really complain!!!!!!
B.T.: I thing Anette "is the first woman at all, at least the first Swedish woman who rode most of the parts of Transafrica Capetown-Cairo by her own without ONE friend". As far as I know "no women rode solo on a solo-bike that much in Africa". It is historical unknown (by missing dates so far) if  Theresa Wallach rode more kms on her historical ride England > Trans-Africa and back from Capetown > England in 1934/6 with her sidecar.
21.09.2006 Anette rode me from Malawi and added some deatils which I did NOT undertstand: Anette Bovin. So I thought that I should add that after that trip that¹s mentioned I drove down West Africa as well (on the same bike....And alone) Through Europe Marocko Mauretania Mali Burkina Faso and Ghana. That took me 4-5 months.
Havent done any adventures since really but I live in Malawi and dream about it all the time!!! Do go and pat my bike every now and then. Its really tired and I cant afford a new one...... Hope you are well. Anette Bovin (now married with new name: Kay)
21.09.2006 Request for update.

10.08.1999 - 13.09.1999
Möhle, Carsten (German, born 13.09.1964) www.bwana.de
+ Africa East-West. Carsten traveled on the wheelsteps of the first motorcar 11.000 km through Africa. Originally German Officer Paul Graetz did it in a Mercedes Benz build in Gaggenau 1907 within 630 days. Carsten used a Merceds Benz Unimog from Gaggenau build in 1967 and did it within a months.
Travel Companions: Wife Carmen, Daughter Jennifer, Mechanic Hermann, Camerateam Gerhard and Timo, Jounalist Anne.
Route: Africa 11.000 kms. Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania - Lake Tanganjika - Ujiji - MV. Liemba - Zambia: Mpulungu - Kasama - Serenje - Livingstone - Zimbabwe: Bulawayo -South Africa: Johannesburg, Botswana: Serowe - Maun -Ghanzi - Namibia: Gobabis -Windhoek - Swakopmund.
Purpose of travel: To compare the challenges from the original travel of the German "Indiana Jones" Paul Graetz in 1907 -09 with modern road conditions and "modern" vehicles.
The best: Welcome Back party >from Namibian Old Wheelers with digging for petrol and beer.
The worst: Malaria of three tour members while testing different anti-mosquito sprays.
Book or publication: Professionell VHS Video 100 minutes, 14 magazine Articles.
Useful informations and TIPS for others: on www.bwana.de
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: Caprivi + Somalia UN Missions, Zaire 1995.
B.T.: Casten produced a 60 mintes video which is available via his homepage.

10.10.1999 - + 09.08.2000
Bruns, Markus (German, born 12.08.1974) and Apie Jebli (Moroccan) and Wolfgang Staudenmeyer (= Staudy, German)
+ Europe - North - West -, East - Africa. They started with 6 motorcycles. After 3 weeks in Morocco three of our friends Hanno Hardebol, Jörg Schildt and Oliver Röber went back. Apie and Markus and Staudy rode togehter until Cameroun. Apie and Markus continued until Kenia. Markus rode one month solo more in East Africa. After 303 days through 18 countries and 28.000 kms he came back. It cost him ca. 25.000 DM. The petrol cost were between 1 DM and 3 $ US in Zaire. Markus lost 13 kg. "It is not my last big journey !"
Route: Germany - Spain - Morocco - Mauretania (with train to Atar - Chinguitti - Nouakchott) - Senegal (Dakar) - Gambia (Banjul) - Guinee (Conakry -Fouta Djalon) - Cote d´Ivore (Yamoussoukro - Abidjan) - Ghana (we celebrated Chismas and the millenium in Accra) - Togo (visit to Alice) - Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou - we met the Rallye "Dakar - Cairo" - Bobo) - Mali (Djenne - Mopti - Dogon - piroge to Tombouctou - Gao) - Niger (Niamey - Agadez - Air mountains - Zinder - Tschad (circled lake Tchad) - Cameroun (because Apie broke his leg we had a 6 weeks stop in Douala. Staudy flew from Douala including his bike to South Africa. We continued to Yaounde) - Centra Africa (Bangui - Zemio) - Zaire (1100 kms very bad tracks. After 400 kms Apie broke the same leg again - we continued to Uganda (Murchinson Nat.Park - Kampala) - Kenia (Nairobi - Apie flew back. Markus stayed another month: Lake Nakuru - Masai Mara) -Tansania (Ngorongoro - Zansibar) - Kenia (Mombasa - viseted Diani: Ted Gut (Thomas Sollacher).
19.07.1999: Plan Europe - North - West -, East - Northeast - Africa. The German Markus visited me for recomendation for his intended tour through Africa. He (with SUZUKI DR 650 SE) and his Moroccan/Dutch Mc-friend  Apie Jebli (with HONDA XR 600) will start in october 1999 for about 6-8 months. They intend to travel from North- to West-Africa via Mauretania. In West-Africa they want to make a huge circle through West-Africa before trying to cross Central-Africa. I told Markus that I have not heard about anyone who succeeded to reach East-Africa via Zaire/Rep. Congo since 1998 after the war. From East-Africa they want to travel south or northeast via Ethiopia - Eritrea - Sudan - Egypt. If they really succeed to ride all this ways it would be one of the most difficult transcontinent rides at all. The industry mechanic Markus flew back 05.08.2000 to the Voodoo Meeting in Zürich 7 Switzerland.
Publications: No.
Markus´Earlier experiences: Abi has crossed Africa already with HONDA 600 XR in 1992: Algeria - West-Africa - Central Africa - South Africa.
Markus has been two times in Libya: 04.10.-31.10.1997 with BMW R 100 PD. On this tour the cardan chaft broke after 1 week, but he travelled then with a sidecar. 30.10.-02.12.1998 with SUZUKI DR 650 SE about 6.500 kms. About 2000 kms off-road and 300 kms dunes including Wau en Namus.

21.10.1999 - 21.02.2000
Walter, Anne-Katrin (German, 22) and Martin Steiniger (German, 26)
+ North- and West-Africa. The student of landscapearchitecture Anne and the geometer Martin rode four months  on ONE  Yamaha TT 600 through North- and West-Africa. 17.000 kms from Cap Blanc (Tunisia) to Cape Coast (Ghana).
Route: Germany - Tunesia (Tunis - Leptis Magna - Ghadames - Sebha - Ghat) - Algeria (Djanet - Tamanrasset - HoggarRound - Niger (Assamaka - Agadez - AirRound - Niamey) - Mali (Gao - Mopt) - Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou - Bobo Dioulasso) - Ghana (Tamale - Kumasi - Accra).
The best: Invitation in a 40-people-family in Libya. Great desert in Libya/Algeria. Phantastical Hoggar. One-week-roundtrip in the Air mountains only for riding the dirt tracks. Spend some days in between the rallyecamp PARIS - DAKAR in Niamey. Meeting very friendly people in Burkina Faso.
The Worst: Problems with the f...ing back-rear of the bike. Money for everything in (black Africa) Niger/Mali. This meens the regions where no TOUAREGS live....
Book or publication: 11 articels in my local newspaper called "Freie Presse". 1 article in the April-Issue from "Syburger"-Verlag.
Useful information: Try to connect me via Bernd Tesch how to prepare the YAMAHA TT 600 for a long trip with two persons;.
15.04.1998 1st contact
07.05.2001 B.T. got this summary


Way down: 19.11.1999 - 30.06.2001 Cairo - Capetown
Way up: 16.09.2002 - 24.12.2003 Capetown - West- Nord-Africa -Tunis - CH
Ruegsegger, Daniela  (Swiss, 25.02.1974) http://tanguydlv.free.fr
+ Cairo - Capetown - Algier. The Swiss office-worker (still searching for the best "job") Daniela (25) rode solo Switzerland - Cairo - Capetown with a YAMAHA XT 600 E. 33,000 kms.
Route: Switzerland - Italy - France - Tunisia - Libya - Egypt - Sudan (1,5 months) - Ethiopia (2 months,  Gonder - Axum - Adigrat - Woldia - Lalibela - Bahir Dar - Addis Ababa - Arba Minch - Jinka - Lake Turkana) - Kenia (Nairobi) - Uganda - Rwanda - Tanzania - Mozambique - Malawi - Zambia - Zimbabwe - South African.
The best: The whole trip was a "genial experience"! I love "Sudan and Ethiopia"
The worst: Nichts an das ich mich erinnern kann. Bin immer noch bei bester Gesundheit, der Rest ist nebensächlich.
Informationen und Tips: Fahr los....und nimm dir alle Zeit der Welt!!!!
20.07.1999 First contact with Daniela.
24.07.1999 Recommendation in Zweifall.
30.06.01 Cape Agulhas (suedlichster Punkt Afrikas)
01.07.01 Cape of Good Hope.
11.2000 Report about Sudan Ethiopia in German mc-magazine "Tourenfahrer" and in Swiss Motorradzeitschrift "TOEFF (CH)"
06.09.2002 Daniela started to ride back trough Africa and plans to be in Switzerland in summer 2003. She is accompined by her Belgian friend Tanguy now.
Back-Plan: 15.09.02 until summer 2003 Zweiter Reise: Kapstadt – Schweiz im Duo.
Geplante Rückreise zusammen mit Tanguy de le Vingne: Südafrika – Namibia – Angola – Kongo – Kamerun – Nigeria - Niger – Algerien – Marokko (Reiseroute hängt von Sicherheitslage der jeweiligen Länder ab).
23.10.2003 Next request for update
26.10.2003 Hallo Bernd: Ja, sind immer noch on the road. Sind wie geplant gefahren:
Route: Suedafrika - Namibia - Angola - DRC - Congo - Gabon - Aequatorialguinea - Kamerun - Nigeria - Niger - Algerien. Sind inzwischen in Tamanrasset, Algerien. Keines der Laender stellte ein Problem dar.
Adam Shani hatten wir damals in Mozambique getroffen, lass ihn ganz lieb von uns gruessen. Die Route ist kein Problem und falls, dann wird er die Problemst- ???- Departure from Cape Town on Septembre 6, 2002 via Citrusdal (Sept 7), Garies, Vioolsdrift on Orange River - Namibian border (Sept 8-9) - Namibia (Sept 10) - Ai-Ais + Fish River Canyon (Sept 10-13), Hobas, Luderitz (Sept 16), Maltahohe, Windhoek - Namibia capital (Sept 19, Oct 1), Speetshoogte pass, Solitaire (Oct 5), Sossus Vlei - Dead Vlei - Namib desert (Oct 6-7), Swakopmund (Oct 8-12), Cape Cross, Mile 108 (1), Uis(1), Sesfontein (2), Puros, Orupembe, Sanitatas, Opuwo, Oshakati (4 nights: oct 23-27). Angola (Oct 27) - Ondjiva (1), Xangongo (2), village between Mucope & Quiteve (2), Mulondo (1), Matala (1), Lubango (6 nights: nov 3-9), Namibe (3), Caraculo, Munkengo (1), Bibala, Lola (2), Quilengues (2), Chongoroi (1), Benguita (3), Baia Forta (3), Sumbe (1night, nov 24), Luanda - capital of Angola (nov 24 - dec 16), Caxito, Quifuata (1), Uige, Bungo (dec 23), Muchinga, Nsosso (Christmas), Damba (dec 26), Maquela do Zombo (dec 27-29). Dem. Rep of Congo (January 3, 2003) - Kinshasa (January 6-19) - Congo Brazzaville (January) - Brazzaville (January 18) - Gabon (March) - Franceville (March 5), Libreville - Equatorial Guinea - Bata (May 6) - Cameroon
Yaounde (May 27), Bafoussan - Nigeria - Kano (August) - Niger - Zinder - Algeria (now in Tamanrasset) - Spain - France - Switzerland (23.12.2003)
24.06.2000 B.T.: There have been several woman riding Cairo-Capetown but as far as Bernd Tesc.h knows Daniela is the first woman who rode solo the whole distance without flying a part of the route. AND the woman who rode 18 months.
27.02.2004 Next request for update to Daniela.
23.03.2009 Next request for update to Daniela.
23.03.2009 Last summary of Daniela. Thinks of coming o the 51th. Tesch-Travel-Treffen or later years. ASked for the best picture.


01.03.2000 - 03.05.2000
Thiel, Bernd (German, born 24.03.1979)
Bernd with BMW R 1100 GS and TTTräger and TTTaschen 4 before he left.

Bernd in Libya.+ Tunisia - Libya - Algeria. Bernd rode solo 16.500 kms through North-Africa on a BMW 1100 GS.
Route: Europe: (Germany - France - Italy) - by ferry to Africa (Tunisia (Tunis) - Libya - (Ras Ajdir - Leptis Magna - Sabne - Mandara Lakes - Ghat - Sirte - Tobruk - Bengazi - Tripoli - Ras Ajdir) - Algeria (Nefta - El Qued - El Menia - In Salah - El Menia - El Qued) - Tunisia (Douz - Kairouan - Tunis) - Italy - Austria - Germany.
Purpose of travel: To find the really important things of life
The best: The nights alone in the desert
The worst: Three days very ill in a hotel
Useful informations and TIPS for others: If you have a problem with the route or you are not sure if you can the do hole trip (because everybody you told about your plans said "no chance" or "you are crazy") so you can ask Bernd Tesch. He builts you up.
B.T.: When I met 21 years young student Bernd for recommendation he was very high motivated to travel along way in Africa : Tunisia - Libya - Algeria (Djanet- Tam - In Guezzam) - Niger - and back up the east coast via Mauretania - Morocco. I told him how difficult this route is with a heavy BMW 1100 GS and alone.

SAHARA Plan ca. 09.2000 - 12.2000 about 3 months
Flower, Gregg. J.  http://www.gregg@forum.dk (Danish)
Libya - Niger - Ghana. The journalist Gregg (YAMAHA XT 600 Z) and a travel partner (his bike is still not sure) want to ride through central sahara, most likely from Libya crossing to Niger and ending in Ghana from where he will ship back to Europe.
Planned Route: Denmark - Hamburg - train as far south as possible - Italy - by ferry to Tunisia  - Lybia (route: as yet unknown)  - Niger via Bilma desert part Tenere and Agadez - Ghana - by ship / plane back to Denmark.
Purpose: To gather information and material for articles for scandanavian magazine "BIKE" and for slide/dias show. Also the trip will be filmed for television.
Experience: Total 3 years travel experience including Africa overland 1 year/40.000 km, Asia overland 1 year 35.000 kms, Australia NZ overland 20.000 kms. 1 year and shorter trips in South America.
Seeking: Any information concerning Sahara route, shipping, formalities, visas, contacts. Things of cultural interest, or whatever in English (Can read German). AND an eventual travel partner that is an experienced camearman. (DVD) and
who can handle a bike in sand.

16.10.2000 - ? April 2001
Bausenhart, Werner Ph.D. (Canadian, German born)
+ Around Africa. Werner (63) plans solo to circle Africa somehow with BMW F 650. Ca. 30.000 km.
Route: From Canada (Ottawa) to England (London) by air with bike - France - Spain - Morocco - Mauritania - Nigeria - Gabon - Congo - Angola (12.2000 already) - Namibia - South Africa (Capetown 30.12.2000) - Kenya - Egypt - Lybia - Morocco - Spain - England (London) to Canada by air with bike.
Book: planned.
26.09.2000 B.T. So far nobody has circeled Africa in TOTAL by bike. Werner has circeld North - and South-America already and published a book. See Bausenhart N-America.

01.12.2007- 2010
Carola Möller (German, born 17.03.1978) www.easyri.de
+ South-North-America Carola rides solo with YAMAHA XT600. 13.02.2009 So far 35.000 kms. First 3 month with Ralf Geister on a KTM 640
Route: Europe (Bike by ship. Mysel by plane from Hamburg to Buenos Aires) - South America (by motorcycle Argentina - Chile - Brasil - Bolivia - Peru - Equador - Colombia). With a saleboat from Colombia (Cartagena) to North America (Panama - by motorcycle to Costa Rica. 11.11.2008. Since dezember working in Costa Rica as a waitress. Plan by motorcycle to Alaska end of march.
Purpose of travel: Explore other cultures, enough time for myelf.
The best: Meeting amazing people. Local people and traveller from all over the world.
The worst: nothing so far.
Info:Compared to my first travell 8 months through Africa it is quite easy to travel in Southamerica. Bordercrossings are easy, no "Carnet de Passage". And the landscape changes from jungle to desert and everything in between. Now in Centralamerica it is a bit more difficult to cross boarders. More time, more money.
Important useful information for others: Dont plan your trip forever.... just start. Thats the hardest part. The rest you will figure out!
Earlier experiences: 5 weeksby mc to France/Spain (thats all) in ?? 19??. 03.10.2000 - 28.05.2001 South Africa.
31.07.2001: Carola wrote: I hope to meet you next to thank you in person, Bernd: Without the inspiration I got at your Mc-Meeting for World-Travellers I would never got the idea to travel through Africa. For this I want to take you in my arms again.
12.02.2009 1st summary
13.02.2009 1st request for Update
14.02.2009 Last update. Foto is coming next.

??.12.2000 - ??.??ca. Nov.2001
Käppel, Kerstin and Benno Grell (Germans)
+ Transafrica: Germany > Cairo > Capetown. Kerstin and Benno intended to travel one year. Finnaly they travelled two years with two BMW R 100 GS. Ca 53.000 km in the Americas (see there) and ca. 35.000 km in Africa. After they came home from the Americas they flew home for 4 weeks to prepare the bikes again, to get new passports and visas and started for Transafrica again.
Purpose of travel: A lot. It is fascinating to be "on the road".
Route: Tunesia - Libya- Egypt - Sudan - Ethiopia - Kenia - Uganda - Tansania - Malawi - Sambia - Botswana - SA - Botswana - Namibia - SAfrica - Germany.
The best: ?
The worst: ?.
Useful informations and TIPS for others: ??.
Earlier Experiences: ??.
31.10.01 1st summary from SAfrica. Kerstin and Benno have been 8 times since 1999 at the "Tesch-Travel-Treffen".
While they have been in Sudan / Ethiopia some friends emailed to be that they are afraid that they are lost. So B.T. emailed them as well but never got an answer until today from SAfrica. They are looking forward to take part in the next TTTreffen 12.-14.04.2002
16.03.2004 Next request for update
16.042004 Coming the 11th time to the Tesch-Meeting

19.12.2000 - 05.02.2001
Roberts,Glynn (British) and Jo-Anne (Canadian)
+ GB - Morocco - Spain - GB. Jo-Anne and Glynn made a winter holiday for sunshine on a BMW R1100 GS with Tesch-Boxes and Tesch-Rack.
Route: Ferry from GB (Porstmouth) to Spain (Bilbao). Over to the east coast and so down to Gibraltar for Xmas. Ferry to Ceuta and straight over to Meknes and Fes. Marrakesh, and we finally leave the rain behind. Happy New Year. Taroudannt and Tafroute then to Guelmime- where the Paris Dakar Rallye had a camp. We camped beside them. Unfortunately our friend Andy, who came on the Bilbao > ferry with us, crashed his bike on the road to Guelmime. He broke his wrist and took 10 stiches on his arm (taken care of by the P-D medical team) So we stayed in Guelmime getting both Andy and his Armstrong 500 back on the road. We took a side trip out to Fort Bou Jerif, following tracks to the beach and up the coast to Sidi Ifni. And a day trip to Tan Tan Plage. When Andy was up and running (with both the brake and the clutch on the right side) we head east to Tata in the Anti Atlas, most beautiful. On to Forum Zquid where we leave Andy to the paved road and we head out on the piste to Zagora. Half way across and we are suddenly thrown to the ground. Tesch pannier is ripped off (only hanging on with one bolt!) Zagora is very noisey after the desert so we move to M'Hid and stay for some days at a peaceful site in the palmeries. Piste north from Zagora toward Tingher and then up through Todra Gorge to Rich and Midelt. Off the bike again this time on ICE just south of Azrou. Back to Meknes and Chefchouen, then to Spain (Bilbao via Cadiz and Madrid). Look in on the Gueggenheim before the crossing and home....Repack and head to Daytona Bike Week on a borrowed BMW.....
03.2001 Glynn is a Round-The-World-Traveller. See there.


2001-2010

03.2001
Hoefer, Frank (35) Alex Schönborn (30) und Jan Hagedorn (32)
Tunisia - Libya. Plan: 03.2001: D - Italien - Tunesien - Libyen  - Tunesien - D.
Der Brauer Frank (Afrika Twin RD 04), der Werbe-Agenturist Alex (Varadero) und der Werkstoffmechaniker und gelernte Zweiradmechaniker Jan (RD 07) wollen einen Einstieg in Afrika. Über Ghadames wollen sie über die Piste nach Sebha, Mandara-Seen nach Ghat ins Akakus-Gebirge.
08.07.2000 They came for recommendation.

2004.2001 – 14.09.2001
Thomas Kaffanke (German, born 14.09.1970)
+South- and east Africa . Thomas rode solo ?? 5 months with a BMW R80GS Basic ca. 30.000 km.
Purpose of tour: Travel with my bike. Holiday. Meets with new people outside the Europe culture.
Route: South Africa (Cape Town – Garden Route, Krueger National Park, Lesotho (highest pup in Africa, ~ 3000 meter above zero), Durban - Cape Town) – Namibia (Lüderitz, Fish river canyon, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Windhoek, Etosha Naional Park) – Botswana (Maun, Okawango Delta) – Zambia (Victoria Falls, Lusaka) – Malawi (Lilongwe) – Tanzania ( Mbeya, Tanga, Dar es Salaam , Arusha, Moshi ) – Kenya (Nairobi, Victoria See, Masai Mara Park). Shipped the bike from Nairobi back to Germany with Kühne and Nagel.
Highlights: Ride with my bike trough the Namib. The silence in the dessert. Starry sky in the dessert. The people!
The worst: I got fleas in Namibia . Try to robbed me two times in South Africa. First time, Cape Town : I walked in the night close to the long street. Two guys stopped me, unmistakable the wanted to have my jacket and wallet. But sometimes I'm a lucky guy; the police was only around the corner. The guys run away. Second time, Johannesburg : The traffic light on the junction was red. I'm a good German and I stopped. Some guys came around and start to take the stuff from my bike. I rode away with my bike.
Earlier experiences: Some trips in Europe ( France , Corsica , Austria )
Book – publication about the tour : I did not write about the tour.
Info: I used for preparation this literature: "Durch Afrika" (Edition 2000 Klaus und Erika Därr); "Afrika Motorrad Reisen Ratgeber" (von Bernd Tesch Handbuch - 1988), "Motorradreisen zwischen Urlaub und Expedition" ( Thomas Trossmann Taschenbuch – 2000).
My useful information and TIPS for others: Take your time!!!
"Reisen ist tödlich für Vorurteile". Viele "Probleme" die ich in meinem Luxusleben hier in Deutschland habe sind eher nichtig und klein gegenüber den Problemen die die Menschen in Afrika haben. Fasziniert hat mich, das die Menschen obwohl, Sie selber wenig oder nichts haben mir immer geholfen haben oder bereit waren mit mir zu teilen. Ich würde das allen empfehlen so eine Reise durchzuführen. Ein tolles Erlebnis, das Gefühl der totalen Freiheit wird mich mein restliches Leben begleiten. Fernziel: Mit dem Motorrad von Nairobi nach Kairo zu fahren. "Problem": 4 Kinder, 1 Haus und natürlich meine Frau.
30.03.2009 1 st summary
30.03.2009 1 st request for update.
01.04.2009 Last update.

12.2001 - 01.2002
Etienne, MIke and ? (England)
Plan Transafrica. GB - Cairo - Capetown.
Route: Europe (GB - France - Germany - Czechoslovakia - Hungary - Romania - Bulgaria - Turkey ) - Asia (Syria - Israale - Jordan) - Africa (Egypt - Sudan - Ethiopia - Kenya - Uganda - Rwanda - Burundi - Tanzania - Maaalawi - Zambia - Mozambiqque - Zimbabwe - Botswana - Nambia - Swasiland - Lesotho - South Africa).

03.2002 + 1 Year
Bertels, Monika (German) and Fichard Schawn (South African)
- Transafrica. Both plan to travel back to South Africa by motorcycle BMW R 100 GS or YAMAHA XT 600 E.
28.04.2001 1st conatct
30.01.2002 They cancelled there trip and flew to South Africa. They still dream to do this trip once. They are willing to accepet motorcycle-travellers as guests in South Africa, Capetown: monikabertels@hotmail.com

??.??.2000 -27.05.2001
Sowers, Jim (British)
Transafrica: Capetown > Cairo.
27.05.01 1st email form Cairo with a picture
27.05.01 Send email back and asked for his block

27.01.2000 - 02.04.2000
Messmer, Adrian (Swiss, born 1996) and Carlo Casentieri (Swiss, born 1968). No home-page.
+ Transafrica. Adrian and Carlo rode with 2 Honda XRV750 Africa Twin 23.500 km through 15 African countries in 66 days. Because of their route-form they called their trip sometimes the big "S".
Route: South Africa - Mozambique - Malawi - Tansania - Kenia - Aethiopia - Sudan - Tchad - Kamerun - Nigeria - Benin - Burkina Faso - Mali - Mauretania - Morocco - Spain - France - Schweiz.
Earlier experiences: Several journeys: 1993: Portugal - Spain.02.04.1995 - 24.05.1996: Around The World. 1997: Ireland / England. 1998: Morocco. 1998: Denmark - Sweden - Norway (North Cape)
Cape). .
Purpose of Travel: Fullfill a dream that did not become true on the trip around the world Adrian did in 1995/1996
The best: We crossed the continent entirely overland once from South to North and East to West in only 66 days! Riding 150 km along the beaches of Mauretania north of Nouakchott.
The worst: We did not have more time. 650 kms riding on sand covered rail road tracks in eastern Sudan.
Useful tips for others: Although this sounds like a Transafrica-Speed-Record, I want to mention that Africa did not deserve at all to be rushed through that quick. This continent is wonderful and if I should do once again the same trip, not in 66 days, but in 66 months Book: Transafrica still in work in 2002.
B.T. 21.01.2002: This is the first Transafrica-Tour I know from south to north via Sudan - Tchad. I even do not know any motorcycle-tour total Transafrica north - south via Tchad - Sudan.

30.08.2000 - 07.11.2000
Gädeke, Martin (German, born 18.09.1974) and Mio Beck (German). http://www.break-fresh-ground.com
+ Germany > Egypt > Germany. We rode from Germany to Egypt and back with 2 Yamaha XT600, 11.500 kms.
Route: Germany - Austria - Slowenia - Italy - Greek - Cyprus - Israel - Jordan - Egypt = 8.000 kms. Back: Egypt - Israel - Cyprus - Greece - Italy - Austria - Germany 3.500 kms.
Purpose of travel: culture, sports, fun, riding experience (1st tour ever).
The best: Dead Sea, Petra (Jordan), diving the RedSea (Israel, Egypt), Egyptian culture (Luxor-Assuan, Egypt), Libyan desert (Egypt), Cairo (Egypt), Jerusalem (Israel), snow in the alps (Austria).
The worst: Bording the ferry back with 2 broken motorcycles. Accidents. Returning.
Book or publication: http://www.break-fresh-ground.com www.umdiewelt.de
Useful informations and TIPS for others: Big wheels keep on rollin'...
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: None, we have made our licences for this journey.
10.012.01 Found Martins report via www.pervan.de

15.06.2001 - 10.09.2001
Visscher, Jolien (Dutch, 21.12.1980) and Rene Willekes (Dutch, 01.01.1977) http://www.motormaniacs.nl
Southern Africa. Rene and Jolien rode through Southern Africa (7 Countries) on ONE BMW R1150GS. 15.000 kms in 10 weeks.
Route: South Africa - Namibia - Botswana - Zambia - Zimbabwe - Mozambique on ONE BMW R1150 GS about 12.000 kms.
Bike shipped to Capetown. Camping and self-cooking all the way.
Route: Namibia - Botswana -, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa. Bike shipped to Capetown
Purpose of travel: Meeting all the people of the world. Learning more about life itself an living our dream.
The best: Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Despite the empty shops and flodded roads the people are generous and friendly. Even better: watching elephants in Botswana from 5 meters without them noticing us.
The worst: Endless roads of deep sand and deep ruts. Riding 300 kgs of GS with two up is a nightmare. But we wouldn't want to have missed it.
Publications in Dutch MC-magazines and on http://www.motormaniacs.nl
Useful informations and TIPS for others: Contact me if you need information about shipping an contacts in Capetown, I speak German too!
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: Drove through many countries in Europe and loved every inch of it!

Ca. 22.09.2001 - ca. 20.11.2001
Tesch, Min (German) and Steffen Müller (German)
< Steffen und Min beim Dünenfight in Afrika.
Foto: Steffen Müller und Min Tesch.

+ Tunisia. Algeria. Min (25, son) with Bernd Tesch´s BMW R 80 G/S and Steffen Müller with YAMAHA XT 600 K rode about two months Europe - North Africa - Europe.
Purpose of travel: Min finished his study Dipl.-Media-Designer. Computer-filmer Steffen joint him for adventure. Both bought a new digital-film-camera to film in Africa.
Route: Europe (Germany - Switzerland - Italy) - by ship from Genua to Tunis - Africa (Tunisia - Algeria) - by ship from Oran to Alicante - Europe (Spain....Germany)
The worst: In Tunisia the just new bought digital-TV-camera broke down. Time too short to forget Europe and to be just "on the road". Kids around the motorcycle stole his sun glasses.
The best: A Tunisian techincan from TV repaired their camera one day after it broke down. Sitting on the high dunes of the Sahara part Grand Erg Occidental.
Impressions: Min did not like Tunisia because the whole country was full of rubbish. Even parts of the desert. Nothing was so new for me as o the first tour with B.T. in 1997.
Earlier experiences: 1997 three months overland from France via Black Sea - Caspian Sea - Russia - China with his father Bernd Tesch.

< Steffen und Min bei Dünenanfahrt in Afrika.

18.09.2005 Adam wrote to me from Lubumbashi before he rode this route:
After a crazy 5 hour border crossing in Kasumbalesa, and 45 USD, I'm in the Congo , Lubumbashi . Some nice Belgium expats took me in as there guest, and they are wonderful and helpful folk. According to them, the road is possible, but VERY hard. A permit for the mining are is a key for a safe passage, and they can help with that as well. Non of them drove this route in the passed 10 years. But due to their work, and born here, they are the best source of information.
The Only route is: Lubumbashi - Kolwezi : Tar road x 160 km > to Luena : piste rough but doable 211 km > to Kamina mountain piste the rough type 174 km > to Mwene Ditu : piste in very bad state km 330 > to Mbuji May : tar road km 131 > to Kananga : piste with some long sand passages km 175 > to Tshikapa :
sand all the way but manageable > to Kikwit : deep sand all the way > to Kenge : very damaged tar road but no problem > to Kinshasa : 140 km of deep sands then 120 km of nice tar.
Petrol is a problem, and no one drives this road. The soldiers will give problems, but you can talk to them.
Some May-may rebels are reported next to Kamina, and if they catch you, "its a certain death" the Belgians say.
They kindly offer to arrange a FREE flight for me and the bike to Kinshasa on 20/09/05...

16.11.2005 Adam wrote to me from Rumsiki, North Cameroon after he rode from Lubumbashi to KInshasa
somehow:
In Lubumbashi , I took your advice Bernd T., fueled my motorbike full with pertol, and started the ride to Kinshasa .
Before leaving, a Belgian friend got for me a "travel permit" to Katanga province. This was not enouth. By the official law, everyone needs a permit to travel in Kasai Oriental and Kasai Occidental provinces. These permits cost 250 USD etch!. They only issue it in Kinshasa , and it takes 2 weeks to be procced...
My plan was to travel with the Katanga permit in my pocket, and a smile on my face...
My route was: Lubumbashi - Likasi 120 km: Tar road > Likasi - Kolwezi 210 km: broken tar > Kolwezi-Tenke 80 km > Tenke - Les Biano 95 Km: deep sand > Les Biano - Lubudi 50 km: deep sand > Lubud i -Bukama 115 km: nice mountain piste > Bukama - Luabo 125 km: VERY hard mountain piste > Luabo-Kamina
55 km: big "pot holes" up tp 3 meters deep!!! >
Kamina: there is a nice Catholic mission to rest in > Kamina - Kaniama > 200 km: reasonable dirt road > Kaniama-Lubilanji river 18 km: pot holes, deep mud.
This is the Kassi province border- many police and army! > Lubilanji-Mwene Ditu 90 km: corrugated road > Mwene Ditu - Mbuji Mayi 168 Km: tar road. The road Kolwezi-Luena is totally destroyed.
I was arrested just before Mwene Ditu for not having the Kasai province permit, and after long hours I was "sent free". I had a contact in Mbuji Mayi , so I rested there for two days.
My girlfriend was already wating for me in Gabon , so I had no more time... I took a cargo plane (150 USD
total) to Kinshasa .
From Lubumbashi to Mbuji-Mayi took my 15 days of riding. The road is very bad, deep sand, and mountain piste. I slept in the villages, and in the nice catholic mission in Kamina.
Petrol can be found in all the towns mentioned above, for 3 USD in average. For some reason, one can pay in USD(cash)notes!! The Savanah is beautiful, and the locals are very nice. Most of then do'nt speek French or English, only Swahily and Lingala.
This area is very remote, and the only transport is made on bicycles. The train from Lubumbashi to Ilebo works, and take 4 weeks!!!
The season was good for bike traveling. The rains where just starting, and this made the sand tracks a bit more compact, so is was EASYER to ride.
> My girlfriend was already wating for me in Gabon ,
so I had no more time... I took a cargo plane (150 USD
total) from Mbuji Mayi to Kinshasa > from Kinshasa I took the ferry to Brazzaville > Oyo> West to Gabon (Franceville > Libreville > Ndjole. From here tar-route until Yaounde . > Bitam) > Cameroon (Ebolowa
> Kribi > Edea > Yaounde ).
Bernd T was asking: why did you take this much more difficult road instead of riding the normal road to Dolisie > Lambarene > Libreville ??????
Adam Shani answered: My route is a far better option.
On the road you described, there are many police. The route from Brazzaville to Oyo (400 km north of Brazza) is tar: Congo president was born in Oyo.... > from Oyo going west on a good track. The Border crossing into Gabon at Leconi is easy. And from Franceville the roads are good piste.
Info: Your Box and rack are working VERY WELL- thank you for that.
16.11.2005 Next request for more details of road conditions between the towns.
30.11.2005 Good more detailed infos came. And : My girlfriend just left me, and went back to Israel . She don't like the bike, and me, so we separated...it's hard, but I believe it's the best way for the two of us
30.11.2005 Next request for update

27.11.2005 Nigeria , Ibadan
The Algerian ambassador finally refused to issue me (as an Israeli) visa, so I packed my bike, and left Yaounde .
My route was:
-7/12/2005- Yaounde , Obala, Bafia, Bandjoum, Bamenda, Batibo. >> 440km. Tar road in good contition, and very cenice.
-8/12/2005-Batibo, Mamfe, Ekok(the Nigerian border)Ikom. >> 178Km, bad road all the way to the border. Deep beautiful jungle.
-9/12/2005-Ikom, Abakaliki, Enugo, Onitsha , Benin city, Ejebo-ode, Ibadan . >>752km, tar road all the way, many police checkpoints, but no problem.
I'm visiting some friends here, and enjoying a clean bed, and hot meals!!
The bike needs a service, and next week I hope ride to Benin republic, and then to Niger . From there i plan to ride the original plan top Mali , Mauritania , and Morocco

03.02.2006 Mali , S&eacute;var&eacute;, .
You - Bernd - where right-once I've crossed into Benin , things are different- more relaxed. And I can see other travelers...that's also a nice change.
My route from Ibadan/Nigeria, up to now:
-14/01/06 Ibadan , Abeokuta , Meko, Ketou( Benin ), Savé, Kokoro. 444Km Tar.
-15/01/06 Kokoro, Malanville(Niger), Sabongari. 481Km Tar
-16/01/06 Sabongari, Dosso, Dogondoutchi, Birnin Konni, Moujila. 416Km, Tar.
17/01/06 Moujila, Tahoua, Agadez. 500Km Tar.
20/01/06 Agadez, Moujila. 500KM Tar.
21/01/06 Moujila, Niamey . 402Km Tar.
26/01/06 Niamey , Ayorou( Mali ), Fafa. 290Km Tar to Ayorou, sand to Fafa.
27/01/06 Fafa, Gao, Bourem. 267Km-sand.
28/01/06 Bourem, Ber. 268Km-soft sand.
29/01/06 Ber, Timbuktu. 38Km- soft sand.
1/02/06 Timbuktu , Douentza. 225Km-sand in first 100Km, then badly coregated piste.
2/02/06 Douentza, Madougou, Douro , Bandiagara, Sévaré.
230Km- sand to Bandiagara, then tar.
>>>2 Tuareg dressed men jumped out of a bush, pointing
an AK47 rifle at me, signaling to stop. I just accelerated, and drove (FAST) away. This area is known for armed bandits, I was told here by some NGO's.
>>>the first pic is on the way to Timbuktu , the
second is climbing up the pass in the beautiful Bandiagara escarpment.

03.03.2006 Mauretania, Nouakchott : I will email you the route description Bamako > Nouakchott in a day or two, but first, I need your advice please.
As an Israeli, I need a visa to enter Morocco . I applied for one in the Moroccan consulates of Niger , Mali , and here in the Embassy in Nouakchott . The consulates told me that I need to apply in the embassy in Nouakchott , and here they said that since I'm riding a vehicle, I need to get it in the consulate in Nouadhibuo, at the border. So, I rode 500Km North to Nouadhibou, and was told to go BACK to the embassy in Nouakchott 500 km!!! This morning I came back to the embassy, and they said that I can only get in in it in Nouadhibou ! so it seems that i came to a dead end....

I'm staying in a nice campsite called "Auberge Sahara". The owner is a french born Muslim women, that married a Mauritanian man. They are very nice people, and treat me like one of the family. The campsite is full with interesting people, and I'm in good company.

26.03.2006, Senegal , Cap Skiring: The Moroccan embassy in Dakar also refused to issue me visa, even with an air ticket to Rabat ...
So I see no other choice right now but ship the bike over to Europe . The Grimaldi lines agent in Italy is very helpful. The next ship sailing from Dakar to Europe will be in 30/03/2006, and I have booked a place for me, and the bike, all for EU 1000, including meals. That's the best option for me.
With the time I had left, i decided to explore Senegal a bit more.
The Casamance area is very nice, with friendly people, and beautiful "bush". Here's the route I did from Nouakchott to Cap Skiring:
18/03/06 Nouakchott >Tiguent>Rosso>Keur Massene>Diama.
334Km Tar to Rosso, and good piste to the border in Diama. I took this route to avoid the hassles in Rosso border crossing.
19/03/06 Diama>St.Louis>Thiés>Dakar. 351Km, tar.
22/03/06 Dakar >Mbour>Fatick. 211Km tar.
23/03/06 Fatick>Kaolack>Farafenn>Senoba. Tar. The 100
ton(!!) ferry across the Gambia river was stuck for 5 hours, but eventually was fixed. The border crossing between Gambia/Senegal was relatively quick.
24/03/06 Senoba>Ziguinchor>Cap Skiring. tar to Zig.
piste to Cap S.Tomorrow I'm planing to ride back to Dakar via Banjul , and on the 30th board the ship to Europe .

11.04.2006, Holland , Utrecht : After 9 days at sea, on board of the cargo vessel "Repobblica Di Amalfi", I disembarked in Hamburg , Germany .
The Sailing route has been changed at sea. I was told it might happen, and had the option of staying on board for another 9 days, to reach Portugal . But I had enough sailing. From Hamburg I road the Motorbike to Utrecht , Holland .
There are a lot of things to organize; bike insurance, changing tires, and so on. It will all be ready for the Tesch meeting I'm sure.
If there's any help I can offer you with the bikers meeting, please let me know. I will be happy to help in any way. Take care, and see you soon.
Adam.
21.-23.04.2006 28th Motorcycle Meeting for
World-Travellers: Adam was my special guest !
The African leg of this trip started in Krugersdorp South-Africa on 16/07/2005, and ended at 30/03/2006 in Dakar , Senegal .
The Europian leg is planed to take about 3 mouths more from now, general destination in Nord Cap in Norway .

08.05.2006. Spain , Segovia : ..greetings from Segovia , Spain . Thank you Bernd, for the wonderful bikers meeting you have arranged, and made me your special guest. It was a real honor for me, and I will never forget it: standing in-front of all these committed travelers, and telling them my story... And for all the nice and interesting people I have met during that weekend.
From the meeting I have traveled to Leonberg in Germany , to meet a very nice "Sandra". We have met in Zambia , and kept in touch ever since.
Now, I'm on the way to Gibraltar ... Europe is another adventure, and I was happy to discover that I can camp here by the side of the road, and travel like I did in Africa . I'll up date you as always, about the route from Gibraltar to Nord Cap, and I hope we can meet again in a few weeks. I would love that.
B.T.: I accompanied Adam from before he started his Transafrica-Tour until "he made it in time to participate the 28th. Mc-Meeting for world-travellers". He is as nice as we all should be.
BT.: I have never heard that a man from Israel rode Transafrica. In any case this is a rarity ! I suppose that he is the first one - and I am relatively sure about this ! Transafrica: South > Central > West > North
BT.: I have never heard that a man from Israel rode Transafrica. And not Capetown > Northcape! In any case this is a rarity ! I suppose that he is the first one - and I am relatively sure about this ! Transafrica: South > East > West > North > Europe from Spain to Nortcape.

01.11.2005 - spring 2007
Wellein, Martin (German, 25.09.1978)
- Around Africa. Maschinenbaumeister Martin plans to travel solo around Africa with a Yamaha TT600 Belgarda, ca.40.000 kms. Special: He travels most of the time with a surfboard.
Purpose of your travel: It was a dream to surf around Africa and do it by a bike and to meet my buddys in Namibia and South Africa again
Route: Europe (Germany - Austria - France - Spain) - Africa (Marocco - Sahara Occidental - Mauritania - Senegal - Guine Bissau - Mali - maybe Cote d´Ivoire - Burkina Faso - Benin - Nigeria - Cameroun - Gabon - Rep. Congo - Rep. dem du Congo - Angola - Namibia - South Africa. Then I want to stay minimum 4 months in Capetown to be with my buddys and to work there. Route backwards: Around september 2006...: Swasiland - Botswana - Zimbabwe - Mocambique - Tanzania - Kenya - Ethiopia - Eritrea - Sudan - Egypt - Lybia - Tunisia - Algeria - Marocco - Europe (- Spain - Portugal - France - Germany).
Highlights: I want to find myself. Surf, surf, surf. Freedom. Sun. Meet my Buddys. Climbing the Spitzkoppe, Drakensberge, Kilimanjaro... Having a bath in the Okavango delta......)
The worst: I´ll find it out
Book or publication (about your tour): I am thinking about it
Useful informations and TIPS for others: not yet...
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: none
10.06.2005 1st information
10.06.2005 1 st request
19.06.2005 2nd request for update.

ca. 01.04.2006 - Dauer ca.: 1 -2 Jahre
Achenbach, Tilmann (German, birthday 18.07.1976)
- Plan Transafrica Cairo - Capetown. Til plans to ride solo with a KTM LC4 Transafrica with a Kibbuz-stop in Israel. Adventure. Ca 40.000 kms.
Purpose of your travel: Die Welt sehen. Traum verwirklichen. Fun. Meeting the best girls (Israel).
Route: Europe (Germany - Austria - Switzerland - Italy - Greek - Turkey) - Asia (Syrien - Jordanien - Israel)- Afrika (Ägypten - Sudan - Äthiopien - Kenia - Tansania - Malawi -Sambia - Zimbabwe - Botswana - Namibia - Südafrika). Per Flugzeug entweder zurück oder weiter nach Südamerika.
Highlights:
The worst:
01.08.2005 Last summary
03.08.2005 Til came for recommendation to plan his route.

< Foto: Corinna "off road" in Morocco

21.10. - 12.11.2005
Ziebarth , Corinna (German, birthday 10.08.1977)  www.CoWrinna.de
+ Morocco. Corinna  planned  travelling to Maroc on BMW R1200GS (modified by Wunderlich) round about 6.000kms in Maroc with three guys from Germany (Michael Paetsch, Lothar Bertels and Joerg Niemczyk). Finally she rode ca. 7000 kms.
Purpose of your travel: Holiday , motorcycle riding fun and getting impressions about different culture, nature, life and language of native people. Photography. During my time at Maroc the "Ramadan"-period finished with a big festival. I learned many things about differences between religions (Islam - Christians). Talking to/ meeting people during the trip.
Route : Düsseldorf/Germany - Narbonne/France by DB Autozug (Nighttrain) - Overland Narbonne/France - Barcelona/Spain - Port of Almeria/Spain. By Ferry from  Almeria/Spain - Nador/Maroc (6 hours passage). I visited during my trip: Guercif (Souk), Missour, Midelt, Georges du Ziz valley, Er Rachidia, Source Bleue de Meski, Erfoud, Merzouga, Erg Chebbi (dunes), Mecissi, El Mharch, Zagora, Vallee du Draa, Agdz, Bou-Azzer, Tazenakht, Ait-Benhaddou (Kasbah castle), Kasbah Telouet, Tizi-n-Tichka, Marrakech (Souk, Medina etc.), Afourer, Jbel Tazerkount, Jörg GranderathOuaouizarht, Beni-Mellal, Azrou, Meknes, Larache, Tanger. Ferry from Tanger/Maroc to Tarifa/Spain (35min. passage) - overland to Moux/France - Back to Düsseldorf/Germany by Motorcycle Transport Company (Bike in a Box).
Highlights: Different landscape like Desert, Mountains, Oasis, Nirvana. Meeting very friendly people. Simply travelling by motorcycle. I bought my first Berber-carpet. Learning some arabian words. Friendship to other traveller I met in the desert. I learned how to ride on sand with R1200GS...and I needed 1,5hours for 100m... ;-), Marrakech Jemaa El Fna & Souk, The de Menthe. Friendly and helpful native people...
The worst: Missing the character strenght of my group members for a trip like this. Many discussions, many changes and misbehavieour on- and offroad. Missing the capability of alternativ group travelling.  
Book or publication : none, only on my website and comercial websites www.cowrinna.de
Useful informations and TIPS for others: Actual information for travellers on website of Auswaertiges-Amt or Travel-Meeting. Otherwise call me or contact me on my website. Some tips will be nominated on my website. It is easy to travel Maroc in group or alone on motorcycle.
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: Since 1998 Northern Europe (NO, SE, FIN, DK), Middle Europe (DE, NL, BE, LUX, AT, CH), Southern Europe (FR, ES, PT, AND, IT, Sicilia) , East-Europe (SLO, HU, SK, CZ, EST, LT, LV, PL), most countries of the EU, The Alpes, Romania, Croatia.
13.10.2005 1st summary
12.11.2005 Last update. 13.10.2005
Best Photo: -> I will send you my best Photo after finishing the trip!

15.09.2006 - August 2007
Schmitt, Natascha (Germany, 09.04.1968) and Jason Johnson (USA, 20.01.1972)  website coming soon
- Africa north - west - east. Natascha and Jason plan to ride with two BMW F650 GS-Dakar.
Purpose of your travel: Free your mind!!!
Planed route: Europe (Germany - France - Spain)  - Africa (Morocco/Sahara - Mauretanian - Senegal - Mali - Senegal - Mauretaniea - Morocco) back to Europe - Africa (Egypt - Saudi Arabien - VAE)
Highlights: Rallye Dakar
The worst: We will see ....
Book or publication (about your tour): later
Useful / important informations and TIPS for others: ....?? About the preparation already ???
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours (Jason and Natascha): France and Spain (8000Km/2 weeks) with BMW F650 GS-Dakar; Car-tours (Jason): Marokko/Sahara (4 weeks); Per feet (Jason): Mexico, Culumbien, Argentinien, Kuba, Haiti.
12.06.2006 1st update
21.06.2006 Both visited our private party "Sommersonnwendfeier".

10.09.2006 -open End
Sabel, Claudia (German, birthday 02.02.1979) R80GS  and Steffens, Werner (Geman, birthday 27.06.1975)  R100GS
- Transafrica. Claudia (BMW R 80 GS) and Werner (BMW R 100 GS) plan to transfer Africa. Both are very wellknown to Bernd Tesch.
Purpose of travel: To travel. We want to see West-Africa again. Algeria is impossible. So we have to travel via Mauretania.
Route: Europe (Germany - ????) - Africa (Morocco - Mauretania - Senegal - Guinee Conakry - Mali - Burkina-Faso - Ghana - Togo - Benin - Nigeria - Kamerun - Congo - DR Kongo - Angola - Namibia - South Africa
Highlights : We will see....
The worst:   .......
Book or publication (about your tour): We will only keep contact by email.
Useful /important informations and TIPS for others: Walter+Julia www.globebiker.de     Ralf+Eva www.motorradnomaden.de Adam Shani: www.berndtesch.de (on this site !)
EarlierExperiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: .Oktober 2002 - Januar 2003 Tunis- Lome on this website
21.04.2006 Claudia and Werner have been participants of the Motorcycle-Meeting for World-Travellers several times.
07.05.2006 Last summary
18.05.2006 Next request for update. Please write more details of the route in Europe = countries and in Africa some towns behind each country.
21.06.2006 Werner visited our private party "Sommersonnwendfeier".

2006-2007
http://www.afrika-offroad.de/
- One year overland-tour by car.
27.04.2007 1st information by Esther Zierau
03.05.2007 1st request to the website-owner for update
28.12.2007 This guys do not want to offer a short overview about their tour here. For whatever reason. May be they are famous...
May be I leave this here because they rode a very seldom route.

??.05.2007 - ??.??.2007
Boorman, Charley und Ewan McGregor
+ Transafrica. With two BMW R 1200 GS prepared by TOURATECH.
Route: 25.000 kms. Europe (Great Britain - Scotlands northern Point) - Africa (Libya - Ehtiopia - Uganda - Tansania - Namibia - South Africa (Capetown) - by plane back to Europe..??
Books and publication:
www.longwaydown.com28.12.2007 Sold 900.000 DVDs of "Long Way Down " and 1,3 million books.
28.12.2007 The rights of the tour are payed by BBC.
28.12.2007 Leserbrief von B.T. an bikersjournal.de

Falls Ihr in bikersjournal.de eine Leserbriefseite habt, dürftet Ihr mit meinem Namen plus website folgendes gerne publizieren:
Die Weltumrundung von Charley Boorman und Ewan McGregor in 2004 und ihre Transafrika-Tour 2007 waren eigentlich nichts Besonderes: Die Motorrad-Weltumrundung war entlang der einfachsten Route. Die Transafrika-Tour war etwas anspruchsvoller. Genug Geld. Die technische Vorbereitung machten andere. Gesponsorte Motorräder mit Ersatz-Reparatur-Garantie. Und eine Filmmannschaft mit allem Komfort immer im Auto dabei.
Das einzige Spektakuläre daran war die Presse-Arbeit. So ist dieses ein erneuter Beweis dafür, dass man nichts Besonders mit viel PR enorm verkaufen kann.
Die zwei würden dem zustimmen, würden sie diese website kennen:
www.berndtesch.de Dort findet man Zusammenfassungen über 250 Weltumrundungen 1912-2007. Und die
Eroberung ganz Afrikas mit dem Motorrad 1903-2007.
Unter www.tukutuku.de findest Du 1000 weltweite verschiedene Motorrad-REISE-Bücher 1910-2007 über solche Reisen

31.05.2008 -29.06.2008
Middelmann, Gerd (German, born 31.12.1962) and Hartmut Roke (German, born 15.09.1970)
- Germany - Morocco. Gerd (Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom) and Hartmut (BMW R 100 GS PD) plan to ride to Marokko 8,000 kms.
Purpose of your travel: Holidays and interest in culture, lokal meals, Off Road.
Route: Europe: 3,000 kms (Germany/Dortmund - Spain/Gibraltar), ferry (Spain/Gibraltar - Maroc/Tanger). Africa: 2.000 kms around Maroc, ferry (Maroc/Tanger - Spain/Gibraltar). Europe: 3,000 kms (Spain/Gibraltar - Germany/Dortmund).
Highlights: nice oasis in the heat and a bit off road.
The worst: I don't know
My useful informations and TIPS for others: Need to talk French. Some words Arabian make friends. Be prepared for all weathers and a lot of fine sand coming from the side and find everyplace in your luggage...
My earlier experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: See above.
25.01.2008 1st summary.

01. 07 .2008 - 30 . 09 .2008
Boyd , Graham ( South African , birthday 3.9.1964 )  and Jean Lin ( American , 17.10.1966 )   no homepage
- Transafrica: Capetown - Cairo - East Europe - Belgium. I'm planning to ride from Cape Town to Europe on an BMW F650GS PD, with Jean travelling with friends in a 4x4 .
Purpose of your travel: Seeing a swathe of Africa today, having a once in a lifetime experience.
Route : Cape Town - Mozambique - Malawi - Tanzania - Kenya - Ethiopia - Eritrea - Sudan - Egypt - Jordan - Syria - Turkey - various Eastern Europe to Brussels.
Earlier experiences of big mc-tours??
28.01.2008 last summary

01.06 - 31. 08. 2008
Neubauer, Uwe (German, birthday 15. 11. 1963)
- Plan to travel around Tanzania. Uwe plans to travel solo around Tanzania. He will probably buy a bike in Tanzania from a local dealer to avoid costs and problems wirh police and customs when transporting the bike from Germany to Tanzania. Bike type not yet known.
Purpose of your travel: Nature- and wildlife photograpy.
Route: Not exactly known yet. Probably starting in Dar es Salaam, then south and a full circle round the country clockwise back to D. e. S.
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: Not much, mainly Eastern Europe. I am doing this not for the bike riding but to get to remote places, otherwise hardly accessible. The bike is but a means of transportation.
16.02.2008 1st summary

15.03. -01.06.2008
Jager, Lodie de (German, born ??) http://www.naboom2germany.co.za
+ Transafrica Capetown - Cairo - Germany.
Purpose of tour: ??
Route: Africa (South-Africa - ??? - Sudan - Egypt - ??) - Europe (Italy - Germany)
Maps of my intended route: My route through Africa as viewed on Google. Cape Town - Namibia - Botswana - Naboomspruit (27 November '07 - 7 December '07). South Africa. Botswana. Zimbabwe. Zambia. Malawi. Tanzania. Kenya. Ethiopia. Sudan. Egypt. Tunisia.
..Und jetzt ist der Traum fast vorbei. Ich bin mit meiner KLR 650 am 15. Maerz weg aus Suedafrika und kam am vergangenen Sonntag den 1. Juni in Deutschland an.
The best: Die Tour ueber Afrika, und vor allem die Sudan, war ein einziger Hoehepunkt. Das einzige Problem am Motorrad? Eine Sicherung musste ich in Italien ersetzen. Die Tour ueber Afrika, und vor allem die Sudan, war ein einziger Hoehepunkt.
The worst: ??
Naechsten Freitag fahre ich weiter, Richtung Russland.
23.02.2008 1st contact form South Africa by ordering books "Transafrica".
06.06.2008 Lodie wrote me that she made it.
10.06.2008 2nd request for update




15 March 2008 – 22 June 2008
Andela, Sibble "Sib" (South African Male born 1940)
South Africa (Cape Agulhas) – (Norway) Nordkap. VESPA 250 GTS ie automatic. This was my first MC ever, I bought it in Oct 2007 and got my licence in Feb 2008.
Purpose of the tour: I set out to do the trip in 100 days and to arrive in Nordkapp and my 40 th Wedding day as tribute to my late wife. My son and daughter joined me on that day and we drank a champagne toast to her and celebratory toast to the completion.
Route : South Africa - Namibia - Zambia - Malawi - Tanzania - Kenya - Ethiopia - Sudan - Egypt (I wanted to go via Jordan , Syria , Turkey , Bulgaria , Romania , Slovakia but Jordan refused to let my scooter in). So Israel - Italia - Switzerland - Germany - Czech Republic -  Poland - Lithuania - Latvia - Estonia - Russia - Finland and Norway.
Return Route : Norway - Sweden - Denmark - Germany - Nederland - Belgie - France and England , the fly home to South Africa.
Highlights : Friendliness and hospitality of people on both continents. No unpleasantness at any stage at all from any person. Not a single moment of trouble with the VESPA.
Low Point: Physical tiredness in the desert of Susan.
Sorry I do not have a website but any person may contact me via berndtesch@gmail.com. My journal with photos is about 256MB in size.
I was lucky to meet Lodie de Jager, who also appears on Bernd's web, in Wadi Halfa, Sudan. We travelled together all the way to Bodenzee Germany before parting. Another chance meeting was the Rolls Royce team of Mike and Jeanette van Ginkel who travelled from Cape Town to London with their Silver Spirit. Hope to meet you. I am planning a VESPA trip Lisbon to Magadan for next year.
15.11.2008 First contact and very good summary with fotos.

?? 08.2008 - Beginning of april 2009
Markus Hagmann (Swiss, Born ??) and Janine and Anisa and ?? Ein Fotostream von Markus: http://flickr.com/gp/markushagmann/3nu04c
- Transafrika. CH-Nord-West-South. Markus plans with the woman Janine and two man to cross Afrika with ? motorcycles.
Purpose of your travel: ........??
Route : Europe ( Switzerland - Germany (Hamburg) ?? - Spain) - Africa (Morocco - Westsahara - Mauretanien - Guinea 1 - Liberia - Guinea 2 - Cote d`Ivoire - Ghana - Togo - Mali (2) - Burkina Faso - Benin - Nigeria - Cameroons - Switzerland for four days - Cameroons - Rep. Kongo (Brazzaville, 10.03.2009) - Kongo (Kinshasa)- Plan in april 2009 Transangola North-South - Namibia - South Africa (Capetown). Markus plans to ride up to Cairo on th east side.
Highlights : ?
The worst: ?
Book or publication : Foto-stream in internet
Useful / important informations and TIPS for others: Tip: Für Angola ist es übrigens in Abuja, Nigeria und in Matadi möglich ein Transitvisum zu bekommen
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: ...
11.03.2009 1st summary by Bernd Tesch
11.03.2009 1st request for update

Will be continued. Please send me your Mc-Travel-information as the block above.

Bye Bernd Tesch in Germany


In this Blocks below informations are missing. Who can help?:




Money, Charlie (England) http://www.charliescaper.co.uk
- Plan Transafrica.
With a Cagiva E900 Elefant
charliescaper@eudoramail.com
03.10.2001 1st. information by Grant Johnson: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com
03.10.2001 1st email to them.
??.10.2001 1st answer and contact

Tin, Hajlte and Nina Rasmussen with children Emil and Ida (Danish)
+ Transafrica. Capetown - Cairo. Die dänischen Motorrad-Reisenden und Motorcycle-Buch-Autoren von großen Reisen Hjalte Tin und Sohn Emil (16, ohne Führerschein von Capetown nach Cairo, 1992, jüngster Transafrika-Fahrer) und Tochter Ida (13, jüngste Transafrika-Travellerin)
11.-13.04.1997: Visitor and gave kindly a slides-show at "19. Moto-Fernreise-Treffen" about their Transafrica -tour with the family.

Mayr, Gerry (German, born 1966)
In 2002 he started with a 250


First list with summaries in Internet about "Africa by Motorcycle". I would be grateful if you could help to keep this update ! So far you find many language and grammar mistakes inside because of lack of time. Pardon. Will be corrected and updated with more Travellers in future.




Documentation:
1968 Start of search of Transafrica-Travellers for my own tour with VW-Bus in 1970 / 71.
1970 -76 Finding more and more Africa-travellers and literature
1992-1994 More intensive search of motorcycle-travellers because of my book "Motorrad Abenteuer" in work by phone, fax and personal visits.
1995 - 1997 First tries to find and contact Africa-Motorcycle-Travellers by email.
1998 Start of my website. Not knowing what will come out of it in future.
02.1998: A part of this information you found already under > http://www.berndtesch.de > German or Engl. version > News
28.05.2000: Start of this collection first time in internet under > http://www.berndtesch.de
01.08.2001 Visitor 50.000 on my homepage Andreas Goetzenich.
31.10.2001 138 KB
13.01.2003 178 KB
22.03.2004 201 KB Visitor ca. 94.000
28.03.2005 217 KB. Ca. visitor 109.00
10.11.2005 227 KB Ca. Visitor 120.000
19.01.2006 622 KB
29.03.2008 717 KB Ca. Vistor 155.555
31.03.2009 983 KB 141 Sek, Visitor ca. 169.500.