personaly, I think the most appropriate way to provide any kind of support to Africa is just to visit places ad spend your money there, particularly with village shops and traders. This helps to promote commerce, entrepreneurship and injects newmoney into the region.

There is a great deal of free aid, money and western services being injected into Africa which only benefits the charity workers, NGO organisations and deprives Africans of the opportunity to do things for themselves - hence they never get the start they would wish to build thier own economies and catch up.


Not knocking your plans by the way, good luck to you, and hope you get a bike! (by the way, might be worth bearing in mind the kind of bike you take if you plan on donating it - you may be leaving them an expensive problem if it's a BMW, Yamaha or KTM, spares/tyres may not be obtainable?)

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www.simba4x4.com

Thank you eightpot for your comment.

The big problem is the looting that Africa suffers from the major international powers. Africans are not stupid or are overdue, they are simply overwhelmed by the global economic system (as in the rest of the world) established throughout the world. Africa is a clear reflection of that state is the world we live, a world based on money as the main value.

The bike will be sold or auctioned in South Africa and the money will go directly to RfH.

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RIDE TO ROOTS Africa

Hi somaLEE,

Good luck with the planning and the journey when it happens! Respect and a smile go a long way down the west side of Africa (and a few French lessons will also help!).

Wrt the choice of bike: there's a KTM dealer (Toni Togo) and great mechanic (Didier) in Lome, Togo. Other than that, you'll find Yamaha in Douala, Cameroon - thereafter it's a long way down to Namibia/South Africa for a service.

If I were to do the trip again I'd probably do some work on the sub frame of my XR400R so that it can take some luggage and an extra can of fuel. Very seldom can you ride as fast as fuel injected bikes can go and often they can be a bit heavy for the more adventurous places.

There are lots of Chinese and Japanese made bike is west Africa - I'd go for something simpler than the 'marketing machine' brands.

Whatever bike you choose or receive in the end, you'll have a great adventure!

PM me anytime.

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"The fates lead him who will; him who won't they drag." - Anon

Hi Gottoride! I'm sorry for the delay but last months I have been a lot of work and I forgot some things, like take a look at this post!

Well, in principal I'm planning the Est side itinerary, but I'm thinking about doing the complete turn to the continent. It depends on the Libya situation...

It would be nice to do the trip with my BMW R1200GS Adventure.

Thanks for your help!!!

AH! The Ride To Roots english version website is online!!!!
http://www.ridetoroots.com/en

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RIDE TO ROOTS Africa

Today has arrived the equipment offered by REV'IT! to sponsoring Ride To Roots project.

Thanks REV'IT!

REV'IT! sponsor of R2R! | Ride To Roots

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RIDE TO ROOTS Africa

Hi SomaLee,

First, your trip sounds really great, at least as much as other trips many "hubbers" tell us about in this forum.

I think the people replying to your thread completely understood your point, being the only difference the way you expose your aims and the reasons to undertake it. Being Spanish myself, I would say that we are decades behind Germans, Brits and others in this field, so your trip itself and the charity point are far more unusual in a Spanish context and may even appear in the media with a heading like "from Barcelona to Cape Town on two wheels to raise money for the poorers" (if you report the news yourself, of course), something that wouldn't happen in the UK unless you are Ewan McGregor or you live in a very small town and send it to the local paper.

I will quote Christ Scott, incredibly insightful writer and veteran member hrere, in Overlanders' Handbook (amazing, as all his books, I cannot emphasize it enough):

"[attracting sponsorship] is an idea many overlanders toy with, ostensibly for the very tangible appeal of getting free stuff, but more profoundly, I suspect, as a means of validating or -when it involves charitable causes- justifying the journey".

And it is completely understandable, a nice way to avoid -especially in Spain now, in the middle of a deep economic crisis- to avoid hearing "this guy is just nuts", since you will be raising money and nobody would dare to criticize that. However, the vision of other people here regarding your thread is also understandable and I might also share their pragmatic view. Enough room for all, fortunately.

So, have never been myself in Subsaharan Africa (yet), I wish you all the luck with the trip, the project and the fundrising.

I have only one question: if you travel solo, who is going to play Charlie Boorman's role in your story in the ebook and youtube videos???!!! Forget it, just stupid Andalusian easy humour.

HUBB is definitely the place to ask anything about motorbikes and travels, since people here know so much that one tends to feel small and read answers thinking "wow, still so much to learn from these guys".

Take care and all the best luck,

Esteban

Well, Esteban... if all my Andalusian friends had the same sense of humor than you, probably I would never go to drink with them...

I'm not trying to imitate anyone, just I make my way. The sponsors? Check out the Ride To Roots website... for me it's clear. This is a:

- Marketing project (It's my work from 15 years ago)
- Trip to know Africa and write about the situation of our world from there (values, societies, people)
- Know and visit the Riders for Health projects in Africa and help with publicity and raise money for them.

I know, there are lot of people very experienced. Every day I try to see the most interesting part of the people and I've respect for all. Should it be otherwise?

I'm pleased to announce the sponsorship of Redverz with its fantastic tent!

Redverz Gear sponsors R2R with a spectacular tent | Ride To Roots

Thanks Esteban for your best wishes. I wish you the same.

Cheers!

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RIDE TO ROOTS Africa