Why cycle from London to South Africa?

I have had mixed reactions to saying I'm going to cycle from London to South Africa (SA). It seems dangerous, it's a long way, and I could use my time better. But also how amazed and impressed people are, and I've really enjoyed people saying they'd like to track my progress online.

My idea for this adventure came from a few years of mixed emotions, influences from other adventurers I've read about, and thoughts about what I'd like to accomplish before I die. These are my reasons for taking a year of my life to cycle more than ten thousand kilometres.

1. I miss SA

I haven't been back to the country of my birth for more than a decade.  I have some cousins and old school friends still living there. I miss the warmth of the African sun and its people.  I miss the animals, the hikes through the bush, the early morning game drives, the sound of the birds, and the smell of the braai. I didn't have this feeling as strongly ten years ago, but it has crept up on me. I want to feel the hot African sand between my fingers and toes again.

2. I would like to do something well outside my comfort zone

I have tried to do things like this recently - paragliding, stand up comedy, learning a really complex guitar song - but this journey would really be something I can be proud of, which I never would have thought I could actually do when I was younger. A friend called Kyrill once told me he had embarked on a year of doing things which scared him, and it inspired me to try to live my life similarly. We only truly learn when it's difficult. And the rewards are so much more. I like trying new things, but that's usually easy stuff that takes little extra effort. This cycle would require new reserves of resilience.

3. I miss cycling

I used to do it more, but I've been feeling lacklustre recently. And London is cold - cycling to work in the rain is really unpleasant. I would like to improve my cycling by just bingeing on cycling for a year.

4. I want to do something for the causes I care about - animal anti-poaching and female empowerment

I reflected on my life and realised that I haven't really done much for the causes I care about the most. I get angry when I read about the rise in poaching, but I've never done anything about it. I believe female empowerment is the best solution to global poverty, but I've never done anything about it. So for the past few years I've started to give money to particular charities, and now I feel it's time for me to take an act of determination whilst raising money. I'm not solving any poaching issues myself, but I'm finally not being lazy about doing something for these causes.

5. I want to prove to myself that I can achieve great things that take a long time to achieve

I tend to give up too easily when things get tough. It has been a lifelong trait of mine to look for the easier road. I want to deliberately take the longer and harder road (within reason), and draw strength from the experience. I would like to feel personal success from months of hard work. Two life experiences of mine which I count as two of my biggest successes are running a large student festival and completing a marathon. I worked for a year each on these, and I felt genuine pride afterwards. I haven't done anything like that for 12 years, and it's sad. I want to reignite my ambition and start achieving many more of these types of things.

6. I want to get over some mental challenges I'm facing, rediscover my passions, and find more purpose in life

In 2021 I went through a tough breakup. I still feel guilty about how I ended it, and it has affected my relationships going forward. I don't bring enough positivity and optimism into my relationships. I have pulled back from friendships, and I have sabotaged my own growth. I have gone through some therapy which has only slightly helped. But I continue to ruminate on my missed opportunities and lack of fulfilment. This long distance cycle will hopefully give me time to meditate, to be alone without distractions, to think deeply about what I want in life, and to build some helpful daily habits. I will need to be resilient, to rely on myself, to be organised and plan ahead. I will need to have an open and positive mind about potentially fear-inducing things. I will need to protect and be active about the things I care about. I will need to find energy in the mornings, and have grit to finish long days in the saddle. I'll need to be street smart. Without distractions, I'll hopefully learn more about my true passions in life. I want this cycle to be an inflection point towards a fuller life.

7. When I die I want to feel proud, a sense of achievement, and joy in my memories

I'm trying to imagine what I'll think about on my deathbed, as a technique to find motivation to achieve. If I make it to SA, I know I'll feel fulfilled in what I achieved, and I want to take that positive energy into the rest of my life. I don't think this impetus is much different to how people have behaved throughout history when they get an itch to do something radical. I'm trying to listen to my deep longings, and I think this cycle feels right for me at the moment, despite all my doubts about my career and my ability to complete the whole route. 

8. I want to lose weight.

I've put on a few kilograms and this cycle will surely address some of my paunch. I want to get fitter, and waking up most days to do 80km on two wheels seems like a nice way to sneak in a workout regime into an otherwise lovely travel itinerary.

9. I want to explore the continent of my birth.

I'm always in my happy place when travelling. However I haven't really visited Africa - just SA, Morocco, Egypt and Tanzania. There's so much more to see! I'd like to meet people in African towns and villages along the way, and learn more about cultures of which I'm really quite ignorant. I want to see the Nile and the pyramids of Egypt, the gorillas of Uganda, the highlands of Ethiopia, the Maasai Mara of Kenya, the herds of wildebeest underneath Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the villages of Rwanda and Burundi, Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi, the national parks of Zimbabwe and the colourful sunsets in my own South Africa. Plus all the European countries along the way!

10. I want to become part of a new tribe.

I want to make new friends in the global community of adventurers. In preparing for this cycle I've already met many talented, knowledgeable, open, and inspiring people, and I'd like to become one of them.

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I don't know if this cycle is going to give me what I'm looking for. But I think it is a risk worth taking. Maybe something else unexpected and beautiful will emerge too. Last time I went travelling around in search of my dreams I fell in love. Maybe I'll find another type of love again. I'll never know unless I try.