Flagging Tape

“Most of our tours are expeditions that will require you to sometimes step out of your comfort zone and deal with a variety of challenges. This philosophy not only allows us to keep our tour cost reasonable, but, more importantly, it also adds an element of freedom and adventure that is often missing on other guided trips.” And one element of this is flagging tape. The amount we use on a particular day or expedition varies greatly with the route. Some days in Africa you might be instructed to turn left out and camp and go straight for 115kms until you see the next night’s camp on your right. Not much flagging tape there. On the other hand, cycling through bustling towns in India with round-abouts and one-way streets and unexpected festivals might call for a number of rolls each day.

And then there are the hazards – cows eat it, kids play with it, up-tight neighbourhood committee members remove it, pranksters move it from one side of the street to the other and then watch the confusion. The posibilities are endless. As a result we tend to over-flag in certain situations. Our many alumni are certainly used to the sight of our tape hanging from trees, poles, bike racks, cacti, signs, light poles, bus shelters, etc.

But we got tired of seeing our old tape still hanging onto these things as the years went by. How long would it stay there? 100 years? As a company concerned about the environment, it struck us as odd that we would leave plastic littered all through the countries we cycle through. After some research we were happy to find an alternative in time for the 2013 Tour d’Afrique – Biodegradable Flagging Tape – Made of all organic, non-toxic recycled cellulosic materials, this biodegradable flagging tape will not harm livestock or wildlife if eaten. Completely degrades in 6-24 months.

Now we can flag our routes with a clear conscience…but watch out for those kids.