John mwai Murigu

I am kenyan citizen aged 48 years with great passion in tourism,haven traveled in more that fifteen countries in Africa,working as a chef and guiding at the same time. I am a family man too with four kids and one wife,two boys and two girls.

James Macharia

Born in Kenya .worked in tourism for 13 years a close africa.love changing people's lives and love what I do and do what I love.

Dehon Ninon Cedric Ainarime

Born and live in Madagascar I worked as Tour guide in Madagascar since 2012 I started as local support for TDA on the Magical Madagascar 2017 and after that i am so lucky to became one of the TDA staff member until now. "While you have the opportunity to do such thing,do it, because there will be a time where you wanna do it but you can't do it anymore" My next trip will be the TDA 2025 and the Magical Madagascar 2025 I look forward to meeting you all

Bernardita Buffoni

Medical doctor from Argentina, adventurous, nature lover, always looking for new challenges! I have been working for the last 2 and a half years in rural areas of Central America, providing acute and preventive health care services to the native population of Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama. Looking forward to participating in this expedition tour and helping anyone who needs medical support!

Michaela Pye

It's a sweltering day riding through rural Uzbekistan. I'm riding sweep, when a rider stops in a lazy town square to adjust something on his bike. Within seconds of stopping, there are a dozen local folks offering us fruits, tea, shade and trying to communicate with us. It was just an example of the immense generosity and community minded nature of so many folks on the Silk Route. The simple act of nurturing from these strangers struck a chord with me. It's one of my favorite moments on a TDA tour; the simple reminder that most people are kind and that makes the world smaller in the best way possible. Experiences like those remind me why I started guiding, and why tour leading for TDA is so special; as a tour leader you have this opportunity to create an environment that breeds curiosity, kindness and allows riders to relax into the riding, and the culture.

I started guiding backpacking and sea kayaking when I was 17 as a summer job near my hometown in Newfoundland, Canada. I found it amazing that I had the opportunity to share wilderness and culture with folks from all over the world, and that sentiment has never really left me. I worked as a guide and treeplanter throughout university where I obtained a degree in Environmental Science. Post-grad, I decided a traditional science job wasn't for me, and went down the long certification process of becoming a Canadian Ski Guide. These days when I'm not on a TDA tour, I work as a ski guide for helicopter and snow-cat skiing, near where I live in Northern British Columbia. Somewhere in there I squeezed in lots of travel, some highlights being: living and working in Ukraine as part of an international development program, cycling across South America, studying and mountaineering in Alaska!

My biggest advice for a TDA participant is to let go! Really settle into the experience, and the routine. Most people's day to day lives exist at a pace much more hectic than riding your bike all day, this is your opportunity to totally settle in!

Nicholas Coe

A photographer that plays outside all year round. From Vermont, and now split time between there and Colorado. Excited to work with TDA for a 4th expedition!

Yanez Novoa

A long time ago, I had a ten minute conversation on the beach with Steve who had been on a TDA tour through Africa. I didn’t know it then but it planted a thought in my head that would soon change the course of my life.

It seemed that everything I had done before had in some way prepared me for this. A life in hospitality and a few years at sea - from some grand establishments to some very inhospitable vessels and anything in-between.

There were a variety of less stimulating occupations I had explored before I landed at TDA. I think this is what has kept me here for so long, the almost overwhelming stimulation that one gets from daily life on tour, which is miles apart from my quiet country life in South Africa.

That, and the other people. There is always such a variety of people from all walks of life and from all over the world that I would otherwise not have met.

Jason Roussel

Canadian bike mechanic and ski tuner.

Fermin Couto

I am an adventurous person, who enjoys the outdoors and the challenges that life brings me when I step out of my comfort zone. As a physician, I have worked in sports medicine and my teachers always told me about the enormous contribution that cycling made to physiology and nutrition in general. Besides, I like to read and spend time playing music (I have my Ukelele always ready).

Özgür Karataş

Working outdoors is phenomenal.

When TDA need local support for translations in Turkey in 2014, I entered the picture. Before TDA, I lived year-round there, in Izmir. Now I live on the road eight months of the year; the rest of the time I’m in Turkey, either applying for visas or rock-climbing.

Sometimes on a tour our failures are as incredible as our successes. Being defeated as my tour attempted to climb a new route on Koca Sarp, a rocky mountain in central Anatolia, is an experience I’ll always remember.

I’ve seen so much of the world with TDA. My favourite place I’ve been so far is Meteora, Greece. Probably the greatest pleasure of cycle-touring for me is never spending more than two days in a row in the same spot.

Sharita van der Merwe

The thing I love most about my job is watching the social dynamics unfold.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been stripping, fixing, and riding bicycles. As well, I knew from a young age I wanted to explore, travel, and see the world—my dream at one time was to fly airplanes. However, it wasn’t long before I realized that flying in a straight line from point A to point B wasn’t for me!

When I left school I had no direction, no idea of where I wanted to be or what I wanted to do, once my dream of flying died. In 2003, I saw a magazine ad of a bunch of cyclists lined up in front of the Giza pyramids and I became hooked on the idea of doing that but I had to choose between taking a four-month cycling trip across Africa or going to Warriors Boot Camp to get educated. I chose Warriors and the programme equipped me for life by giving me a solid foundation. There, I was free to discover and explore who I was and to test physical and mental endurance. Having my attitude and my comfort zone constantly pushed readied me for all sorts of real-world challenges. I stayed at Warriors for three years, then cycled solo across Africa when I was 22 years old. In 2009, I landed the job as TDA’s assistant tour director on the Cairo to Cape Town trip—and the rest is history.

Ever since, Africa has been my baby and my favourite. I’ve worked on other tours—the Silk Route, the Bamboo Road, Ruta Maya, Magical Madagascar—but Africa is my full-time project and has lately included TDA’s complex tour of West Africa.

I’m based in beautiful Cape Town; when I’m not here, I’m scouting, exploring, problem-solving somewhere in the world and revelling in the adventure of being alive.

TDA has taken me to 80 countries and my most incredible off-the-beaten-track expedition was the West Africa scout in 2017, especially Guinea—I’d never been to a place so remote, rough or wild. I fell in love with Africa all over again on that trip. The stories are epic and endless!

There’s never a dull moment with TDA, because you absolutely never know what’s going to happen next.

Martin Saxer

I was born in 1958 Cycling ist my great passion since 50 years

John Fitzgerald

Hello, I'm 58, married to Áine we have two children, One at college, One just staring work. I Have been cycling since my mid thirties with friends mainly. Taking part in organised rides like The Tour of Wessex and The Maratona. Last year cycled to Italy from London with an old school friend. I am looking forward to a totally new challenge in an unfamiliar environment. looking forward to meet you all.

Rita Tellerman

Hi! My name is Rita and I am a retired Public Health Nutritionist living in New York City. I can’t wait for the next TDA adventure. .

Justin Ripley

Soon.

Stephanie Small

Jane Tagney

Russel Ogden

Wendy McDonald

Cheryl Yates

This will be my 5th tour with TDA.

Mike Lehmann

I am a retired enterprise software product guy working on my biking, skiing and travel backlog. I am 60 years old, live in Vancouver, Canada, married and have a daughter. Biking-wise, I regularly ride road, gravel and mountain with gravel and mountain biking being my mainstays. I have ridden multiple several week self supported gravel bikepacking trips and one TDA tour from Cape Town to Livingston. I am planning to be on the middle three stages of this ride from Kazakhstan through to Uzbekistan and am keen to be riding with all the other travellers.

Milan Jansen

I love cycling

Madhuri Pendharkar

Retired school principal; avid bicycle traveller!

Annelize Roos

I've just turned 64 and haven't cycled much for quite some time due to work commitments. However, for many years, I was a very active on my bike and is still perfectly comfortable on it. I'm also a nature- and adventure lover and particularly Africa is dear to me. My intended participation in this tour is specifically aimed at starting a new life post-retirement with a bang!

Ingrid Vlaar

Hi, I love cycling!

Anne Thompson

Looking forward to this trip!

Adriaan Besemer

Hi, you will get to know me better on the bike during our rides this summer... but I like to be outdoor in an active way, wine lover and always available when I can help somebody. See you soon !!

Erika Lindquist

Retired biology scientist Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Mayumi Stroy

I am a 59 year old retiree who enjoys bicycle touring, traveling, hiking, and downhill and xc skiing. I live in Soda Springs and Alameda, CA. This will be my fifth trip with TDA - 2020 Tour d’Afrique, 2021 Great American Road Trip, 2022 Bamboo Road, and 2024 Cape to Kili. When I am not cycling or skiing, I enjoy cooking, eating, listening to music, watching Premier League futbol, and reading. Traveling along the Silk Road is a dream of mine. I’m interested in the history, music, people, and food. I have a particular interest in Genghis Khan.

Charlotte Lawson

Looking forward to the adventure. Recently retired and ready to explore.

Marnie (Margaret) Souter

When I retired in Fall 2022 I went on my first TDA adventure - the South American epic. I loved it so much I'm signing on for more ! This year I am looking forward to Morocco in April and the Cape Town to Kili trip in the Fall.

maggie williamson

I’m a lover of the outdoors and have discovered I really enjoy the slow travel that bicycle touring allows. Did the Hippie Trail in 2019 and now am looking forward to exploring southern India and Sri Lanka.

Bob Jensen

I am a retired Calgary commercial lawyer. I enjoy reading (historical fiction), cycling, running, swimming, tennis and pickleball, racket paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, travelling, and volunteering. Fondness for beer (part owner of a craft brewery) and fine wines, rum and whisky.

Ronald van Doorn

I am a world traveller (both work as well as private) and a regular cyclist (within NL and Europe). I am looking forward to my first cycling tour outside Europe. Although having travelled this route largely once before (by truck), I am expecting quite a different experiency doing this on a bycicle.

Douglas Isaac

Retire accountant now living in Toronto again after 14 great years in Vancouver. Loves hiking biking and paddling.

Rona Lowe

Retired. Love to cycle. Love to travel.

Nicholas Harrison

I live in Perth Western Australia, married to Johanna (Jo) who is also on the Trip. I am reasonably active enjoying outdoor activities, ocean swimming, windsurfing, snowboarding and of course riding. I ride a hard tail mountain bike in preference to a standard road bike even when commuting, makes me work harder chasing guys on road bikes. The longest bike trip I have done was in 2015 when we completed the Epic South America Trip. Since then we have ridden from Manali to Leh through the high mountain passes of Ladakh. Since returning from South America I have competed in several long distance offroad endurance rides and enjoy the physical and mental challenges.

Johanna Platt

What have I signed up for!!! I must admit my main sporting passion is ocean swimming, it doesn't sound like there'll be much of that on offer! We, that is myself, & Nick (husband, also on the tour) got a taste for cycle touring on a recent trip to Costa Rica - Challenging, yes, rewarding, absolutely. Not too sure how this long distance cycle touring will go, however, always looking for the next challenge, so will give it my best shot.

Bruce Taylor

Fifty something ... taking a sabbatical ... so looking forward to the adventure :)

Hristina Srbinoska

I love animals, sport and adventure, TDA meets all of those requirements.

Rod Peterson

Retired. Long time cyclist, many multi day tours in Europe, some solo, and also long tours in western US.

Daniel Harshman

Tony Watts

SCOTT DIAMOND

I've had a reasonable amount of experience bicycle touring but this is both my first tour in Africa and my first trip with TDA. I'm really looking forward to some great riding and making new friends.

Vlademir Daleffe

I am an electrical engineer, I am 61 years old and worked for 32 years in an electrical power distribution company where I retired as CEO. I'm not a sportsman but I really like adventure travel. I cycled 1,200 km through the Patagonia region, cycled 6,400 km across Europe and covered 1,047 km on foot along the Israel National Trail. I participated in the Tour D'Afrique 2023 but had to interrupt it due to an accident I suffered on Kilimanjaro.

Alice G

I cycled to Arusha with TDA in 2020 before Covid got in the way, hoping to do the second half in 2024! Cant wait!

Neil Bradburn

Retired Police Officer. Single Enjoy cycling and keeping fit in general. Love travelling.

Yvonne Waalewijn

Nationality: Dutch Gender: Female Occupation: retired/dive instructor Passions:diving, biking, travelling the world and looking forward to another adventure

Barry Chase

I love cycle touring and think it’s the absolute best type of travel. I have independently cycle toured about 20 times in Europe and 10 times in the US and have done randonnneur cycling for 25 years. I’m now shifting my riding to TDA type trips, having completed Cape to Kili two years ago and the Central Asia portion of the Silk Road last year, and, by the time the Shanghai-La trip begins, will have also done the Viva Italia trip. Looking forward to exploring a new region of the world on my bike and meeting all of you.

Pär Broome

Bycycling is my passion. Been member of Team Rynkeby and Have Two time Done tour to Paris. Bike a LOT and next month biking in South Africa myself. Like to bike and long and expirences new countries. Looking forward to the trip.