The journey began at the beginning of October in Freiburg im Breisgau, with preparations starting much earlier, of course. From there we travelled to France, Spain, Portugal, Spain again and then by ferry to Morocco and further and further south. From the start, the journey continued kilometre by kilometre into a new unknown. Wiebke is tackling her journey with a huge dose of optimism, even more courage and with curiosity and respect. "I'm most afraid of feeling lonely," she says in the trailer for the film that will be made during and after her journey: "Road to Cape Town".
Wiebke Lühmann's journey so far
From the familiar to the unknown
For Wiebke Lühmann, the European countries were still quite familiar. The African continent, on the other hand, brings with it a lot of unfamiliarity, a lot of new things in all sorts of ways. That means learning and adapting. What is the best way to behave, what food is available, ...
Wiebke spent the first two weeks in Morocco, in other words the first few days of 2024, travelling together with Robbie, a cycle traveller from the UK. Robbie has been exploring the world by bike for five years. Wiebke and Robbie met on the ferry to Morocco. They part ways shortly before Wiebke reaches Marrakech and shortly before travelling into the Atlas Mountains. Wiebke is visited by her best friend, photographer and videographer Fabienne Engel. The two have already produced a film together, "On her own", which tells the story of Wiebke's journey to the North Cape. From Marrakech, the journey takes them across the Atlas Mountains to Agadir. Fabienne returns home, while Wiebke continues on her own towards the Sahara. Before heading into the desert, however, Wiebke takes a longer break, which is packed with work - and a full-blown cold. That's also part of it. What is it like to be ill in a foreign country where so much is unfamiliar? Wiebke says "Being sick on the road is never nice. It's especially no fun to continue travelling and my motivation is blown away. If I'm ill or realise that I'm going to be ill, I look for cosy, clean accommodation. Then it works. Only when I regain my strength and enjoyment do I continue.
In addition to the cold, we are also working on the teaser for the planned film.
With her positive, open and benevolent manner, Wiebke Lühmann inspires others to set off, try things out and take risks. Of course, it doesn't have to be a cycle tour through Africa, but perhaps the first weekend tour of your life?
Immer Richtung Süden
Then it's off to the desert
The time has come. The Sahara is waiting. And it greets Wiebke with what she does best - headwinds and sand. Metre by metre, Wiebke fights her way forward on the first or second day in the desert. Especially after the illness and the break - and at the end of the cycle - it is even more strenuous. The daily kilometre target is missed by a long way. But that's not so bad, because one day it works out that way, but a few days later she scrubs off 190 kilometres. You have to do that with more than 35 kilos of luggage. This time, the wind is mercifully supportive.
A day in the Sahara
It takes Wiebke a few days to get used to driving in the desert. The wind is her constant companion, blowing sometimes from here, sometimes from there. She is travelling alone, but keeps meeting other cyclists along the way. Some of them already know each other, some encounters are new.
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The next border, the next country
After around 2.5 weeks in Western Sahara/Morocco, Wiebke reaches the border with Mauritania. Together with other cyclists, she waits until the lunch break at the border is over. Then everyone can leave Morocco and enter Mauritania five kilometres later.
After the border, many things are different. The people, the food, the houses. Wiebke hadn't expected such a big change and is glad to be in the company of other cyclists for a few more days.
Wiebke Lühmann spent almost a month travelling in the Sahara. She soon accepted the sand, which after a short time is simply everywhere. In the meantime, Wiebke Lühmann has travelled through Senegal, been to Gambia and is now in Guinea-Bissau. In The Gambia, she met up with an old friend with whom she had already travelled through Mauritania for a few days. He actually wanted to turn round and go back home. Then he decided to continue travelling with her.
Surprise and challenge
How did you prepare for the desert?
I read a lot about it, asked other travellers and bought a small gas cooker and 5 instant noodle soups. Then it was just a case of "close your eyes and go". Thanks to the iOverlander app, it was really easy to see where the nearest petrol station or shop was. So I knew that I didn't have to plan every stage of the day in advance. I gradually increased the distances and got further each day.
What surprised you?
How good the roads are. And how beautiful and peaceful the small towns in the Sahara are.
In Mauritania, I was surprised at how much changes after crossing the border: the food, the people, even the languages in some cases, the more visible poverty, the less pronounced presence of tourism. Now in Senegal, everything is different again.
What was the biggest challenge?
Headwind. Most of the time the wind was good to me - but when there was a headwind, I felt like a lorry weighing a tonne.
What else do you want to say?
The route from Europe to Senegal is great. And safe too. February is the perfect time and it was probably the coolest section of my route so far. Many cyclists are now turning back here in Dakar, Senegal, or flying home. What comes next will be completely new again and I am very excited to see what awaits me and how many other cycle travellers I will meet further south.
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
