Riding around Africa for 28 months on a bicycle

Jan 25, 2014

It is over a month now since courier company, DHL, paired up with avid amateur cyclist, Ron Rutland, on his travels around Africa on a bicycle.

By Shamim Saad

It is over a month now since courier company, DHL, partnered with avid amateur cyclist, Ron Rutland, on his travels around Africa on a bicycle.

The adventurer, who calls himself “Just a fat kid on a bike”, said he is on a 28-month journey across every country on mainland Africa, cycling to see the 2015 Rugby Cup in London.

He said the journey is in honour of Lettie Heynes, a close friend of his who was diagnosed with cancer.

“My decision to undertake this journey is an accumulation of years of reading stories of great modern and past adventurers, of ordinary people doing seemingly extraordinary things, and of imagining great adventures of my own,” said the enthusiastic traveler.

true
Global courier company, DHL, is supporting the adventurer. PHOTO/Shamim Saad

Having traveled the world extensively, Rutland said: “I have grown to realize life isn’t about what you own, but what you experience and create.

“And this all has led me to taking the ‘now or never’ decision to have the courage to live a life true to myself and undertake my own great adventure, in Lettie’s honour.”

Asteway Desta, managing director of DHL Express Uganda, said when they heard about Rutland’s exciting ride, they knew they had to get involved and also be part of it.

“We are aware that travelling across such a vast continent would need a strong logistics partner, which only DHL could provide,” she said.

She mentioned that the courier company, one of the leading in the business, has offices in every country in Africa, which is instrumental in ensuring Rutland can traverse between them, sending back parcels, visa documents, gifts and other essential items.

From Uganda, Rutland would go on to ride to neighbouring South Sudan as part of a 28-month-long journey.