Cairo, Egypt; 26 January 2016 – The Egypt Tourism Authority (ETA) has announced today that Tour d’Afrique, the trans-continental cycling tour, kicked off in Egypt on January 15, 2016. Covering almost 12,000 km in four months, this is the 14th edition of the Tour d’Afrique – a test of mind, body, and bicycle. Starting at the Pyramids,
under the watchful eyes of the immortal Sphinx,
the cyclists are heading south along the Red Sea and the Nile River in Egypt, visiting the famous sites of Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, before entering Sudan via a new land crossing.
“Entering its 14th year, Tour d’Afrique has been a pivotal touristic event for Africa,” said Egypt’s Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazou. “All participants will gain an unforgettable, scenic experience – starting at the oldest and most iconic place in the world – all while challenging themselves to cycle across our diverse continent. We are honored to kick off the event in Egypt, and look forward to welcoming the participants as they pass through our sites in Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel.”
The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has been one of the world’s ambitious journeys ever since Cecil Rhodes’ 19th century dream of connecting South Africa and Egypt by rail. Since then, the route has become an iconic goal for global adventurers. Cyclists will travel along the Nile past ancient temples, through the Sudanese desert, and up and down the biblical landscapes of Ethiopia’s rugged Simian Mountains. After crossing the Equator in Kenya, they will pedal past legendary Mount Kilimanjaro, to Lake Malawi, Victoria Falls, and along the edges of the Kalahari and Namib deserts, en route to the finish of their epic journey in Cape Town, South Africa.
Egypt Tourism Board 