Bicycle Africa |
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Comments and Testimonials from past participants....Multi-region North Africa West Africa East Africa Southern AfricaEd Note: Due to media reports on problem spots in Africa, perhaps you are a bit hesitant to bicycle there. As a responsible company specializing in Africa, we would like to ease your mind. While Africa is not without its problems, we are very selective about where and when we travel. The general information on Africa misrepresents how safe, serene and welcoming the continent as a whole has been and continues to be. Let our past participants tell you what they experienced. References are available on request, email us at "ibike@" our domain name.North Africa"After my Bicycle Africa experience in southern Tunisia, I
could hardly wait to return for the tour of northern Tunisia. What a
fascinating country, with its varied landscapes and people! It was a real
adventure to see everything from Roman ruins to the Sahara, and to meet
Tunisian people." "David's technical and in-country experience are irreplaceable and unmatchable,
respectively. He was there as the needs arose." "Tunisia is a great trip. Nice cycling, great accommodations,
good food (calamari and couscous -- wonderful stuff), very interesting
sites and geography changes almost every day.
There is pastry in every little town. Mozer runs a good trip.
The leader takes care of so many things (breakfast, dinner and hotel)
that you almost never have to hassle with money or making arrangements/
paying bills. Ride the bike to end to road and hire a camel!" "I think most people visualize large animals and safaris when they think of Africa, and thus only focus on the eastern or southern regions. However, to limit oneself based on this image is like thinking of Europe as a place to go and visit the Eiffel Tower; sure, it's great, but there's so much more. Tunisia offers an amazingly diverse landscape, from Mediterranean coastline to glimpses of the Sahara Desert. The architecture is unique and beautiful, and the historical significance of places such as Carthage speaks for itself. For a bicyclist, Tunisia should be near the top of the destination list! "My husband and I did this trip for our honeymoon. It was fantastic, and
I would highly recommend it." "You're in for a terrific adventure in Tunisia - absolutely PERFECT weather, the most unique accommodations you'll find anywhere, lots of culture, good scenery, and never a dull moment. Probably the most outstanding aspect of the trip is the perfect weather. We LOVED many of the places we stayed - old caravan-style hotels, ancient converted granaries called ghorfas, a troglodyte hotel in Matmata that defies description, and an overnight train. Some of the hotels are awesome, and a couple are very forgettable. David introduces you to much of the culture, and unless you're fluent in French and/or Arabic you need his input in order to appreciate what you're experiencing. We visited a couple Arab families, a Turkish bath, the island of Djerba, and took a camel ride at the edge of the Sahara. The trip is chock full of wonderful experiences. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and you'll be sure to love it!" "I was impressed with your thorough respect of the Tunisians and really feel I
have learnt a lot in that respect. I was also amazed at your knowledge of the country, be
it history, customs, religion or short-cuts. The approach of Bicycle Africa is very
different from anything I have come across with previous biking companies, the differences
mainly having to do with respect of another country, its beliefs and its people." "It was the best cycling experience of my life thus far. The cultural and
geographical diversity, the challenge of the hills, the camaraderie, and the appreciation
of a simpler life style (for a couple of weeks, anyway) are unique." "I loved the cohesiveness of the group for one and the experience
of just being on the road - especially through the hills on the way to
Matmata and on the route to Chenini where the only people we saw were the
occasional farmer or shepherd herding sheep or villagers living on remote
mountain tops. The people we met were great. I loved the
conversations we had with merchants, university students, etc. They
were wonderfully sincere in their interest in us and in wanting us to know
who they were too. The fact that we were traveling on bicycles made
it easier for people to approach us I believe - less armor than other
tourists." "Tunisians are lovely people, and the food is very good. David is
a great guide." "What experiences -- skirting the Sahara, the
beauty of the Cape Bon coastline, eating camel and on and on.
Tunisians -- I brag about their friendliness, their joy at us being there
and especially their appreciation for us doing it on bicycles. The
courtesy and generosity of the drivers. Thank you -- David for being
such an excellent leader. I've been on trips varying all the way of having
a total control freak, a total asshole, to the best ever leader. You rank
right up there with the best." "The trip was great, your leadership was remarkable, the
group clicked thanks at least in part because of your friendly
example. I liked the modesty of the accommodations, I loved the
patisseries, the mix of old and new, the excavations and your
presentations about history, culture, food, language and religion and
everything else about this mixed culture. I found meeting the doctor
and the teacher especially interesting and was happy that you were
able to go 'with the flow' so easily that day in Sousse. I found the
trip not terribly strenuous, even though I could not keep up with the
stronger riders. -- By the way, I spent an enjoyable day in Tunis and
Carthage by myself after everyone else left. I ventured into the Medina
and when all kinds of guys wanted to know if I was there 'tout seul",
I bought one of those blond long hair wigs which the little girls wore for
my granddaughter and put it on. After that people just stared, ladies
smiled and guys looked confused. I would be interested in going on
another trip, and will study your web site and save my pennies
diligently. Thank you for helping expand my horizon. It was a lot of fun."
"Good introduction since I knew very little about Tunisia and the North
Africa region. I became aware of Arab culture and of Islam's
influence on the culture. Good mix of historic sites and current
living conditions. Definitely well organized, fun most of the time
and very safe." "Really enjoyed the educational opportunities and the knowledge of the
leader. The best part of the program was the group we traveled with
and the people we met." "So, as a parting thought: It was
fabulous. I can't imagine having as much fun if you had not been there." "I concur with Jeff - it was fabulous... I really had a great time and enjoyed
the company of all of our companions. It is quite a remarkable
country - more so than I expected (I don't know what I expected!). I'm
home feeling happy and rejuvenated and full of stories... Anyway, hugs to
you, and thanks again for leading us on a great adventure!" "For me also, it was a great time... I am missing being on the road with
the diverse scenery, great companions, and away from work... The best part of the
program was the diversity of experiences... [It's] a wonderful and economical
way to experience diverse cultures and countries." "Yes, like all of you I very much enjoyed the Tunisia trip. I think
I'll find it tough to do a 'real' Bicycle Africa south-of-the-Sahara-trip
again!" "I always enjoy eating new things and finding new favorites and
learning new stuff, but I think the star of this program was the
incredibly beautiful spring Tunisia had this year and what it did to the
countryside in both the north and the south." "Down-to-earth, rigorous, genuine and educational bike tour. David
did a great job of guiding and enduring four "unique" personalities." "Thanks for the great experience in Tunisia! I really [had] a
marvelous experience and coincidentally got very good value for my money,
especially considering your knowledge of the area and willingness to share
it." "Sorry for not shouting out how I liked the tour sooner. Well I
did!" "David, thank you so much for organizing and leading our trip.
Perfect job. That was the best trip I have been on for both enjoyment,
challenge and interest. I have no improvement suggestions. Just a great
trip." |
For those who like balance, we have even posted some comments on the worst parts of the program.
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