Bicycle Africa
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Bicycle Africa |
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Unique Programs To Special Places For Memories Of A Lifetime!
Liberia considers itself the first modern democracy in Africa. It is
also the country where the Bicycle Africa program began. With 20 ethnic
groups, a variety of religions and a rich cultural tradition, the diversity of
Liberia is considerable. Physically it
offers verdant forests, mountain landscapes, and
drier savannahs, as well as beaches and the sun throughout the year. Much
of the coast is lined with coconut trees and dotted typical fisherman's dwellings.
Monrovia has many modern conveniences and an active scene, while the villages
are serene, and reflect traditional values and lifestyle, including wonderful
hospitality. "Liberia: People-to-People" is a engaging
mélange of modern and traditional.
The maritime region
of West Africa is the origins of much to the traditional religion and music
that many Westerners associated with Africa. It is not a coincidence, because this
is also the region that supplied much of the human cargo of the trans-Atlantic
stave trade, which allowed these religious and cultural traditions to infuse the culture of America such as jazz and gospel music.
Liberia's appeals to visitors is its people, their traditions and folklore. People fall in love with the process of bargaining in a market and the sort of interaction it involves. Any purchase, however small, is a keepsake, not necessarily to ‘show off’ your travels, but to enrich your life -- a tokens of another cultures as a daily reminder that there are many ways people live in this world. Westerners who sit and 'cut rice' ('break bread' -- eat) in Liberia leave with a treasure.
Schedule: November-December (see full schedule and status)
Program Price (lodging, two meals/day, guide, museum fees and more): US$
TBD
(less than six people add $100) (airfare is not included). Average out of pocket expenses per program $150 plus or minus $50.
Description: Day 1: Arrive and organize. Day 2-4: We start our bicycling
along the coastal plain and then into the forest,
visiting villages, school, markets.
Day 5-7: The next few days take us through an agricultural area towards the
mining region. Day 8-11: Cycle through communities of several different ethnic
groups. Day 12-13: We head to the capital,
Monrovia and explore
the city. Day 14:
End of program.
Features: Small group, self-contained bicycle program visiting numerous cultural
sites. Highlights include the rural life-styles & culture of the multi-cultural
Liberia
(Bassa, Kpelle, Mano and Gio ), visiting local market, . English is the
national language and widely spoken, and Liberians are outgoing
and welcoming.
Starting/Ending Point: Roberts Field International Airport.
Skill Level: Suitable for fit people with some self-contained bicycle
touring experience, and a tolerance for rustic conditions..
Mileage Daily / Total: 18-56 miles / 580km, 350 miles.
Cycling Conditions: 50% paved roads, 50% dirt roads, pleasant, rolling, scenic terrain,
occasional big hill..
Accommodations: Village housing ("village camping"), small hotels (some rustic), no
rough tent camping.
Van Support: None. Local transport can be sparatic.
Meals Included: Two meals per day, generally breakfast and dinner are
often non-western (meat,
chicken, fish, fruit, traditional food: rice with sauce (potato leaf or cassava leaf;
Bitters, Crain Crain, Sawa Sawa or Okra soups), foofoo (cassava) or Jollof
rice.)
Other Activities: walking, village tours, bus trips
Bike: Mountain bike or touring bike with wide, sturdy tires.
Bike Rental: Not
available.
Unique Programs To Special Places For Memories Of A Lifetime!
Please
write if you have questions, suggestions and comments about our program or want to be
added to Bicycle Africa's mailing list. (Also let us know how you found this site.)
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