Customer Reviews

Around Africa on my Bicycle

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Around Africa On My Bicycle by Riaan Manser is undoubtedly an amazing read. This South African young man decided to journey all over Africa on his bicycle and he spent over two years pedaling through 34 different countries! His stories are of courage and endurance against some inhuman odds, illness, all kinds of weather, and events that would frighten most people away from unsettled countries. You'll be astounded at how he handles everything from flu on the road, to falling into open sewers, to sleeping under the stars all alone, to winging his way through getting visas rapidly in places that normally take days. His experiences in embassies, hospitals, homes, rural places and cities will thrill and apall you. I couldn't help thinking he must be crazy to put himself through such an ordeal, day after day, week after week, and yet I envied him the opportunities and experiences he shares with his readers. This is a wonderful book and Manser made a world first in doing this marvelous feat. You won't be able to put the book down!

The back flap reads:

"In a world first, almost incredibly, Riaan Manser rode a bicycle right around the continent of Africa. It took him two years, two months and fifteen days. He rode 36,500 km (22,500 miles) through 34 different countries.

In [this book] Manser tells the story of this epic journey. It is a story of blood sweat, toil and tears. It is a story of triumph and occasional disaster. Of nights out under the stars, of searing heat and rain, of endless miles of Africa and of pressing on and never surrendering whatever the odds.

Mostly however it is the story of one man's courage and determination to escape the mundane and see the continent he loves and feels so much of a part of. It is the story of the human warmth he encounters, and occasionally human wrath and hostility as he crosses troubled countries and borders."

The man that wrote the forward for this book (John Robbie) really said it well. He said, "There's always reason to put off the dream, isn't there? Too busy, too poor, too lazy. For most people, me included, it's really a case of being too scared. That's why for the majority, these fantasies remain daydreams rather than fulfilled ambitions or even attempted ones. Then we get old and regret the fact that we never went for it".

I read that and knew I would like this book. He is right. We all put off things that we want to do because we make excuses. Because of this, we tend to admire, and envy, people who do what we think is an exciting or adventurous thing. I knew I would admire and be a little bit jealous of Riaan and his round Africa journey. So, the premise was a go.

However, the book is written in a "my journal" format, where the author obviously was trying to write to remember details about things, people and places. However, I personally (as the reader) do not need to know about every single person he meets and the when and the where of it. I don't need to know every detail of every single border crossing. The book is 705 pages; he could have consolidated it a little!

I would prefer more information and facts about the countries he visited as well as his thoughts and impressions of these countries. I would also have liked to hear more about his feelings. He does give a little information regarding this things, but I want to know more. How did it feel to be all alone in a country that you have never been in before? Were you tired? Were you lonely? How did this affect you mentally, physically and spiritually?

Another thing that bothers me is that he seems like a huge mooch. He gets sponsorships, free gear and money (many of it from nice people who really can`t afford it). People give him free cell phones. He loses them a bunch of times and people keep giving him new ones! He stays with people all over the place, often getting free lodging. Maybe I am being hard on him, r maybe I am just jealous, but he seems selfish. I hope that after he finished this trip and wrote this book he gave something back to the community and the people that helped him along the way.

Even though I had those few peeves, I really did like the book. Any book that involves travel and a sense of adventure is exciting to me. I can also relate, as I recently went to Africa. He talks about how nice many of the people are and I found the same to be true. I am inspired. I want to bike around my country now!

I give this book a 4/5.

NOTE: If there was a 3.5, I would do that, as I am not sure it's of the "I really liked it" category. It's somewhere in between "I liked it" and "I really liked it".

Experience a sensational and exciting journey around Africa in 3-D.

A fantastic insight into real-life in Africa. Well written by Riaan himself who is a gentleman and great role model for young and old. (Well done Riaan, you have made a great contribution to society.)

I read Riaans book some time ago after meeting him at a breakfast where he spoke. Helluva nice guy and a real adventurer. Pretty gutsy to do what he did and it made for a fantastic read that gave you great insight into exploring Africa as a continent. I'd recommend it to any backpacker who enjoys exploring. He's since done two more crazy adventures.

Riaan's adventurer exploit make no doubt. However, his writing skills are sleepy. After reading 700 pages, I feel, i know very little over Africa, about his thoughts, etc.... All I know is about his bicycle problems, his sponsored hotels, creepy immigration officials, VERY friendly South African embassy (everybody would love to have an embassy like that !) and some very friendly Africans he met.

Again congratulations on your adventure, but next time, tell us more about you !

and a good size book at exactly 700 pages it still seems too short!Well written this is an adventure of going around Africa just one better than walking:cycling.I haven`t read too many travel books about Africa ad this one was an interesting insight into Africa from the ground up.Presently Mr Manser (June 2011)is kayaking around Iceland

[...]

Riaan Manser's book took hold of me from page one right through to the end, it had me puffing through the Namibian desert and the humid jungles of the Congo with him and I was on the edge of my seat as he described his persistent and temporarily thwarted attempts to cross Gadaffi's Libya, Equatorial Guineau. It is inspirational from cover to cover, I doubt anyone else could have achieved this circumnavigation and Riaan not only did but lived to tell the tale in an entertaining and optimistic book. Africa, my birthplace, came alive in this epic adventure. A must read.

This is as much an adventure book as it is a young man's spiritual awakening. While reporting what he sees on his epic journey he lets the reader into his soul, to feel what he feels. Written in an informal style, he takes the reader with him and the reader never leaves his side. An incredible journal by an incredible human being. One can only hope he will write about his circumnavigation of Madagascar soon.