The Epic Cairo to Cape Town Cycle Route

Have you ever thought of cycling from Cairo to Cape Town? Quite frankly, not many people have. From gruelling terrain to extreme weather conditions, this bike route is not for the faint-hearted. But that doesn’t take away from the epicness of the adventure! Each country on the Cairo to Cape Town cycle route boasts unique culture, beautiful landmarks and deeply rich history. 

Let’s map out the route that Tegan Phillips will be taking in October 2022 during her attempt to become the fastest woman to cycle the length of Africa. It’s almost identical to the route travelled by the current men’s Guinness World Record holder, Mark Beaumont.

On your marks, get set, go!

1 CONTINENT | 8 COUNTRIES | 10 800 KILOMETRES | 58 000 METRE INCLINE

Cycling in Africa: The Cairo to Cape Town Route

Find out more about the Cairo to Cape Town cycle route, including the distances in kilometres, seasons and general tips. Travelling from Cape to Cairo by bike is super exciting, yet incredibly challenging. Here’s what to expect on this wild adventure.

Countries: Egypt | Sudan | Ethiopia | Kenya | TanzanIa | Zambia | Botswana | South Africa

Cycling in Egypt: The Land of the Pyramids

Egypt is home to one of the most famous cities in the world: Cairo. The bustling capital serves as the perfect starting point for this kind of adventure. One can stock up on cycling gear and supplies, get a good night’s rest and start the journey off on well-maintained city roads. When tackling the Egypt cycle route, prepare to ride through dry desert escarpments that go right through the Tropic of Capricorn. Remember to leave early in the morning (4am or earlier) to avoid traffic. You’ll also need to be accompanied by a compulsory police escort.

Route Length: 1512 km

Route Stop Suggestions:

• Cairo - capital city 

• The Red Sea

• Hurghada

• Luxor

• Aswan 

• Abu Simbel

Visa Requirements: As of 2022, South Africans don’t need to apply for a visa before entering Egypt

Vaccination Requirements: 

• Yellow fever and typhoid vaccination recommended

• COVID online vaccination certificate

Official Language: Arabic

Route Terrain and Road Conditions: Flat along the Nile / Read Sea

Predominant Wind Conditions: Strong tailwinds along the Nile River heading south

Seasons:

• Spring – March to May

• Summer – June to August

• Autumn – September to November

• Winter – December to February

Travel Tips: 

• Do not attempt to enter the country with a drone, it will be confiscated. Be careful with camera equipment in general.

• It is mandatory to have a Carnet de Passage in the name of your driver, which is essentially a “passport” for your car. AA South Africa is the official issuer to citizens of South Africa. It will only be issued to you a few days before you leave.

• International driving permits are compulsory.

Cycling in Sudan: An Archaeologist’s Dream

Believe it or not, most of the globally renowned Pyramids are actually in Sudan. And surprisingly, this route shows off the calm, vast and serene Nile River. Cycling in Sudan is less strenuous at times, due to the flat terrain. However, you must account for the arid environment by drinking plenty of water. Alcohol is illegal in Sudan, making it the perfect place to stay hydrated.

Route Length: 1382.5 km

Route Stop Suggestions:

• Abri

• Al Khandaq

• Khartoum - capital city

• Wad Madani

• Al Qadarif

Visa Requirements: Tourist visa required (can take up to 6 weeks)

Vaccination Requirements: 

• Yellow fever vaccination mandatory 

• If your last COVID vaccine was more than 8 months ago, you will need a negative PCR test (otherwise the online certificate is enough)

Official Languages: Arabic and English

Route Terrain and Road Conditions: Desert / flat

Predominant Wind Conditions: Winds change between strong tail / crosswinds heading South – watch out for sandy crosswinds

Climate Considerations: Watch out for monsoons between June and August. It can also get very hot in the Summer, especially in May and June. Make sure salt intake is good to avoid cramping!

Seasons:

• Spring – March to May

• Summer – June to August

• Autumn – September to November

• Winter – December to February

Travel Tips: 

• The only border between Egypt and Sudan open for tourists is in Wadi Halfa. For assistance in clearing vehicles in Wadi Halfa, contact the AA of SA Head Office on +27 (011) 799-1042 / 1009.

• Third-Party Insurance is compulsory – obtained at the border post.

• A Carnet de Passage driver permit is highly recommended.

• An International Driving Permit is recommended.

• Ride on the right-hand side of the road.

• Available “Cafetarias” for food and drinks every 20-50km.

• No ATMs that accept foreign cards so take all the money you need in cash, preferably USD.

Biking through Ethiopia is a deeply profound experience – and not only because of the delicious coffee and injera (flatbread). It’s the part of the route that requires mental toughness and the will to persevere. The “Gonder Rise”, named after the town itself, is the greatest incline of the entire Cairo to Cape Town route. Leg strength is key at this point.

Route Length: 1749 km

Route Stop Suggestions:

• Shahadi

• Addis Zemen

• Finote Selam

• Gohatsion

• Addis Ababa - capital city

• Bishoftu

• Leku

• Gedeb

• Dubuluk

Visa Requirements: South Africans will require an e-Visa if flying in and manual application if entering by land

Vaccination Requirements: COVID online vaccination certificate

Official Languages: Amharic, Afan Oromo (the most widely spoken language), Afar, Somali, and Tigrigna

Route Terrain and Road Conditions: Extremely hilly and mountainous. Keep an eye out for some beautiful scenery at the top of the Great Rift Valley!

Predominant Wind Conditions: Expect regularly occurring strong winds in the Great Rift Valley

Climate Considerations: Highlands are cool and lowlands are hot

Seasons:

• Spring – March to May

• Summer – June to August

• Autumn – September to November

• Winter – December to February

Travel Tips: 

• Civil unrest in Tigray region from 2020 - 2022.

• The Carnet de Passage is recommended for Ethiopia.

• An International Driving Permit is recommended.

• Third-Party Insurance is compulsory (obtained at the border post).

• A Vehicle Declaration Form must be stamped by the Ethiopian Embassy where the visa was obtained.

• Ride on the right-hand side of the road.

• Very high population density.

• Prepare for potential hostility from locals, especially young children (cyclists have had rocks thrown at them before!)

• Children and locals relentlessly ask for money which can be emotionally challenging.

Cycling in Kenya: Wildlife, Reserves and Natural Beauty

You can’t cycle in Kenya without enjoying the greenery of Turbi Forest. This is the part of the route where the climate and terrain truly starts to change — welcome to the tropics! Temperatures vary and you may face cloudy days and rain. But the monumental moment of crossing the equator on a tarred road makes up for it.

Route Length: 886.5 km

Route Stop Suggestions:

• Log Logo

• Isiolo

• Juja

• Nairobi - capital city

Visa Requirements: No visa required for South Africans

Vaccination Requirements: COVID online vaccination certificate

Official Languages: Swahili and English

Route Terrain and Road Conditions: Extremely hilly and mountainous

Climate Considerations: Highlands are cool and lowlands are hot

Seasons:

• Spring – September to November

• Summer – December to February

• Autumn – March to May

• Winter – June to August

Travel Tips: 

• Higher security risks in northern Kenya when crossing into Ethiopia.

• As a polite gesture, consult the locals before wild camping.

• It is mandatory to have a Carnet de Passage in the name of your driver, which is essentially a “passport” for your car. AA South Africa is the official issuer to citizens of South Africa. It will only be issued to you a few days before you leave. 

• An International Driving Permit is recommended.

• Toll fees can be paid at the Malaba Station.

• Third-Party Insurance is compulsory and can be obtained at the border post.

• A Foreign Vehicle Permit & Licence required.

• An 80km/h sticker is required on trailers if towing.

Cycling in Tanzania: Home to Majestic Mount Kilimanjaro

Much like Kenya, the cycle route in Tanzania is characterised by grasslands, shrubbery and humid conditions. Most importantly, the friendly village locals make it easy to eat well, stock up on food, and then cruise along a mostly tarred road. Once again, the start of this route reminds one of the mental game. It’s the 5529km mark and the start of the second half of the ride.

Route Length: 1453 km

Route Stop Suggestions:

• Longido

• Dareda Kat

• Manyoni

• Dodoma - capital city 

• Chipogoro

• Kisolanza

• Mbeya

Visa Requirements: No visa required for South Africans

Vaccination Requirements: COVID online vaccination certificate

Official Languages: Swahili and English

Route Terrain and Road Conditions:  Rolling hills

Predominant wind conditions: Average

Climate Considerations: Generally comfortable all year round

Seasons:

• Spring – September to November

• Summer – December to February

• Autumn – March to May

• Winter – June to August

Travel Tips: 

• A Carnet de Passage is highly recommended; if you do not have a Carnet, a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) will be issued at a fee.

• Third-Party Insurance is compulsory – obtained at border post.

• An International Driving Permit is recommended.

Zambia forms the longest stretch of the route. Fortunately, it’s a scenic one filled with countryside farms and tropical fruit stalls along the way. The route also goes through Lusaka, the country’s capital. Depending on when you start the journey, you may need to prepare for cool winter mornings or humid summer evenings.

Route Length: 1763 km

Route Stop Suggestions:

• Isoka

• Mpika

• Serenje

• Chibombo

• Lusaka - capital city

• Chisekesi

• Livingstone

Visa Requirements: No visa required for South Africans

Vaccination Requirements: COVID online vaccination certificate

Official Languages: English

Route Terrain and Road Conditions: Rolling hills

Climate Considerations: Hot and dry season (mid-August to mid-November), a wet rainy season (mid-November to April) and a cool dry season (May to mid-August)

Seasons:

• Spring – September to November

• Summer – December to February

• Autumn – March to May

• Winter – June to August

Travel Tips: 

• A Carnet de Passage is not compulsory for Zambia. However, it will facilitate border crossing. It is recommended if the vehicle will remain in Zambia for more than three months.

• A Police Clearance Certificate for both vehicles and trailers may be required if travelling through the Chirundu Border Post.

• Third-Party Insurance is compulsory – obtained at the border post.

• White and red Honeycomb Reflective Tape required (two small white rectangular size strips on the right and left-hand side of the front bumper as well as two small red square strips on the right and left-hand side of the rear bumper).

• Warning triangles required - two warning triangles (do not need to be displayed); warning triangle must be on a metal plate.

• White and red T-sign required if towing a trailer (white must be displayed on the front right-hand side and red on the rear right-hand side.

Cycling in Botswana: Home of the African Elephants

Making it to Botswana on this cross-continent cycle is a major achievement. It means you have successfully travelled from expansive Northern Africa to the depths of Southern Africa. Better yet, it’s the shortest stretch of the route. In Botswana, you’ll cycle through the Kalahari Desert and across the Tropic of Capricorn.

Route Length: 483 km

Capital City: Gaborone

Route Stop Suggestions:

• Nata

• Tonota

• Dinokwe

• Gaborone - capital city

Visa Requirements: No visa required for South Africans

Vaccination Requirements: COVID online vaccination certificate

Official Languages: English

Route Terrain and Road Conditions: Mostly flat

Predominant Wind Conditions: Headwind heading south in Summer

Climate Considerations: Temperatures for the country are generally warm to hot throughout the yea

Seasons:

• Spring – September to November

• Summer – December to February

• Autumn – March to May

• Winter – June to August

Travel Tips: A Carnet de Passage is accepted, but not compulsory.

Cycling in South Africa: Cultural Diversity and Incredible Landscapes

South Africa is a melting pot of different cultures and landscapes – and that’s what makes it a beautiful final stretch of the cycle route. Starting in Mahikeng, “the place of rocks”, this route runs through landscapes where the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 to 1902 took place. 

And although you end up skipping many of the natural wonders on the eastern side of the country, cycling in Cape Town is the dream. “Why?”, you may ask. Well, there’s the gorgeous view of Table Mountain from many of the cycle routes in Cape Town. On the other hand, there might be rush hour traffic in the city when arriving in the late afternoon or evening.

Route Length: 1371 km

Capital Cities: Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town

Route Stop Suggestions:

• Mahikeng

• Kimberly

• Victoria West

• Matjiesfontein

• Cape Town - Capital City

Visa Requirements: No visa requirements for South Africans

Vaccination Requirements: COVID online vaccination certificate

Official Languages: English, Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Sotho, Tswana, Swati, Venda, Tsonga, Afrikaans, Ndebele

Route Terrain and road conditions: Mountains mixed with flats. Be alert on busy streets and weary of fast cars!

Predominant wind conditions: Headwind heading south in Summer

Climate Considerations: The rainy season begins in October and lasts through to April, and the dry season from May to September. Summer months, particularly from December to February, can be very hot

Seasons:

• Spring – September to November

• Summer – December to February

• Autumn – March to May

• Winter – June to August

Travel Tips: A Carnet de Passage is accepted, but not mandatory.

Cycling across Africa is super challenging and requires plenty of training and planning. To put things into perspective, Cape Town to Cairo is a whopping 3 times the distance of the Tour de France and 10 ‘Mount Kilimanjaros’ of an incline. In fact, the idea of this long-distance route is so fascinating that the British almost built a Cape to Cairo road in the 1870s that would have closely resembled this cycle route. Imagine that!

Frequently Asked Questions

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