From backpacking to cycling adventure

Marius and Simon from Germany have been close friends for many years. Since their youth, they dreamed of going on a big backpacking trip. Their plans were ready: tickets booked, backpacks packed, plane booked. But then COVID threw a wrench in their plans, forcing them to return to Germany.

Five years later, they decided to make their dream come true again - this time not with backpacks, but with bicycles. They were seeking both adventure and challenge, and they found plenty of both.

Filming for Bike Labyrinth

Through their friend Tony, our German colleague, they got in touch with Bike Labyrinth. After a crash course in filming routes, they boarded a plane to Zanzibar with their bikes and fully loaded backpacks. The African journey could begin.

“The first time filming was a bit strange,” Simon recalls. “We had no filming experience, so it really felt like a challenge. But after a few routes, we got the hang of it and it went much smoother.”

Favorite routes: from mountains to elephants

Marius fondly remembers one route in Namibia. “We filmed a downhill stretch with a stunning mountain view. Everyone said Namibia is nothing like Europe, but actually experiencing that difference was truly impressive.”

Simon also has an unforgettable memory: a straight, narrow route in Botswana. “The road went straight ahead, with dry grass and bushland on both sides. Suddenly, a group of elephants crossed. Experiencing that up close was incredible.”

Hospitality along the way

Not everything went smoothly. In Malawi, they got stranded because of bike problems. “It was getting dark, and we couldn’t make it to our destination. We asked at a house if we could pitch our tent in their yard,” Simon explains.

But the family invited them inside instead. “They warned us it was too dangerous to sleep outside and offered us food and shelter,” adds Marius. “They had very little themselves, yet they gave us everything they could. That kind of hospitality touched us deeply.”

A successful journey and new plans

Despite minor setbacks, the trip went better than expected. “We didn’t get sick, and luckily we weren’t eaten by a lion either,” Marius jokes. Simon adds: “Our families were just happy we made it back safely to Germany.”

In just 97 days (53 days cycling in total), they cycled 5,000 kilometers together. An impressive achievement and a successful adventure. And they already have new plans: “First we’ll save up money in Germany,” says Marius, “but in about five years, we’d like to do a big cycling trip through South America.”