About Us
Our History
You could say that our history started January 15, 2003 when the first Tour d'Afrique Race /Expedition departed from Cairo with 33 cyclists all geared up to spend four months cycling through Africa, but the idea for our first transcontinental tour was actually formed years before that momentous day beneath the Sphinx.
The concept of crossing the African continent by bike originated in the late 1980's. After co-founding Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) years earlier, Henry Gold received funding from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to study the feasibility of producing inexpensive yet rugged mountain bikes in Africa, for African conditions, as a low-cost solution to local transportation needs. In order to market the new bicycle in Africa, Henry suggested that a bicycle race across Africa be organized, in which all of the participants would use the African bikes. This idea came, in part, after Henry watched the Soviet National Cycling Team training in the mountains of Ethiopia a year earlier. The name of the bicycle race would be the Tour d'Afrique.
While the African mountain bike project still needed refinement, the concept of Tour d`Afrique took hold. Henry teamed up with a fellow bike enthusiast, Michael de Jong, and the two decided to create the Tour d'Afrique Race/Expedition. It took them another decade before the timing proved to be right. In true pioneering spirit, Henry and Michael went ahead with the project in 2003, amid enormous skepticism and in the face of a mountain of logistical challenges that had to be overcome for the project to be a success. With no guarantees they dedicated all their time and efforts to the project, and to training, not only to lead the Tour, but to cycle it as well.
The first Tour d'Afrique was a huge triumph. After 120 days - 100 of which were spent on the bike, thirty two cyclists arrived on Melkbos Strand beach in Cape Town with Table Mountain in sight, hugging and congratulating each other, crying and drinking champagne. They were not only celebrating the crossing of the continent but also the establishment of the Guinness World Record for the fastest human powered crossing of Africa.
After the second Tour d'Afrique was completed in 2004 and another group of intrepid riders had arrived in South Africa, Michael de Jong left the company. In his place Shanny Hill and Randy Pielsticker joined the company, which by this time was quietly gaining a following. Year three started with Randy at the helm in Africa and Henry and Shanny designing the company's second long distance adventure. Stretching from Paris to Istanbul, the Tour would be called the Orient Express. South African Theresa Brown's passion to explore more of her continent brought her on board at this point, adding spark to Tour d'Afrique's marketing efforts.
After Randy went back to school, 2006 saw Mike Coo and Miles MacDonald join the team. After cycling the 2006 Tour d'Afrique, Mike came back to Toronto full of memories from Africa and began running the office. Miles, who had served as chef on that same tour, headed to Europe to help lead the Orient Express, using his expertise in planning, logistics and the kitchen to see it to a successful completion in Istanbul.
It was back in 2003, before the first Tour d'Afrique had even finished, that Henry and the riders began discussing the next epic adventure. The vision that came up time after time was to follow the historic Silk Route and in 2007, that dream became a reality. With Shanny and Miles in charge, the expedition departed istanbul in July and arrived in Beijing in November.
At the same time ex-CPAR Africa hand and Tour d'Afrique client Brian Hoeniger joined the team as Accountant and Tour Support. In 2008 Randy returned from his studies to lead in the planning and organization of the inaugural Vuelta Sudamericana, which departed Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in late July 2009 and arrived in Quito, Ecuador, almost 4 1/2 months and 12,000 kilometres later.
Since then Randy has left the company and gone back to his former employ as a canoe and wilderness trip guide, and previous TdA tour leaders in training Sharita van der Merwe (South Africa) and Paul McManus (USA) have become permanent staff. Sharita has led the Tour d'Afrique since 2010 while Paul has become our lead responsible on the Silk Route and the inaugural North American Epic, while also serving as Director of our not-for-profit arm, the Tour d'Afrique Foundation. Most recently Brazilian Cristiano Werneck has joined our team, serving as as our marketer in Sourth America and as Tour Leader on the 2011 Vuelta.
2010 also marked the realization of our innovative DreamTours concept to cycle tours design. That year Shanny Hill led our first DreamTour, the Amber Route, from St. Petersburg, Russia to Venice, Italy, and later in 2010 he and Mike Coo designed our second DreamTour, an Indian Adventure, which Shanny guided from Agra to Kanyakumari in early 2011.
2011 has proven to be a most challenging and inspiring year for our humble founder, Henry Gold, who was trampled by an Elephant while riding his bike in India. After convalescing in Paris, and despite his nagging injuries, he came up with the idea for a book to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Tour d'Afrique. Edited by former TdA EFIer David Houghton, this beautiful volume which celebrates our flagship tour can now be purchased at our website.
The concept of crossing the African continent by bike originated in the late 1980's. After co-founding Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) years earlier, Henry Gold received funding from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to study the feasibility of producing inexpensive yet rugged mountain bikes in Africa, for African conditions, as a low-cost solution to local transportation needs. In order to market the new bicycle in Africa, Henry suggested that a bicycle race across Africa be organized, in which all of the participants would use the African bikes. This idea came, in part, after Henry watched the Soviet National Cycling Team training in the mountains of Ethiopia a year earlier. The name of the bicycle race would be the Tour d'Afrique.
While the African mountain bike project still needed refinement, the concept of Tour d`Afrique took hold. Henry teamed up with a fellow bike enthusiast, Michael de Jong, and the two decided to create the Tour d'Afrique Race/Expedition. It took them another decade before the timing proved to be right. In true pioneering spirit, Henry and Michael went ahead with the project in 2003, amid enormous skepticism and in the face of a mountain of logistical challenges that had to be overcome for the project to be a success. With no guarantees they dedicated all their time and efforts to the project, and to training, not only to lead the Tour, but to cycle it as well.
The first Tour d'Afrique was a huge triumph. After 120 days - 100 of which were spent on the bike, thirty two cyclists arrived on Melkbos Strand beach in Cape Town with Table Mountain in sight, hugging and congratulating each other, crying and drinking champagne. They were not only celebrating the crossing of the continent but also the establishment of the Guinness World Record for the fastest human powered crossing of Africa.
After the second Tour d'Afrique was completed in 2004 and another group of intrepid riders had arrived in South Africa, Michael de Jong left the company. In his place Shanny Hill and Randy Pielsticker joined the company, which by this time was quietly gaining a following. Year three started with Randy at the helm in Africa and Henry and Shanny designing the company's second long distance adventure. Stretching from Paris to Istanbul, the Tour would be called the Orient Express. South African Theresa Brown's passion to explore more of her continent brought her on board at this point, adding spark to Tour d'Afrique's marketing efforts.
After Randy went back to school, 2006 saw Mike Coo and Miles MacDonald join the team. After cycling the 2006 Tour d'Afrique, Mike came back to Toronto full of memories from Africa and began running the office. Miles, who had served as chef on that same tour, headed to Europe to help lead the Orient Express, using his expertise in planning, logistics and the kitchen to see it to a successful completion in Istanbul.
It was back in 2003, before the first Tour d'Afrique had even finished, that Henry and the riders began discussing the next epic adventure. The vision that came up time after time was to follow the historic Silk Route and in 2007, that dream became a reality. With Shanny and Miles in charge, the expedition departed istanbul in July and arrived in Beijing in November.
At the same time ex-CPAR Africa hand and Tour d'Afrique client Brian Hoeniger joined the team as Accountant and Tour Support. In 2008 Randy returned from his studies to lead in the planning and organization of the inaugural Vuelta Sudamericana, which departed Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in late July 2009 and arrived in Quito, Ecuador, almost 4 1/2 months and 12,000 kilometres later.
Since then Randy has left the company and gone back to his former employ as a canoe and wilderness trip guide, and previous TdA tour leaders in training Sharita van der Merwe (South Africa) and Paul McManus (USA) have become permanent staff. Sharita has led the Tour d'Afrique since 2010 while Paul has become our lead responsible on the Silk Route and the inaugural North American Epic, while also serving as Director of our not-for-profit arm, the Tour d'Afrique Foundation. Most recently Brazilian Cristiano Werneck has joined our team, serving as as our marketer in Sourth America and as Tour Leader on the 2011 Vuelta.
2010 also marked the realization of our innovative DreamTours concept to cycle tours design. That year Shanny Hill led our first DreamTour, the Amber Route, from St. Petersburg, Russia to Venice, Italy, and later in 2010 he and Mike Coo designed our second DreamTour, an Indian Adventure, which Shanny guided from Agra to Kanyakumari in early 2011.
2011 has proven to be a most challenging and inspiring year for our humble founder, Henry Gold, who was trampled by an Elephant while riding his bike in India. After convalescing in Paris, and despite his nagging injuries, he came up with the idea for a book to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Tour d'Afrique. Edited by former TdA EFIer David Houghton, this beautiful volume which celebrates our flagship tour can now be purchased at our website.
