Cycling Africa Cape to Cape: LT&C member George Podaras has reached Sudan

As we reported in summer last year, in September 2019, aspiring videographer, cyclist and member of LT&C, George Podaras took on an exciting journey across Africa’s most southern point to the most northern. His mission: to document the continent’s abundant wildlife and how tourism benefits nature conservation in its National Parks. On his way he has passed several members and LT&C-Examples including the Cape Whale Coast, South Africa, Friends of Karura Community Forest Association, Colors of Zanzibar and the Borana Conservancy and Lodge in Kenya.

After some ups and downs, setbacks and victories, George has made it to Sudan marking the challenging last thirds of his journey through Africa:

After cycling approximately 8000 KM, I had made it to Khartoum, Sudan all the way from the most southern point of Africa. It has been a journey of highs and lows but i have managed to keep pushing on, witnessing incredible landscapes and fascinsting cultures.

Kenya allowed me to dive deep into a few national parks including Borana park, which have done a magnificent job of maintaining the precious wildlife there, including both the white and black rhino. Thanks to Borana Lodge, they were kind enough to give me a roof over my head and take me to the vast protected lands which fun fact;  lot of was what the Lion King was based on.

Entering Ethiopia seemed daunting due to the high altitudes i had to climb and reputation of people throwing stones but i was so pleasantly suprised by the frriendly people and though some of the mountains were certainly hard to climb; the view was worth every sweating moment. The amazing 5p coffee was a great source of energy. Another good motivation is that there are no mosquitos after 2000 feet!

Now in the realm of the Sahara, I am officialy in North Africa. The changing environment is refreshing but challenging due to the opposing winds. I try to look at it as Gods air condition for me! Sudan is huge with a low population which makes it easier to camp, and anyone I do come across always welcomes me in for a coffee and a warm bed. I feel I am now at the beginning of the end of my journey. Hard to beleive that I made it all the way up here and have 30 days left of cycling.

I have witnessed issues due to climate change, mainly drought, which explained the unprecedented amount of elephants in Botswana and Zambia looking for water holes, causing friction between humans. Locals had told me they had never seen Victoria Falls this dry for this long. People in Malwai were also concerned with the low water. Finally the locals of Kenya and Tanazania expected some rain in November; they assured me it had never been this intense with flooding – ever in their lifetime. As I am raising money for ocean life I thought it was relevant to include some of the issues I witnessed towards the environment, among the beautiful fragility of it.

Thank you for anyone who had sponsored and supported me this far. Remember its all for a good cause and from what I have seen I can assure you this planet is absolutely worth fighting for.

To support George on his mission, you are welcome to make a donation to LT&C’s Member, the Dyer Conservation Trust – a dedicated charity with the mission to protect marine life and tackle the fight against plastic and the decline of wildlife – on his GoFundMe page, or follow him on Strava.

Make a donation

We are grateful that you support the work and mission of LT&C! We accept donations through Credit Card, PayPal or international bank transfer:

Alternative 1: Donate through Credit Card:

Alternative 2: Donate through PayPal (amount in Euro):

Please click the Donate button and then choose your PayPal account

Alternative 3: Donate through international bank transfer

Bank details:
Cultura Sparebank
Pb. 6800, St. Olavs plass
N-0130 Oslo

Name: Linking Tourism & Conservation,
Account no.: 1254 05 95168
IBAN: NO8712540595168
BIC/SWIFT: CULTNOK1
Routing BIC: DNBANOKK

Please mark payments with your name and/or email address

Sign up now

Sign up for an LT&C membership by filling in the details below.

Add your LT&C-Example

Would you like your LT&C-Example/Initiative to be listed on our website? Please fill in the form below.

  • Would you like your LT&C example/initiative to be listed on our website? Please fill in the form below.
  • Please tell us about your LT&C example/initiative and how it fits with Linking Tourism & Conservation (LT&C)
  • Please elaborate on the following topics:
    a) Political/management support
    b) Financial support
    c) Educational support
  • Website with more information on the LT&C example/initiative
  • Please leave your contact details so that we can get in touch with you. This information will not be displayed on our website unless you ask us to.
  • By submitting this form you accept our current LT&C Privacy policy and that we may store and manage your contact information and that we may use the submitted material on our website.
  • Dieses Feld dient zur Validierung und sollte nicht verändert werden.