Africa
Overland
2027

33.92°S 18.42°E→9.03°N 38.74°E

Solo motorcycle expedition · 2027

Africa
Overland
2027

Cape Town to Addis Ababa. 12,000 km. 8 countries. One Yamaha Ténéré 700. A solo motorcycle trip across Africa — and a mid-career reset in motion: out of burnout, back into the world.

12,000km
8countries
90days
1rider
Follow the journey Support the expedition
The story

The numbers, then the road

For years I have analysed African markets through ESG data, risk models and sustainability frameworks — from behind a desk in Central Europe. In July 2027, I'll finally bridge that gap — through a visor, at 100 km/h.

01 / 04

The professional

A senior professional with two decades in risk management, emerging-markets analysis and sustainable finance (ESG) within European banking. The emerging markets I analyse from a desk, I'll now ride through.

02 / 04

The challenge

Sedentary baseline. Recovery from professional burnout. 18 months of physical and mental preparation — the same rigour applied to expedition planning as to a regulatory framework.

03 / 04

The machine

2023 Yamaha Ténéré 700 — shipped from Central Europe to Cape Town. Not bought locally. Familiarity with your motorcycle is life insurance in remote Africa.

04 / 04

The mission

Document the real Africa. Not the risk premiums — the people, landscapes and realities behind the data. 8 countries. 90 days. Full transparency.

Why it matters

Beyond the adventure

This expedition sits at the intersection of conversations that matter: men's mental health, professional resilience, the search for meaning after burnout, sustainable finance in the Global South, and the power of physical challenge as a reset.

01 / 04

Resilience & mental health

Sustained physical challenge in novel environments is one of the most evidence-backed tools for recovery from burnout and rebuilding executive function. The expedition is structured as a 90-day resilience project — and an open conversation about men's mental health.

02 / 04

Africa through ESG eyes

The route crosses countries at the frontline of climate adaptation, energy transition and economic development. A sustainable finance lens applied to overland travel produces unique, substantive content.

03 / 04

Motorcycle as metaphor

Two wheels force presence, adaptability and problem-solving. A motorcycle expedition demands constant engagement with the environment — a radical departure from office culture.

04 / 04

New start, mid-career

The expedition challenges the narrative that mid-career is too late for radical change. Not a midlife crisis — a midlife recalibration: preparation, discipline and purpose can unlock experiences that seem reserved for the young.

The route

Eight countries, one line north

The East Africa corridor — the benchmark overland motorcycle route on the continent. Iconic wildlife landscapes, dramatic altitude changes, and a well-established overlanding community.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
01

Cape Town

South Africa · Start

0 km
02

Namibia

Fish River · Sossusvlei

~1 500 km
03

Botswana

Okavango · Chobe

~900 km
04

Zambia / Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls

~1 200 km
05

Tanzania

Serengeti · Kilimanjaro

~900 km
06

Rwanda / Uganda

Bwindi · Mountain gorillas

~800 km
07

Kenya

Nairobi · Rift Valley

~700 km
08

Ethiopia → Addis Ababa

Highlands · Blue Nile · Finish

~770 km
Frequently asked questions

What people ask

What is Africa Overland 2027?

A solo motorcycle expedition from Cape Town to Addis Ababa. 12,000 km across 8 countries on a Yamaha Ténéré 700, departing July 2027. The rider is a senior sustainable finance professional who works with ESG data for African countries and wanted to see the continent behind the numbers.

Is a solo motorcycle trip across Africa a midlife crisis?

Call it a midlife recalibration. A midlife crisis is impulsive; this expedition is the opposite — 18 months of documented physical, medical and logistical preparation. Research suggests that purposeful challenge at mid-career is one of the healthiest responses to burnout and stagnation, and one of the most under-discussed topics in men's mental health.

Why is a finance professional doing this?

After years of building ESG frameworks for African markets from behind a desk in Europe, the decision was to experience the real continent. The expedition is also a personal journey about recovery from professional burnout, rebuilding resilience, and proving that radical physical challenge is possible with the right preparation — at any career stage.

Can adventure travel help recover from burnout?

Research in positive psychology and neuroscience suggests that sustained physical challenges in novel environments aid burnout recovery: they rebuild executive function, interrupt chronic stress loops, restore agency, and reconnect people with intrinsic motivation.

How can I follow the expedition?

Subscribe to the newsletter for monthly preparation updates and live dispatches, and follow on Instagram for daily photography. Also documented on LinkedIn (ESG angle) and YouTube (monthly video essays).

Are sponsorships available?

Yes — curated slots across four tiers: Title Sponsor, Major Partner, Official Supplier, and Supporting Partner. Dual audience: adventure travel globally, and ESG/finance professionals in Europe.

Partners & sponsors

Join the expedition

A curated number of partners. Selected, not collected. Only brands that fit this story and its dual audience — adventure riders and ESG professionals.

Title sponsor

Motorcycle brand

Gear & apparel

Open

Navigation & tech

Open

Lubricants

Open

Support

Put fuel in the tank

This expedition is self-funded at its core. If the story resonates — the midlife reset, the mental-health conversation, Africa beyond the headlines — you can help keep the wheels turning.

Donate to the expedition fund Follow on Instagram ↗
Follow the journey

Don't miss a kilometre

Monthly dispatches from the preparation trail. When the wheels start turning in July 2027 — live updates from the road. No spam, ever.

Your email is never shared. Unsubscribe any time.