Randgold Resources chief executive Mark Bristow will lead his fifth trans-Africa motorbike safari (the fourth under the Nos Vies en Partage banner) in a challenging cross-continental ride which will start on the east coast at Mombasa in Kenya on 1 June 2016 and end at Matadi in DRC on the west coast at the end of that month, having passed through or around the dense equatorial Congolese jungle as...  Read more »

Inspiring quotes from the Boyz! ...   Read more »

As planned we were all up early and the Kinshasa Biker Club guys arrived at the hotel ahead of our 5am departure - coffee, some breakfast (thanks to the staff of the Memling Hotel) and off we set for the last leg of what has been an epic journey!   Read more »

A well-deserved rest for the team and up for breakfast in time to leave for the Kinshasa boat club and a 2 hour cruise up the Congo at 9am.   Read more »

What a night in Kikwit - the team experienced a Saturday night in town and clearly our hotel was the disco hot-spot! We had more than one disco blaring out NOISE rather than music until 4.30 in the morning. We were all up early - Mark was a little better having rested his injuries a bit and, after rolls with fried Vienna sausages and coffee, and with the bikes fuelled up, we headed out just...  Read more »

The chaos of last night continued this morning - Dogo slept at the petrol station to get fuel first thing in the morning. It was an early morning to bed for some of the team and the Boyz managed through doubling up, with Raph sharing his room with three others. Stephen from Didi’s MD team eventually got the hotel management focused on a bit of service and actually got coffee, eggs and a bun for...  Read more »

It has become habit now - an early start and today a great hot breakfast at the Hotel Woodlands and then we were escorted out of town and off to Tshikapa on a road advised by Jean de Dieu (translated means Jean of God) a WHO doctor. We quickly got onto a 50m wide road and were clipping along traveling effectively away from our destination most of the time - much to the consternation of some of...  Read more »

Last night we stayed in one of only two buildings that had electricity in Mwene Ditu and the generator woke us up at 5am. The bikes were already fuelled so we packed our goods - there was no coffee or breakfast - a few energy bars and off we set at sunrise, led out of town by our host Jean-Paul. This was the first time since Lubumbashi that we had entered our destination and the GPS showed a...  Read more »

We were all up on time and spoilt with a hearty cooked breakfast and coffee - John and his team fuelled up the bikes and we rolled out towards Mwene Ditu at sunrise.   Read more »

We were all up early and fresh after a two-day break - and we left still in the dark at 6am - and the road out of Kolwezi soon deteriorated and then got progressively worse - first stop was after Mark had a big fall! Then the next was at 160km to cross on a ferry - this ferry was a manually operated one.  Read more »

Our second rest day in Kolwezi started like the first - a relaxed breakfast and the team then got down to bike repairs - mostly focussing on repairing spare fuel tanks where possible, checked shocks, tightened up the steering bolts and reset steering dampeners and a general once over as we have a straight 6 day ride now until we get to Kinshasa, without much time as there are a few tough days and...  Read more »

We all slept in a little and met at breakfast around 9am - then a catch up with emails and other business.  Read more »

The team had a “soft start” with a good breakfast and off we set to Kolwezi on a good tar road - only risk was the mad drivers that we had to watch out for. We had one rest for coffee and snacks and handed out some t-shirts.   Read more »

After a very productive rest day yesterday - the team was up ahead of everyone else at Pwetu lodge packing our now fully functional bikes - the rest of the crew and the lodge staff were soon up and about and we were treated to a great egg and bacon breakfast (except Mark who had developed a stomach bug!!) ...   Read more »

The team had a great evening last night and some of the younger group pushed the limit a bit - nevertheless everyone was up at a reasonable time but not ahead of the GECOTRANS “couriers” who arrived in the early hours of the morning. Thanks again to Suzette, Malcolm, Martin and most of all Kerry and the Gecotrans team for making this happen.   Read more »

Last night was a late night for the whole team as the Boyz tried to ensure their bikes were capable of making the 460km ride to Pwetu. Quinton had a leaking radiator which he fixed with tea leaves! Rolfe was helping Quinton, the rest were assisting with refuelling and Mark, Raph and Did were running around trying to rent a pick-up to take Rob’s bike to Pwetu.   Read more »

Up early again but this time we were determined to depart at 6am which happened - we reversed our route back across the railway bridge and we were out of town by 6.40am.   Read more »

After a good rest day - we were up early and packed the bikes, cup of coffee and a frustrating slow delivery on the breakfast side. Nevertheless, those who did not get omelette, substituted with fruit and bread.   Read more »

After a good night’s sleep the team was up and about early - receiving clean and dry laundry which is always a bonus and getting the bikes set for their workover under the instruction of Mike Puzey.   Read more »

Well last night worked out and the 4 BOYZ who stayed with the Sisters had a great time and even a cooked breakfast. Quinton, Charles and Mark, who stayed in the priests quarters, had to fend for themselves - apart from coffee - Father Gabriel’s cook brewed up a pot of Mark’s special mix and Raph arranged fresh bread and we had rolls from yesterday.   Read more »

The day started with a very tasty breakfast - some confusion over fuel which proved to be short so they had to get the petrol station open at 7am to get the extra 40 litres required.   Read more »

We all had a good rest and were up at 5.30am to finish off on some cleaning up. Some of the team had laundry done. After two very tough days, it was great to have a relatively slow start after a breakfast of omelettes and good old bully beef on bread with coffee and tea followed by a farewell to Father Roman and his team. We had to fuel up and eventually got out of Nia Nia at 8.50am.   Read more »

After yesterday’s hectic day, we were up at 5.30am because some of the bikes, Rolfe’s in particular, needed attention. We had a quick breakfast and, while the team went to fuel up, Mark, Charles and Cyrillie went to greet the Governor - they had a great meeting with the Governor and his team and he very generously, on behalf of his province, donated full fuel tanks to the BOYZONBIKES - a big...  Read more »

We thought yesterday was a challenge and had lots of mud but today proved all that to be wrong. Today has to go down as the most hectic riding day we have done and there is no doubt that the BOYZONBIKES made their own movie today!   Read more »

After a hearty breakfast we said our goodbyes to the Kibali team. A big thank you to the whole team and in particular to Hennie, Speedy and Craig for assisting with the bike repairs.   Read more »

Today was our first rest day, (and well deserved I might say) at the Randgold / AGA Sokimo Kibali gold mine in north east DRC.   Read more »

We all arrived at the Kibali mine safely today after a staggered start, a border crossing from Uganda to the DRC and a total of 400km.   Read more »

So day three is behind us and another 626km and 12.5 hours for Mark, Rob, Quinton, Charles and Paul. Mike and Rolfe, with Raph and Cyrille who stayed behind to help, took 14.5 hours after Rolfe’s bike broke down just outside Lira.  Read more »

So off again, Mark looking a bit bruised but raring to go – quick breakfast and back into the Kita traffic we arrived in the night before.   Read more »

So it arrived – the first day of our Safari Kwa Afrika Bora. Everyone was up and ready on time, a quick breakfast and we were sent off by a small crowd of dedicated supporters, the local Kaya band and Philippe with the BOYZONBIKES starter flag!   Read more »

So tomorrow is the big day but so was today. It started with the team doing the finishing touches to the bikes and making sure the communications gismo’s all worked – another review of the route, the tough and challenging sections and options and plan B’s!   Read more »

Its Sunday afternoon, 29 May and just two days left before we head out on our ” Safari kwa Afrika Bora ride” with departure from Mombasa set for first light on Tuesday. The Chairman of the Nos Vies en Partage Foundation, Philippe Lietard, arrived in Mombasa on Sunday and will be travelling with the bikers for the first 2 days of the trip. Tonight, six of the seven ‘boyz on bikes’, Rob, Paul,...  Read more »

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After three months of preparation, parts testing and building the bikes were finally finished and ready to pack and ship. Every bike was checked over several times and test ridden to be sure nothing was missed then placed on it crate for the trip to Mombasa. The bikes looked amazing prior to the packing an I am keen to see how they will look after the 8000km trip - may not be as spotless!   Read more »

Completing the TECH...Once the bikes were run in and washed, the work started on prepping the machines for the epic trip. All the bikes were fully serviced, air filters oiled and fitted. ABS modlues were added for ‘off road use’, leaving only the front wheel in ABS mode and the rear wheel no longer with ABS functionality which, in dirt, is essential. Steering dampers were fitted with small...  Read more »

701 was a new product from Husqvarna in 2016 so no after market parts existed for the bike when they arrived in January. After some tech development had taken place during Feburary, the time came and it looked like we were confirmed to use these bike for the trip   Read more »

On Jan 14th 2016 the first bikes arrived at Bikers Warehouse and the team set about their business of transforming the Huski 701 into a bike capable of getting us across Africa. Off the shelf, the 701 is ideally suited for the touring off road terrain as it is effectively described as a plastic bike and is at least 50Kg lighter than anything else in the class - only 155kg with accessories...  Read more »

In 2009 we rode the then new BMW 800GS – first to drive it from Cape to Cairo; in 2012 we road the Yamaha Super Tenere 1200 – also a new model and in 2014 we drove the absolutely wonderful KTM 1190. That was the bike to ride but our Safari this year is definitely not for sissies!   Read more »

A year after our epic trip down the west coast of Africa from Abidjan to Cape town, the third in a series of rides that took us up the east coast from Cape Town to Cairo in 2009 and then from Bagshot to Budapest via Bamako to finish in Abidjan in 2012, it was time to start planning our next ride. A ride across Africa to highlight the plight of its woman and children that are so often left behind...  Read more »