Kitulo National Park

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The Memoir of Cycling Around the World: Chile to Kili Book

It has been a while since I posted here last time. This is because Chile to Kili ride had its own domain before went out of control to adult content host. I still wonder how could that happened. Is there someone seat down and created a porn site and decide to name it Chile to Kili? There are no short wonders in this life. I write about my travels, adventure, conservation, community, and sustainable development. 

That been said if you are still with me, I'm glad to share with you the memoir of my cycling which includes the biography of my growing up adventures. Throughout my experience, a lot of people wonder how did I conceive the idea of cycling around the world. In the book, I share the adventure of my childhood from the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. My life has been of such an adventure that explains the take on of cycling around the world. I also wanted to share my life with many other young people particular here in Africa who may or we share the same background. My cycling was the quest for education and support for others who are in a similar need. Nature and environment conservation was my message, here I share more how my life has been shaped by growing up and working in nature. 

Travel with the bicycle as a young African is more than adventure, every single kilometer was a wonder even in my home country. The places which were only a dream become a true experience. There are no enough words to explain the night camping in the Atacama desert or cycling through the equatorial rain forest of Africa leave alone the busy streets of Landon. The opportunity to see, experience, and share with many the story of conservation and sustainable development, for me it was like a daydream. 

Contrary to the common perception of conflicts, wars, and hate I received and enjoyed a generally warm welcome throughout my journey. Though this doesn't mean I didn't have my share of our reality. As an African here I share my observation, hope, and wishers.  And finally, as from the beginning, I hope my journey will be an inspiration for other young Africans to take on the actions to find a solution for our challenges.Now you can get the copy of Chile to Kili Book at; www.chiletokili.life. Amazon; https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08PBN883Z&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_1knYFbQ81CYBX  

When books are open we find that we have wings….

When books are open we find that we have wings….

 Inspiration it's one of driving power which drive us to achieve so many things in our life, Iguess everyone have been inspired in one way or another. When I share my inspirations and motivations  with other especial here at home it happen that there are  two main opinions.  First group understand that there inspiration, motivation, etc. The second group thought is a miracle, impossible and I just happen to do things by chance. As I'm working to consolidate my understand so I can reason and explain my plans to cycle across countries. I'm not sure if I'm looking for approval, acceptance, to be undestood, or trying to justfy my uncovesional thought to the people around me. Bouncing on these thoughts I often landed at Africa and African. The best I can see self with the mix of tribals, ethinics, speritual beliefs, econmic systeams, etc is as an African. This sense is big and heavy, Africa is vast and complex, luckly it is a feeling. It is everywhere in the body and mind often come out with music food and people. Part of my journey is to look deeper into this feeling. My challenge is to deal with the heavy fog of confusion. I hitch a ride from these people who whave open minds.

This remands me a beautiful passage from Jane Goodall “Reason for Hope” ‘Africa is locked in a time warp of mystification. Africans mystifies everything. It is the pseudo-modernism of today’s Africa: one foot in the primitive and heavily complexed past and another in Modernism, in a superfluous and destructively competitive way; with no heart in it. It is the same way, through lack of understanding; or un willingness of commit the effort to understand…’ Even though I have never gave too much thought about my inspiration but when I feel this I start to think of long list of inspiration. The mistic inspiration, the reality I was born in and grew up which is enternal end up in the conflict with the external. I wonder if Jane she was trying to explain this confusion, anyhow that passage increase my curiosity to wonder more about Africa. Its mistystics, natural bounty, harshness, kindness, awareness, violance and charms.


The list vary from folks I hear about, I meet, what I see (Hollywood movies :- ofcourse I can't take for granted those expirence of peering through the holl in the mad house to see Rambo in the Jangle)  But the one I remember very well it is the one I like the best is the  complex way of picking one alphabet combine them to make a word, sentence, process it in the brain till I can use it as I knowledge and understand.

Books carry lot of mystery, this is my list which has a great influence on me in terms of inspiration. Chinua Achebe’s - These were literature books with fictionalized stories of Nigeria which fit in so many sub-Sahara Africa countries.

 His work such as ‘Things fall Apart and Man of the people’ were a stories which before I though it was shame, it was about our awkwardness but after reading it several time I found out it was worth tell story, in young age I was starting to feel proud of my history. I was inspired by the way he twists the reality; put it in fun way with sense of humor yet very concerning. I think there are more stories like that need to be told. I find it is not ease for may of us young African to build understand from all engle of entrance being in the middle of savannah or in the the slams. Achebe's is a story, it has to be clear to us, in our minds, connect us to this reality we are in today as well as past and future. I flew with Chinua back in the begion of the system I'm in now. His higher flight offered me a glimps of what is to be, to be of Africa.

  Think Big-(Ben Cason) - I grow up in the Christian family pass to all religions to reach ‘respect others believe, mother nature is a supreme, love is what I need. Thanks that Christianity emphasize on learning beyond the realim of belief. Ben's story of  maki it out from huge pool of racial discrimination in suburbs of Detroit from single parent. His work which connected with Christianity is dedicated to youth realizing their potential through ‘Power of positive thinking’ while inspire with his achievement. I lived all sort of life in my early childhood at this point in the slums I flew on Ben's wings. Navigate the way around the shakers and noise to my mind.


  Reason for Hope - (Jane Goodall) Born and grew up in the place which offer the luxury of nature, I have never dought about my duty to conserve it. I'm learning more and what went wrong we end up lost such great connection. I’m motivated to see the conservation of nature given a priority in our daily life. Jane’s story is one of its kind, how she made it all the way, come up with her mission ‘Education, Conservation and Humanitarian’. I share her optimism. Her position as Western Woman, not educated in the conversinal education system as lest not of Master and PhD :-). Offered a view into Western perceptions and commond understand of their challenges and relation to nature as well as they modals of thinking.

Into Africa - This book come in when it come to the question of adventures and history. It combination of obsession, desirefame, passion, etc sent first Europeans explores into Africa. It is the history of heroic discovery which lead to todays scenerio and governing our relation between African and the rest of the world. This account seem to be adressing those who are out of Africa. It luck of human sense shocked me. It made me wonder; Can Africans also be explorers? What will they be looking for? How will they percive the places and those who they will incounter?

Here it is their encounters which are total unimaginable in my minds. It also talking of their discovery impacts and consequences such as ends of slave trade and pass Africa to colonial rulers. What amaze me is the shift from condem slavelry and promote forced labour. I wondered if that all the calculation takes to rule the world.

Paulo Coelho - Despite of his books having lots of contradictions and face high criticism, Coelho still influence and stimulate lots of people.

 I come across ‘The Alchemist’ before taking off on my first long bike ride; It was a piece of work which give rebirth of dreams. I find the book laying at my friends table once I fished it I was flying in the orbit of enlightment. It was easy to find all of his books from different part, backpacker’s hotel shelves, other travelers, etc. The oldman keep of bring facinating and yet confusing stories to awake those who are ready.

  ‘The young all have the same dream: to save the world. Some quickly forget this dream, convinced that there are more important things to do, like having a family, earning money, travelling and learning a foreign language. Others though, decide that it really is possible to make a difference in society and to shape the world we live in  and for future generation’ Paulo Coelho.

Lance Armstrong- Since I switched my awareness in the bike, I come to know this several times winner of Tour De France/cancer survivor, read his bio and achievement it enough to inspire any one. Well, now you know what I'm have been through if I'm not  bamboozled then I'm inspired to learn more. Lance bamboozled me, may be he was just like me but at lest he come out.

Nature: The last book in this list is nature. This is the book I started reading and researching from the bigin of my understand and memory. It is available everywhere the only price is to make effort to be closer and closre every moment.

 The list run so on and so forth. "Kujifunza hakuna mwisho" ...learning has no end...Swahili. This summirize it, one can not stop learning is only through learning I move to the next step, to next orbit to next dimession. Through this lerning I realize that human as consious being the major and most challenge is the abilty and capabilty to learn as quick and adopt. Books give me the lift from these people who open up and share their journey, deep and profound journey, pleasants and painful yet it si vital insight into someone else journey. The lift from the authours helped me to develop my own wings and with the help of the universal power I'm curving my own path. Fortunalty the journey in the personal path is only expression to expirence. This can't be attained through anyone or anything, it is always my respoensibilty.

Nature: The last

Keep on reading about my travels here 

And beyond…. Chile To Kili

On my 25th birthday, I organized and lead 10 students on a mission - trail cleaning, natural studying and, finally, reaching the summit of Mt. Meru. I first conducted a natural study in Arusha National Park, followed by a small, yet meaningful birthday celebration when we reached the summit. The weather was not at its best, but we made it.


 We made it to the top! Such trip is unusual for the local Tanzanians and indeed, it was the first time for the students, which meant so much to us all, specially myself, I was honored to take the lead as one of the committee member of Wildlife Conservation Society. The same day, we lunch our fund raising project on scholarship for disadvantage students who aim to study and work in the natural resource management field in Tanzania.

Growing up, I have always been interested and involved in nature conservation. I am extremely frustrated seeing the high level environmental degradation around us with lack of passionate and committed local professionals and their minimum involvement. I know that I must take actions to raise awareness of environmental protection, not only for myself, but for us and all our generations to come. My first try was to cycle around Africa and see the Motherland as a whole (http://cyclingaroundafrica.blogspot.com/).

 A few years of idea sharing with friends and support from around the world, it came to the idea of “Chile to Kili,” my around the world fund raising project in bringing up perspective future environmentalists. The mission is to raise $100,000 scholarship for Tanzanian students who wish to study and work in the natural resource fields.

 I am cycling on my two wheels to navigate the world in December. I will meet with conservation stakeholders along the way and put in a few hours each day working with them from Santiago to Kilimanjaro. Throughout the project, I shall encourage the use of bicycles as transportation, as well as exchange thoughts and ideas on carbon reduction with people I meet en route. It took two months of preparation for the planning of this project to be where it is now.

 Thanks to so many people, it has been successful so far and I would not have been able to get this far without any of their help. Less than three months left before my flights to Chile, I must focus on fund raising alone, as it is the first step of the execution of my whole project. Therefore, I would appreciate any donation possible from you. The amount goes directly to the Conservation Resource Center account: Bank name: Barclays Bank. Branch:Arusha Branch code: 002 Account name: Conservation Resource Centre Account number: 9001901 SWIFT CODE: BARCTZTZ We are setting up PayPal and First Giving accounts later to facilitate online donations. For those who would like to take fund raising to the next level(even a Captain Fund Raiser!), they may create an account at the “Fist Giving” website under Chile to Kili, then collect funds from their friends.


 I am asking you to please help me in support of our community and the beauty of nature that surrounds us which we seem to forget sometimes. For us, our children and the generations to come, let us all learn to love and respect our mother earth by preserving nature and protecting our environment. We should not only rely on organizations but one person, one step at a time! Should you have any project related question or concern, please feel free to email me: elvis@chiletokili.com. Looking for customized bicycle tours Thank you.

Around Kili with Peter Gostelow

I left Arusha late and drove to the foothills of Kilimanjaro at Marangu village to meet my grandma. I had long chart because have been a year without seeing her, she is getting more older and more worried. At 6:30am I was awoken with big knock on the door “you said you want to leave early” my grand called out, reminding me of the days of primary school.

I was bit lazy but thankfully the coffee was ready, so I assembled my bike as sipping large mug of coffee after that the full breakfast was ready. At 7:30 I was ready on the road warming up with rolling hills, though it took time to become hot as the weather was bit chilly which made the breathing difficult.

It’s always fun to cycle in this banana and coffee plantation with some tall and huge trees like albizia, avacados, mangoe, etc. This time it was totally exhilarating. For more than ten years of living here a tarmac road was a far dream, but now it almost all paved! Can’t help to think of the dust from fast drivers and uncountable pot holes.


 Passing through chains of villages all with schools near the road, I attract great deal of interest. Students keep running out and shouting ‘Mzunguu! What is my name?, What is this?” Tarmac road with relative little traffic,

picturesque landscape with twin Kili peaks , breezing wind with a little bit of sun, and lush green mountain farms and forest make for the perfect day, no matter how many times I cycle here.

I stopped for a coke in the market but forced to finish my drink quickly to avoid the crowed of curious local which was starting to get bigger than I can handle. From Tarake the road becomes more than rolling hills, it is long climbing with few flats, thanks to tailwind. The human habitats stop at Rongai North Kili forest gate.

The mixed forest planted and natural forest is so calm, lots of wildlife (plenty of birds) and I was lucky enough black and white colobus monkeys on the river stared at me as I was stare at them.

I made it to Rongai village and border without border post, there a hundred old wooden bands for forest workers. I try to find food in a local restaurant locally know as ‘hotel.’ Please don’t ask for rooms! I popped in the one pointed by pass by, ‘do you have food?’ ‘yes’ ‘what kind of food?’ ‘Chai and chapatti’ (tea and chapatti), ‘where can I find food?’ ‘probably on that big tree.’

I maneuver the way to the big tree and after some direction from maaasai men sitting under tree (as normal). It a M-kamba woman (from the Kenyan plains) ‘ Uko na chakula?’ (do u have food?) Ndio, chain a madnazi! 9yes tea and some cakes) ‘Thanks, where can I get real food like rice and beans?’ ‘Just try at the end o0f the village’ At he end of the village, a woman dress well compared to the rest of the villagers with the hood; ‘Habari gani? ‘alkhumsalam’ (ooh she replay like I said salamu alekhum, she is Muslim).


Do you have food? ‘Yes but not now, we cant it now because its holey month’ Thanks, ‘we’ Holey Month’ Doesn’t make any sense to me. I should probably cook but before I decide that someone offered me a direction to somewhere else. By the way, this isn’t a large village. You can just see every where so that is easier than cooking. At this last place took 2 1/2hrs to get rice and beans.

I’m now tired and exhausted. It seems like Peter is not going to make to here as the plan, but I’ll wait for his update. I went in the guest house we slept last time. It is just a wooden room of 4.30m wide and 8m long, but it make sense to be called guest house because it cost me 3000Tsh (approx 2$). Around 4pm Peter text ‘45km away, not sure if I can make it, probably I’ll bush camp’.

 Behind the guest house there was football match and from time to time the ball hit the corrugated iron of my room with a scream, so I couldn’t take a nap. I just wander in the football pitch. The match seemed to be bit serious as I found more spectators than I expected, and players with formal jerseys with hand written numbers.

The scene where like imaginary football match on the green pitch surrounded by old wooden bandas, all kinda folks children to adult watching a match, goats, sheep cattle roaming around, forest and hug mass of land with white peak. After 20minuts of watching I could predict the match so there was no point of standing there.It was sun down so better take a walk. I took a walk towards the mountain. The walk was a perfect call, there was an awesome view of mountain two peaks connected with a saddle with colorful reflection from sun set (I wish I had a good camera).

The lush green with high diversity of plant as much as my eyes could tell, the birds call were so varying, fiscal shrike and pygmy falcon perch on electrical polls waiting for last insects to show up, bunch of Hartilabs Turaco telling each how was the day from far, couple Tropical Boubou calling each and paradise fly catcher busy in the mating.


This was probably walking to the little paradise. I walk back in the house when it was dark made my spaghetti and canned beans dinner. I set off at 7am to cycle the cloudy and chilly cold mountain, at some point the road return to the rolling hills. It was too cold with little rain in those long down hills.

I stopped in one village for chai. Peter texted ‘I’m getting lazy in my old age, still lying in the tent listening to music but soon I’ll be on the road’.


At Kamwanga village where the green forest turn to dry savannah stretching from mountain to Kenyan plains also the tarmac road turns to gravel road with some dust pool. After about 20km from Rongai I was now aware that I might loose Peter probably in the bush or chai stop, I stopped a motor bike driver coming from different direction, ‘Did you pass mzungu on the bike?’ ‘no’ ‘where are you from?’ ‘olmolong’ ‘how far from here?’ ‘may be 2km’ !!! ‘how long do you think it will take me to be there?’ may be 1/30hrs’ ‘Thanks very much and safari njema’.


 Five kilometers ahead I meet a maasai on his cool traditional dress cord; ‘Habari rafiki? ‘Have you seen mzungu on the bike?’ ‘Yes’ ‘Where’ ‘Here’’ When?’ ‘About 2 or 3 days ago’ Thanks, see you later.’ About 2km from maasai guy Peter was struggling uphill with his heavy loaded bike. We just laugh at each as we great each, we have been up to date each for couple of days .

Before going further I just ask Peter, “how did you sleep he just laugh more. ‘I camped after dark, it happened to be the wrong spot, because it was behind a chickens pen. There were tons of cock calling just in my head from 3am or so. 10m from my tent it was pig pen, the smell was unbearable in the morning. But all is fine’ “All is Fine!!” More or less that is what I could say as well so I now realized we’re on the same page.

We stop for about half an hour talking on different subjects. We resume our cycling towards the mountain to Rongai when we start to feel cold.


Me and Peter we knew each about 3yrs ago when I was researching for my cycling around Africa mission, in that time he was arriving back home from China by bike. He cycled a lot in central and southern Asia,

actually this there where he started his bikes touring adventures. When he was setting off for ‘Big Cycle Africa’ we hope to meet but never schedule it. Peter cycle for his own pace with plan of London to Cape Town, he said he always tell people that he will be in Cape after 6 months now it almost 2yrs on road and he’s still telling me he will be in Cape after 6 months.

Talking with Peter about his adventure in Africa I think is a first cyclist who had real enjoy and experience ‘real’ Africa. Despite robber attack in Senegal and theft of all electronic equipments in Kenya he is still super positive and never related them with his biking experience. The both happen out of cycling, he took the wrong walking path in Senegal and Kenya incident was thief in the recommended guest house where he stayed while distributing mosquito net which is a cause of his Africa adventure.


Malaria is a disease which is a cause of many death in Africa than any, since there have been little done to eradicate this disease a cause like Peter's it invaluable. He is going through most remote part of the continet, central Africa, Congo, etc and set up mosquito nets distribution. I think this is among of worth cause to undertake.


 Good work Peter! Our meeting was bit strange, after few hours together it was like we knew each for ages. We talked of many different things than bikes. We had later lunch at Tarakea, continued with cycling slow with Peter’s pace, exchanging bikes, make some silly games with locals while listen to Fela Kutte in his external speakers. The dark found us at Rombo, we sorted accommodation here, had long conversation over diner. This was the perfect time for me to talk with Peter about my coming expedition; “Chile to Kili”. The plan is to raise money to offer scholarships for motivated Tanzania students who want to study Natural Resource Management or Environmental Conservation. I


 am one of these students, who has been struggling to find funding for school. On the way I plan to raise awareness for Nature/environment conservation in different ways. This is quite the same mission with Peter of raise money to “Fight Against Malaria in Africa”. Peter likes the idea a lot, he believes it will be also an inspiration for most of the youth especial African. He relates this with his talking he did in Africa. He is also down to come and join me for couple of weeks in somewhere like Mongolia; “I cant imagine what will be the reaction of people who have never see a black man before” he concluded.

The next day we start our day slowly as we didn’t feel like leaving each other. Peter showed me what he packed, important and not important, useful and not useful, etc. We spent couple of hours at breakfast and coke stops.

 We gave each other one final hug and best wishes as Peter camped in the rim of Lake Chala and I headed back to Arusha for further preparations of ‘Chile to Kili’. Stay turned for more info as soon we will launch the movement, there will be also plenty of chance if you want to join me for a stretch.

Would you like to cycle around Kilimanjaro with us ? See our around Kilimanjaro bike tour package 

Khartoum-Gondar

It is on

e hour ago since the bright sun slowly rise from Ethiopian highlands set a blaze the Khartoum vast sky, the gentle breeze from the desert blew the dust on the deserted street create the pleasant moment for the folks on the two wheels. Few men on the whites and woman on the blacks curious staring at mzungus chasing one another, how far are they going?

I bet that should be the question. Slowly traffic intensify, on the city outskirt lie bus livestock market most got and ships on sell, the small shacks, the man on the white robes and tabernacles moving around caring bay got or ship, negotiating or sometime shout to each other its total exotic scene. Some riders stop and tack few snaps for Swedish guy, Kistin photo wasn’t enough he actually end up buying small got and put it in the rear camera bag, “Got get a ride”.

As town lie behind comes few small town-ships where you will greeted buy you children who never give the shirt if you like it or not they will say hello! Repeat for couple of time before we reach lunch it was you against the wind for certain extension of time. It is a stretch of eight days without rest day till we hit Gondar, Ethiopia. Every day was a new day with total different experience hot, dust, flat tires (max. 10 per person per day), bumping road, get lost and last but not on the list Sudanese’s particular kindness. Stranger pop in the village with explanation that they will camp here, within hours you farm it home of more than 60 people moving around just like they have been there for ages.


 Those with courage especial old folks brought coffee and chai which you may not be able to turn down though it is 30C hot. In one occasion there was a speech from local leader who couldn’t hide his emotion; Asalam alekhum wa barackatu…! It is our pleasure to host you in our village, though we didn’t prepare much for you are coming your most welcome. Next year we ask your management to let us know in advance for now we bring you few drinks”.

The cold drinks is un imaginable think which you can only dream or luckily get in the coke stop, this one was consisting mineral water, pineapple juice Pepsi and non alcoholic beer! The speech was in the English which require you rearrange those sentences in order to get proper mining. I’m worry that is you will let this guys no your coming perhaps they will slaughter couple of camel and you will not have space to put what you can’t take.

 It might be a bit of confusion ordinary people are natural kind to strangers or the basic fundament of their religion is to share what they have now the politician with their bad reputation us it by saying “we are always kind and welcome so…next time bring you family for vacation in Sudan!
The begin of Sudan contradict it end no beer, official progress such as permit for taking photos, persistence hot which eventual reach 47 C and wind plus the 3 days on bumping road make Ethiopia to sound like “Promising Land”. There was big up loud when I announce last ride meeting in Sudan and comment that bordered crossing is a slow process but soon when you’re in Ethiopia side just get “Dishen” a Ethiopian beer and take it ease.

We had lunch in the Sudan side 40km from boarder both Gallabat and Matema border post they among of slowest border I have ever come across, it is just one person recording all needed and unneeded information on large book. If you are from less known country or white and having South African passport they will pass it around discussing and if they will not satisfy themselves they might bomb you with questions as they ask this white South African guy “Where is South Africa?” After spend reasonable amount of time in the immigration where everyone leave on his time been stop is busy Matema small town for beers and injira or cycle 4 km to come.



As you seat you feet in the crossing line between these county which may share some almost forget past historical relation to today oil, labor, food product, etc you will have strong sees of difference. Form body morphology to dressing, if is not every building it vehicles and if not that is everyone on the cloth having a Red, Golden and Green colors. These colors have been adopted with most of African country and most of Africanism organizations plus Rastafarian movement. That is how we enter among of the oldest country in the world. It rolling hills, twisted landscape bushes full of birds and favorable climate together make the best riding day for most of the riders.

As well as second day except that this one become more challenge as it take you to the highest climb of the tour 2502m if that wasn’t enough there are fun kids who shout to you “You! You! Where you go?” if you will not replay wave and smile you likely to be hit by stone or get stick.

 Anyways their lovely kids who may be have been effected “We are the world” so they believe that they should be given everything money, clothes or shoes is what they will comfortably demand from you. Stone throwing is more like a game for them as I come across some of them playing it seriously.
It was a long day as I sweep then get on towards Gondar, it look more historical town with it old castle, several churches. It also a center for highland people Amaranya . Stay turn for next up to day as I’ll be collecting much fact about the legend Ethiopia.