Sooo, how’s the KTM? Review of KTM 390adv at 25k (2020)
I got my KTM 390adv (2020) in late 2022, with 2 previous owners just broken in at 4,600km. I promised a 10,000km review, but it took a little longer 😂 The odo just hit 25,000km and I’ll say it’s a fun, reliable bike! Even my…
Madagascar
It’s like gazing at eternity: A 900m rock wall glistering in the many shades of sunset. On the next dinner table: A conversation of a Malagasy tourguide and his two Spanish clients. Perfect Madrid accent. Obviously from the tourists, but also the guide. I chat…
Usambara Mountains to Diani and home (East Africa loop – part 3)
It’s been a little over two weeks exploring East Africa with the new girl. She’s done great so far and I reached Kilimanjaro via the longest and most scenic routes ever: From Nairobi via Lake Kivu and Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda. It’s been amazing spending…
Kivu to Kili (East Africa loop – part 2)
Despite all the Christmas traffic I arrived at Lake Kivu in excellent spirits (part 1 here). The next part of the adventure should lead me to some of Tanzania’s most beautiful spots, a country I’ve had many adventures in, but never ridden through before! But…
Nairobi to Kivu (East Africa loop – part 1)
Y’all know the itch when there’s a route you want to try out? What if it’s 1150km from home? When I rode to Rwanda in July, I missed seeing a small corner of Uganda, that I had heard so much about: The Kabale Kisoro twisties.…
Kigali to Nairobi via Fort Portal (Western Uganda)
My month in Rwanda is coming to an end. Beautiful riding and new friendships. I enjoy Kigali’s bars and cafes with views across the many hills. But Nairobi is calling. I want to use the back route and explore Western Uganda, avoiding the main highway.…
Rusizi & Nyungwe escapades
What’s the plan for the weekend? We have to extend our temporary bike import permits. They were only valid for two weeks. This can be done at any customs office of Rwanda Revenue Authority. Now, we’re around 100km in any direction from the next office.…
Up and down Lake Kivu
This month I’m working from my friend’s house at Lake Kivu. Over the weekends, we wish to explore the beauty of Western Rwanda together on two wheels! Havana and I rode to Kibuye, Karongi district from Nairobi. You can read all about the 1373km trip…
Lake Kivu Roadtrip
My biker pal’s job moved her to Lake Kivu in Western Rwanda. She had brought her clothes and favorite coffee mug with her by plane, but life was not complete. She was raving about the incredible roads, beautiful scenery and amazing riding once Mugabe would…
Mt. Kasigau and Taita Wildlife Conservancy
Over lunch in Mariakani I ponder over the map: Whereto next? With least possible tarmac? I had earlier plotted a bush route to Mwatate from Kwale. Maybe I could do part of it still this afternoon? Not too much of course considering this is wildlife…
Tsavo East Ovanaita from Malindi
There’s two places I’ve been wanting to ride to from Malindi. Yesterday I visited Hell’s Kitchen – an incredible experience! The other desire was exploring the Tsavo East area – well knowing I can’t enter or ride through the national park by motorbike. But I…
Hell’s Kitchen in Marafa
I had been longing to see this geological site. But I had no idea what a magnificent experience it was going to be! The place can easily be traced on Google Maps. It’s around 45 minutes on smooth empty tarmac from Malindi, 40km through coastal…
The Scenic Route to Voi
Today I took the scenic route to Voi. Total 482km: From the Western Bypass via Ngong, Isinya, Mashuru, then past Kili and the 70 clicks of dirt to Taveta. Besides scenery and some interesting rough surface I wanted piece of mind for my Friday. The…
Losting around Lake Turkana – Eastern shore from Ileret south (Part 2)
I wake up in my tent to birds chirping. I open the zip to soak in the views towards Lake Turkana from the hilltop at the Catholic Mission. It’s taking my breath. Time stands still in this place. It’s as if the soul synchronizes with…
Losting around Lake Turkana – Western shore to Todonyang (Part 1)
My bike, tent, a book and me. I plan to fall off the grid completely for my January leave. A TZ roadtrip to Lake Tanganyika sounds amazing until I read up on our neighbor’s rain seasons. Maybe I explore the greenery of Western Kenya instead? …
Night ride to Naks
I get extremely delayed that day and leave my house at 6:35pm. The plan was to sleep at Lake Bogoria but reaching there is now impossible. I could still make it to Naivasha! For various reasons I cannot delay this ride (get the Turkana trip…
Christmas in the Wild
Christmas time. A wilderness trip it was supposed to be. Seeing if it’s true that where goats can go, a bike can go. Camping at a cliff somewhere in Kajiado. But December just wasn’t Decembering. Torrential rain for 10 days. Was our off-road camping adventure…
Loiyangalani, finally!
The Eastern shore of Lake Turkana has fascinated me for long. The many conversations with riders about their South Horr and Loiyangalani adventures had caused some major FOMO and my curiosity was through the roof after my recent Lodwar/Eliye (blog here) and Samburu (Mt. Ololokwe)…
Samburu ride: Stargazing on Mt Ololokwe
Have you seen those pictures of bikers posing next to Mt. Ololokwe, the table mountain of Samburu? I’ve been wanting to climb this mountain for years. Hiking, riding and swimming is a triathlon I’d sign up for. “Archer’s Post” just rolls off your tongue in…
Turkana Roadtrip
In all these years I’ve never been to Northern Kenya. The idea of watching the sunset by the beach along Lake Turkana and riding through desert is so enticing! Between Turkana and Marsabit I decide to do the former, hoping it’s the easier and safer…
7-day roadtrip through Taita Taveta and Makueni
To help contain Corona, we have really contained our love for travel in the last 5 months! Confident in my social distancing skills, I was ready for an adventure and to see a new part of the country for my birthday leave and settled on…
Dartmoor get-away
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kgBB5qbSH4 I spent a few days in the South West of England, in Devonshire. Just me, my bike and my rain jacket 😉 Very recommended in this area: The book ’50 Hikes across Devon’, a lunch at the Warren House Inn, the Youth Hostel in…
Stockholm – bicycles & more!
In July I attended the wedding of my friends near Stockholm and took the opportunity to see the city and meet old friends. Here are the pictures of my trip through the city and its surroundings. My first impression was that there’s a lot of…
4 relaxing days on Menorca
Together with my friend Caroline I went on a long weekend trip to Menorca. As the spring season had just started, we were nearly alone in the hotel, the beaches, the car parks… Instant relaxation! We enjoyed the history, amazing food and landscape. Colour code…
A day with mum and the Seven Sisters
My mum visited for Easter and with another friend we visited England’s south coast. Three German ladies out in the wild. A lovely day on the cliffs imagining life on the south downs with lots of sheep before electricity and piped water.
Yucatan Roadtrip
Together with two of my colleagues I spend a few days in Yucatan, Mexico. One Mexican, a Brazilian and a German girl driving around to experience the beautiful landscape, learn about pre-Colombian culture Maya and relax with sun and good food. It was a great…
Chicago… and love!
A work trip to the US. Immediately upon arrival there’s a slight refreshing difference to the UK. Instead of signs saying “Don’t offend our staff. We’ll press for the highest charges!”, we can read “Our pledge to the visitors”. Welcome to the new world! My…
Midnight sun
A weekend in Tromso. Sunlight from morning ’til… well morning!
Hiking in Colombia – Leadership Encounter
Today I went hiking in Colombia – just two hours drive from Bogota you can find wonderful nature! Laguna verde (“green lake”) was the destination. After getting out of the car, we walked through a high altitude plateau (3300-3700 m) with rare plants, the beautiful…
Scotland – West Highland Way
A week of walking in rough and beautiful nature… Last week I hiked the West Highlands Way in Scotland. The famous Lochs, the foggy valleys, volcanic hills, the food and culture. A great time off from London and its buzz! Preparations: The Way is a…
Kent Coast
The moment when you realize how long you have not seen the sea!
Chilworth Cementary – “Live is for living”
So I just took this random guess on google “Hike near London” and ended up on a website for “Surrey Hills”, downloaded the first hike and went…. after some weeks in London it felt great to get some fresh air! One of the inscriptions on…
Articles on Health, Fitness & Wellness :
Hypertensive? Me?
High blood pressure has been a chapter of my health journey for about a year now. I thought to share my experience and learnings for anyone who’s on a wellness journey, too! How I found out… In September 2022 I underwent a minor day surgery.…
Epilepsy and 1900 KES monthly
The reason why I don’t want to have a car in Nairobi (besides the ones we all think of: jam, repairs, cops, cleaning…) is that I could miss out on what makes life. You see, Kenya is a walking nation and many real human encounters…
Noise pollution & your health being at the mercy of others
Yesterday my friend Gigi and I refused to pay the fare on the bus, as the driver had ignored our repeated requests to reduce the volume of the deafening music. That threat quickly led to the desired change. The volume came down and finally we…
Musings on nail fungus and procrastination
It must have happened in Uganda. Or maybe in India, Rwanda or Kenya. Or even in Mexico. It must have been when sharing shoes or using communal showers. Or maybe when dancing barefoot in dirty places. God knows. But it must have been in the…
And to wrap up, some musings about this world, and encounters from across the globe:
Islamphobic statements at a barbecue
It was at a barbecue in Nairobi’s posher neighbourhoods that I lost it. We talked about the proposed security bill, actions of Police and Defence Forces and how Kenyans may never hear the truth about events like Westgate and killings of Muslim clerics if not…
The cost of secondary ed in Kenya
Last week I wrote a blog post about child poverty in urban Kenya, my observations from years of community engagement in Mukuru and a few suggestions on what can be done. I got great responses on the text, thanks everyone! Keep spreading the link and…
Insights from 6 years with vulnerable youth in Nairobi
Since 2008 I have been a member at a community-based school in Mukuru, a Nairobi slum and since 2010 I have gotten engaged in the processes evolving around the “Kenya Certificate of Primary Education” and around sending children to Secondary Schools in Kenya. In fantastic…
Grillen zum Eröffnungsspiel
Familienfest im Hochhaus in Sao Paulo Der 12. Juni war ein Feiertag. Keiner sollte arbeiten in Sao Paulo, es sollte gefeiert werden. Ereignis war aber nicht der Brasilianische „Tag der Liebenden“ wie ich romantisch träumerisch erst annahm, sondern tatsächlich der Eröffnungstag der Weltmeisterschaft. Jenes Ereignis,…
Heaven is a club in London
This Saturday night out in London I’m following the invite of a friend who’s tagged along some other folks. I meet them in a restaurant, after introducing himself he says that he likes my earrings. I was wearing the red ones, obviously with matching shoes…
Conversations with London minicab drivers
I live in the South West of London and due to frequent travel I get to spend an hour or so a month with a minicab driver on the way to the airport. Minicabs are pre-booked rides in someone’s personal car. They’re cheaper and somewhat…
Not Monday again! <- is this you?
People approach me saying that they just don’t feel effective at work, drained or stressed. This post is a collection of questions for those who want to take a first step to change something, knowing they have to take control: of their feelings and maybe…
London and the Need for Talking
This article will make some of you smile others frown. It is about returning to Western Europe, highly industrialized countries, “the first world”. I stayed in Africa during the last three years. I was often asked whether I am not scared of losing my IT…
A new job, a new city!
And within the first two weeks I already realized that London is different from other cities. Very international and somehow magnetic to people with non-conventional lifestyles. When I am reading books on Business Models, the Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, Social Innovation or…
Saturday morning magic in Nairobi
Sometimes I’m asked why Nairobi. It’s these Saturday morning things: An old muslim mzee cycling by, a massai dressed in colourful blankets, a rasta sitting on the bus next to a woman with a church headscarf. A stranger taking a boy on his lap because…
Adventures & Stories 