“What an unbelievable life experience you afforded us! We have been in the cycling industry for 37 combined years and never have we experienced such a well-organized, well thought-out, fervent, passionate, stupendous, phenomenal tour!!!
Ali and Andrew McLean
Cycle Lab Supercycling Club
The Change a Life Cycle Tour 2008
Starting at Victoria Falls, the 2008 Change a Life cycle Tour wound its way along the Zambezi river valley for 85km through the Zambezi National Park to the banks of the Chobe river in Botswana. On the second day the road led to Namibia’s Caprivi strip, a distance of 124 km, which included cycling through the Chobe National Park where riders saw elephant as well as sable antelope. The third day of the tour covered a 225 km killer route from Katima Mulilo through Zambia, along the north bank of the Zambezi, back to Victoria Falls. It wasn’t only the heat that took its toll – strong headwinds and a number of hills in the latter stages of the day were punishing.
The rest day at the majestic Victoria Falls Hotel was more than welcome and allowed cyclists to build up their energy reserves for the evening’s official banquet. Each cyclist made a donation of R20 000 to participate. In total, R4 000 000 was raised to fund grassroots crime prevention initiatives.
Corporations across South Africa were extremely generous in their support for this event. Executives from the JSE, Rand Merchant Bank, MacSteel Service Centres, Toyota and Standard Bank participated, while medium-sized companies like Viva Formwork & Scaffolding as well as Fleet Steel sponsored their managers and customers to participate.
The Change a Life Cycle Tour had
come full circle. And what
an achievement –
423.6 kms covered on
bicycle through some
of the most beautiful
wilderness Africa has to
offer, all to help change lives!
Click here to view a few memories made on the 2008 cycle tour.