Episode 104: Rob Maclennan

Cycling From the UK to Cape Town (Part Two)

Continuing the Journey to Cape Town

Welcome to Part 2 of Rob MacLennan’s extraordinary journey cycling from London to Cape Town. In Part 1, we covered Rob’s tour from the UK to Nigeria. You can listen to part 1 here. This episode picks up where we left off, as Rob prepares to cross the border into Cameroon, continuing his adventure across the expansive African continent all the way to Cape Town.

Embarking on an Unexpected Adventure

As Rob entered Cameroon, he was immediately faced with unexpected hurdles—like a broken printer that nearly derailed his plans for obtaining a visa. Such whimsical and unpredictable incidents became the norm on Rob’s journey, teaching him valuable lessons in patience and adaptability. Whether it was navigating diplomatic confusions or finding creative solutions, each challenge reinforced the spirit of overland travel and adventure.

Route Mapping ‘Mis-Adventure’

Something I’ve learnt from interviewing so many guests is that often the greatest stories come from those route mapping mis-adventures, and that was also the case with Rob. He shared ‘one day of his trip’ where deciding to take a short cut on a jungle track proved anything but the case! Rob decided to take a shortcut he saw on Google Maps, which seemed to save about 100 kilometres. However, the shortcut turned out to be a small motorbike track through increasingly dense jungle.

As the path became impassably muddy and flooded, locals advised him he needed a knife to cut through the jungle growth. Eventually, Rob decided to turn back, retracing his steps to the main road. By the time he made it back, the sun was setting – quite the day!

Immersed in African Culture and Hospitality

Throughout the continuation of his journey, Rob experienced immersive cultural exchanges that connected him deeply with the continent. In remote Guinea, for instance, Abubakar, a local resident, invited Rob to spend the night in his humble home, showcasing the boundless generosity and warmth of the people he met. These experiences offered Rob a window into the authentic African way of life, one that can’t be easily replicated on an organised tour group.

Facing Nature’s Extremes

Rob’s route took him through some of the harshest landscapes . In Namibia he had to make the decision of whether to continue following the tarmac road all the way to South Africa, or to choose the more adventurous gravel road through the Namib desert. It was speaking with a fellow touring cyclist that he met on the road, that prompted him to decide to take on the more challenging off-road desert route.

The heat experienced on this section of his route was unbearable – eclipsing 50C in the full sun. It made Rob think that his earlier crossing of the Sahara desert was easy in comparison. At times with food and water his bike was loaded up with so much food and water it weighed over 60kgs. These experiences tested his endurance and resourcefulness, revealing how much more the human body is capable of. His time in these extreme environments also starkly illustrated to Rob, the profound inner resilience he had honed over the journey.

The Final Leg and the Power of Mindset

As Rob closed in on his destination in Cape Town, emotional reflections naturally surfaced. Transitioning from the constant challenge of his journey to the structure of post-travel life was not straightforward. Although he faced some anxiety about reaching the end, Rob realised that the true accomplishment lay in the path he traveled and the growth that came with every kilometre he had pedalled. It was very much about the journey and not the destination – as Rob says himself – this adventure was never about getting to Cape Town, but rather everything that happened along the way.

One of Rob’s most significant personal discoveries was the control he realised he could have over his mental and emotional state. Choosing to take a positive mindset, even amidst adversity, became an anchor that helped him navigate both physical and mental challenges. This practice underscored the value of cherishing simple joys and being grateful for our daily comforts—a crucial insight he shared from the road.

Inspiration For Your Own Adventurers

I hope that you are able to draw inspiration from hearing all about Rob’s adventure. A journey of this distance of course means Rob now has a huge bank of memories and stories as a result. But for me the most profound part has to be how self assured he can now be of his own abilities. Endurance, resilience and an understanding of how much mindset and how we choose to view a situation can impact on our mental health, are all lessons which Rob has been able to learn along the way. His adventure is a great reminder that whether you are riding a corrugated path or cycilng into a relentless headwind, the true magic lies in the journey itself and what it can teach us about ourselves.

You can find more pictures and videos of Rob’s journey via his instagram account – @Robbo_On_the_Road

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