Rising at the crack of dawn daily, lousy roadside meals, back-to-back-meetings and long distances in any weather that Mother Nature can throw at us - this European summer promises to be a busy one if the schedule is anything to go by. Five weeks covering Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium.
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Riders
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Nicki is happily married and father of two beautiful kids. He grew up on a farm, where he got to love being outdoors and learned to ride a motorcycle amongst other things. He loves camping, the great outdoors and travelling the roads less travelled, either with his Adventure motorcycle or with the family in the bakkie on the way to a remote destination. His favourite hobby is photography, with nature being the favourite subject. Life starts at 40!
Photo credit: Joe Dreyer
Gavin Green is a born and bred South African who resides in Cape Town. Having pursued his career for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, his passion for diving and parachuting eventually awakened a wider search for adventure and how it can become a way of life. As a registered tour operator and tour guide, he nowadays showcase South Africa to visitors on the back of a motorcycle. Based in Cape Town, this father and husband often explore the road less travelled with his guests as well as find time to introduce his 5 year old boy to the natural treasures and wildlife of SA. In doing so, Gavin became aware of the seriousness of having to protect and conserve our world for future generations – thus protecting it from ourselves. His latest focus has shifted to the plight of the rhinos. Wanting to establish a connection between his motorcycle tours and conservation, the serious threat of the African rhino population culminated in Swartberg Biking joining The Rhino Ride.
Born in the Natal Midlands, Andre Jnr grew up in Namibia before moving to the UK where his interest in motorcycling really took hold. After seeing The Long Way Round he promptly went out and bought himself a BMW R1150GS because his heroes Charlie Boorman and Ewan McGregor rode those. Expecting to take to the gravel roads of Namibia like a duck to water from day 1, they appeared to be the road to Heaven, but turned out to be the Marketing Department for hell. Andre shares his time between Namibia and South Africa with regular visits to Europe.
Photo credit: Joe Dreyer
Gerald’s passion for motorcycling began at the age of
16. Today, he rides some 30,000 km a year on his bull of choice: the BMW
R1200GS. Gerald’s passion for riding and travelling has taken him all over the
world. It was during a trip to South Africa, Namibia and Botswana that Gerald
developed a sense of identity with the fascinating animals free to roam in the
wild. To raise awareness and protest the senseless slaughter
of the majestic and endangered rhinoceros, Gerald is embarking on a journey
of a lifetime. One that will take him through Pakistan, India, Mongolia, China
and Russia. Born in Germany, Gerald lives in Munich with his wife and daughter.
