Spencer challenges Ewan’s record

SPENCER Conway left London, England, on November 1 2009 on an epic journey through Africa that will take about a year to complete.

He will circumnavigate the African continent on his motorbike, a trip which will take him through 28 countries and cover more than 60 000 kilometres. Conway will negotiate his way through the Sahara, Nubian and Namib deserts as well as the jungle terrain of West Africa. He is doing all of this on his own, without back-up vehicles and on a tight budget of U$15 a day which includes his food, accommodation and petrol. ‘So far I have camped in the bush for 87 nights,’ he says. ‘All the other nights the local people have invited me into their villages and homes and have given me not only shelter but also food.’ Conway entered into Namibia from South Africa ten days ago and from here he will drive north into Angola, making his way back home.He will cover twice the distance that Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman did in their ‘Long Way Down’ trip from England to South Africa.Although the Guinness Book of Records is keeping a keen eye on his progress, Conway says this tour is not for fame. He is collecting money for Save the Children UK for its projects in African countries. He hopes to raise 28 000 pounds during his journey through 28 countries. So far he has raised just under 19 000 pounds for charities in Africa. Because Save the Children UK has no projects in Namibia, Conway will donate some of his own money to an orphanage in Namibia. ‘I want to donate something and make a few children happy to show my appreciation to the people in Namibia for the wonderful and kind welcome they have given me,’ he says.People wanting to donate can do so online at www.africa-bike-adventure.com. People can also monitor his progress and get in contact with Conway on the same website.