On a bicycle across the sahara and beyond

In 1980, Jacek Herman-Iżycki embarked on an extensive adventure across Africa, documenting his experiences throughout the journey. Over a span of 28 months, starting from the 20th of June 1979 to the end of October 1981, Herman-Iżycki explored diverse landscapes and cultures. The journey commenced with a three-month trip across North America, starting in New York. He hitchhiked through Canada, passing the Arctic Circle to reach Taktoyaktuk by the Beaufort Sea and then traveled to Alaska. From Anchorage, he flew to Seattle, continuing his hitchhiking adventure back across Canada to New York.

Post his North American expedition, his plans shifted unexpectedly in Frankfurt. Instead of heading to Warsaw, Herman-Iżycki hitchhiked through West Germany, East Germany, and Denmark, eventually reaching the Netherlands. He spent three months in Rotterdam, meticulously preparing for an ambitious bicycle tour of Africa.

During his eleven-month journey from Africa to Poland, Herman-Iżycki also spent time working in Greece, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. In Africa, he undertook a remarkable cycling adventure, covering 10,500 kilometers. His journey took him from Algiers to Kenya, traversing through countries such as Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Sudan, and Uganda. Moreover, he traveled over 4,300 kilometers using public transport and cars on this route.

For his return trip from the Kenyan-Ugandan border back to Cairo, Herman-Iżycki navigated approximately 7,200 kilometers by truck, train, boat, and bus. By the end of 1980, between the 9th of January and the 2nd of December, he had traveled over 22,000 kilometers across Africa, using a variety of transportation modes.