Siyashova: we are pedalling

Three Capetonians cycling  from Cape Town to Cairo to raise funds for the hearing impaired

Jiten Magan, Ria Moothilal and Imraan Sayed, will cycle from Cape Town to Cairo unaided.  Carrying 30-35kgs of gear, the fearless friends will traverse tough terrain and will rely on the kindness of strangers for accommodation.

Their journey, which will depart on 22nd March 2011, will take eight months, through ten countries and over a distance of 12 500 kilometres. The Siyashova team will travel the east coast of South Africa, Lesotho, Durban, Swaziland, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.

"This trip is not about the distance, but about having nothing to separate us from the real Africa," says Jiten.

"That a child will be able hear his mother read a bedtime story motivates me"

The primary aim of their trip is to raise funds for a charity close to Jiten's heart. The Hear Us Foundation facilitate the provision of cochlear implants, which can restore up to 95% of hearing if implanted by the age of two. Sadly, Jiten's family could only afford a cochlear implant (R250 000) for his deaf brother when he was 27-years-old. While he can hear sounds, he cannot differentiate between them. Jiten hopes to raise R1 million and set up a trust fund which will help children in need of implants early on in life.

The journey will begin from the Coral du Toit School for the Learning Impaired in Bellville and will consist of challenging terrain including Fynbos, semi-arid conditions, mountains, valleys, forests, grasslands and scorching deserts. Highlights will include the Sani Pass, a hike up Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Malawi and the Nile River in Egypt.

"Each country has its own culture and we are looking forward to our journey. We will traverse kilometres of open road through rural Africa, where people love the land and are intrinsically tied to it. We plan to cycle through nature reserves and camp alongside them, so wildlife sightings are a possibility. Lesotho and Ethiopia have some difficult mountain passes, but are unprecedented in their beauty."

“There’s no emergency support and there’s no back up vehicle"

"This is Africa, so anything can happen and what would an adventure be if everything was planned?" asks Jiten, "Generally African people are friendly and we have heard tales of friendship from fellow cyclists that far outstrip any negativity. If people see that you are willing to learn about their culture, then you'll find they're willing to teach you."

The team will carry clothing, camping gear, repair equipment and food. Their bikes are made from steel frames that, if broken, can be welded back together again. Their leather saddles, by UK-based Brook, will mould to their physique within three months of use.

"We’ll cycle during the day and an hour before sunset we’ll find a place to camp. This will probably involve visiting a small village to ask the chief for accommodation, or a designated campsite, mosque, church or police station. Camping in the bush is an option we’ve considered."

The team currently have one sponsor, Fine Young Africans, who are funding their Mount Kilimanjaro ascent. To support Siyashova you can follow them on Facebook, donate money, buy t-shirts and CDs via their website or SMS 'sound' to 31423 to donate R10 to The Hear Us Foundation. You could also suggest contacts en route who might offer accommodation.

By Lisa Nevitt

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