About Me
My name is Andre Els. I was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa and lived there for 19 years of my life. At 19, I moved to the UK and has pretty much been here ever since, about 10 years ago and yeah, that makes me kinda old 
I am pretty new to the motorcycling scene. I always wanted a motorcycle since I was 16, because that is when you could get your learner license back in South Africa, but my dad was not very happy with the idea of me having a motorcycle at the age of 16 so I never had one ! Maybe a good thing ?
My uncle, however, had a Suzuki RM125 (I think, still not sure about that one, could have been 250cc) on his farm and I always used to ride that. I remember when I started with that, I was way to short and we had to let the air out of most of the shocks to lower the bike a little so I can reach the ground. I am not sure how old that bike was, but it already had that faded yellow paintjob … so it was old.
I used to ride that thing without fear, into the powerband most of the times, no helmet, gravel roads, fields and pretty much everywhere. I would never think of riding like that now, maybe when you younger you don’t care that much and that is probably a good thing why I should not have had a bike on the road when I was 16 
Anyway, here we are and I guess my dad realized I am now old enough, so I did my CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) here in the UK in September 2008 and bought my very first motorcycle on the same day. I bought the Yamaha YZF-R125 (pictured). At first I thought a 125cc motorcycle will be more than enough for commuting to work and back in London traffic (which it probably is), but I soon wanted something bigger, next logical choice, the Yamaha YZF-R6, yeah baby !!
Instead and purely by chance, I ended up watching an episode of Long Way Down on TV, bought the series, watched it all and my mind was made up … Adventure motorcycling is what I want to do and an R6 will not be so great at doing that
I did my full UK motorcycle riding via the DAS (Direct Access) system and passed on the 15th of January 2009.
Then there was only 3 bikes I was looking at, the Yamaha XT 660 Tenere, which I still think is an awesome bike or the BMW F650GS/F800GS. I ended up and can be seen by the photo at the top with the BMW F800GS which I have picked up only 2 days after passing my license. What a day !!!!
Since then, I have only done 2 trips, once to Wales (The Touratech weekend) and then only recently a 2300 mile trip around some countries in Europe.
… and that is about it.
Our dream of doing UK to Cape Town is on fire and this site is dedicated to that cause, please keep coming back for updates, thanks ….
Andre ,
I’m following your journey with much interest . I hope to drive Ford Escort Diesel to Uganda next year October time . Via europe ,turkey,israel ,egypt sudan ,ethiopia & kenya .
Especially interested in the sudan & ethiopia bit . Really appreciate your the tips you are putting on your website .
Thanks Mark ( Torquay )
ps
I have had motorbikes for a long time now . Got a 1998 harley sportster at the moment .
Just noticed your Hillsong Church bit . I became a Christian in 1985 , walking through Turkey with a donkey . PSALM 18 : verses 1 – 6 & verses 16 – 19 .
AMEN
Awesome .. thanks for following, please pray we get out bikes off the ferry today, so we can get a move on towards Ethiopia
… cheers !
Found your link on http://neils.in/ whose link I found on http://www.touringted.com/ who I know from the UK a few years ago.
What makes the world even smaller is recognising Pete and Aisha in your photos. We were at school together. Do you have contact details of them please?
Enjoy the rest of your trip down!!!
Hi .. hehe .. yes how small is the world. Do not have details for them to hand right now .. but Aisha is now working in New York while Pete is completing the London to SA trip … when I have some contact details, I will let you know … thanks for reading my blog, hope to update soon !
I’m so glad to have found this, although it’s a little late, still going to be great to watch and read through your journey. I too found Long Way Down (and Round) incredibly inspirational but being just 17 when I first saw it, I still have a lot of money to make and riding experience to gain before I can even plan something as fantastic as this. The videos I have seen so far are great, very refreshing to see more people doing a similar adventure to the LWD trip, I look forward to watching more, although I can’t tell you how jealous it makes me.
Best regards,
Josh.
Hey Josh ..
Two things I have found on this journey … much easier than I thought, the most difficult thing was packing up everything again in the morning
We have found people on route with little or no experience and you don’t need so much money. What do you ride at the moment ? I am probably doing it again someday, taking maybe a little more time … in a few years I think, so save up then you can join in 
All the best !
That certainly is reassuring, watching LWD makes it seem like you have to have millions of pounds at your disposal and a large team to get through Africa safely, clearly that’s not the case. I would need to save up, I spent every penny I owned last year on a month long trip around America by myself, it was worth it though. I ride a Scooter, A Vespa. Although I’m in the middle of getting my drivers lisence right now so have had to put upgrading to a motorcycle on halt. I have had a love for scooters all my life, my dad used to rebuild classic Italian scooters. But when I turned 16 and got my own Vespa and started watching motorcycling videos on Youtube and becoming interested in the community there, I fell in love with every aspect of riding and it’s been a passion to see the world on one ever since. I have ridden a nice selection of bikes, including some offroad experience (byways) on a dirtbike.
Then when in America last year, I rode a BMW R1100RT massive road touring monster of a bike along the East coast line for a little way (I have a video on my Youtube channel). I also sat on a number of BMW’s at the dealership just before coming home to England and the 800GS felt about perfect.
As for the offer to join you, I have been told you often fall into a lucky situation regarding job offers and things where someone will just offer you the chance to do something and perhaps your offer to me is my lucky chance to actually put my money where my mouth is and do something amazing like this. It would be the highlight of my entire life I’m sure.
I’m following you on Twitter and have added you as a friend on Facebook, so I hope to stay in contact and perhaps join you one day. May I also add that your videos are fantastic, sometimes watching other peoples adventures is the only thing that gives me hope that I can do something like it myself,
Josh.
I read you copliments about jjs, its a great place and i think chris is the only camp /workshop owner that gives guest all and some. then you throw in dirt on chris’s name. if you got your bike fixed whats your beef wit him ,its not like he messed up your bike. with all you wrote am not suprised you got such a great togue lashin.
Guy like you need to grow up and not cry when they cant get what they think is theres for the giving.
I assume you are german ?
ur wrong am actualy chez,al the same truth be told ur comment was in bad taste.
Ek was nou vir eerste keer op jou blog en dit was baie interessant gewees – dink jou trip is baie cool. Groete uit Stellenbosch
Thanks maat … geniet dit daar in Stellenbosch .. mooi daar
Inspiring and wonderful. Thanks for sharing your experience! One day i shall do my own trip as well