16 January 2006

The Tour d'Afrique, an annual 12 000-kilometre bicycle race/expedition from Cairo to Cape Town - billed as the most scenic, most gruelling race on earth - began its fourth Tour on 14 January.

Travelling through 10 African countries in total, the Tour travels past ancient temples, through game reserves teeming with wildlife, across the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, alongside the rugged biblical landscape of Ethiopia's Simian Mountains and the edge of Botswana's magnificent Kalahari, and ends in beautiful Cape Town.

The journey takes approximately 120 days, of which 95 are cycling days. The cyclists cover an average distance of 125 kilometres each day, with a rest day every five to six days.

Record entry
A record number of riders are participating in the 2006 Tour. Forty-four cyclists are riding the entire route, with another 20 riding one or more of the many sections.

Participants are from Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Holland, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.

For those unable to do the full Tour, cyclists are able to ride one or more of the many sections and measure themselves against those who have been riding from the Giza Pyramids and are competing every day.

Khoisan challenge
This year the organizers have created an exciting new racing segment called the Khoisan Challenge, a 26-day section from Victoria Falls to Cape Town.

Covering just over 3 000 kilometres, the Khoisan Challenge travels through Botswana, Namibia and South Africa from 18 April to 13 May. Normally, the section would cost competitors US$4 500, but a special rate of $2 500 has been set to introduce and promote the final, most exciting stage of the Tour.

'The beauty and culture of Africa'
"Part of what the Tour d'Afrique is about is to allow participants to get to know the beauty and the culture of Africa and its inhabitants," says Henry Gold, founder of the Tour d'Afrique.

"So we've decided that it's time to accentuate and celebrate the valour of the Khoisan people, whose tenacity as hunter-gatherers is probably the most important characteristic needed for anyone who wants to win the Tour d'Afrique or any other section of the Tour."

This year the Tour d'Afrique will award prizes to winners of each section and a special prize for the winners of the Khoisan Challenge.

The stages are as follows:

	The beauty of Africa is highlighted in a scene from the 2005 Tour d'Afrique (Photo: Tour d'Afrique)

	The world's fastest downhill racer Cape wind bites in Argus 2005 SA's third big cycling race SA's endurance sport love affair SA's world leading cycle events Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour

	Tour d'Afrique

The world does not see Africa as a business destination, but savvy investors know that Africa offers the best return on direct investment in the world - yes, in the world. Africa: Open for Business is a one-hour documentary that profiles 10 companies across Africa, ranging from a tiny café in Kampala to a Kenyan flower exporter who sends a 747 cargo jet full of produce to the UK every night. Some operate in countries with good governance. One operates in a country with no government. What they have in common is hard work and good business sense. Together, these men and women are building Africa one business at a time.

Coastline gallery Take a photographic trip along SA's varied seashores, from the cold Atlantic of the Northern Cape to the scuba diver's paradise of Sodwana Bay.

Mountains & rivers South Africa is big sky country, with vast mountain ranges falling into lush river valleys. Take a photo tour of our more dramatic scenery.

Countryside gallery Step out of the urban centres and you'll find a different South Africa. Take a photo tour of the country's remote and unexplored rural areas.