In Addis I give a ride to a special man. He’s been homeless for several years. He lives literally just under a few plastic sheets. But he has one passion that keeps him on the go: Plants. Lembo (which means peace dove) gives and plants trees in peoples’ private gardens for free. He’s some sort … More LEMBO
We stay a few days in Bale. I’m taking some time to update my travel diary and Willem makes some friends in the emergency department of the local hospital. One early morning we defy the freezing morning cold and we ride up to the Bale Mountain national park to spot the very rare Ethiopian wolf. … More TALU
Ethiopian roads are tricky. Especially the mobile speed bumps make it very difficult to stay on the road. With the mobile speed bumps I refer to all the cattle on the road. Apathetic they walk along on the tarmac roads. Strangely enough you don’t see them on dirt roads. It’s only when the road turns … More HAMIR
Just arrived in Ethiopia and there pops up my first hitchhiker, Satu (which means “land” in his language. He comes from Konso, a town, further to the North-East) He’s 23 years old and he’s a student and mobile teacher in four Dasanaach (local tribe) villages. He’s been teaching for 3 years now. He teaches maths … More SATU
In the only bar in Illeret we meet a friendly (jovial) looking fellow called Chris. He bought some beers and asks for a ride home. We agree and ask in return a spot to pitch our tent. We shake hands to seal the deal.After a very short ride we are surprised when he guides us … More CHRIS
We get up the next morning at first light. We head up north because we heard of a small village called Moité, that’s not indicated on the map, were we could buy some drinking water. The road is smooth, which actually just means it’s not too sandy. There’s no petrol in Moité but there is … More EKURU
As we drive off the premises of our hosts we can still enjoy a few kilometres of majestic new roads the Chinese are constructing. Next to it are the power lines that have to connect Nairobi and its surroundings with a big windmill park on the southeastern shore of lake Turkana. After a few kilometres … More DJU
Maureen is the passenger for my intro video for a web platform of the Flemish national TV “Vranckx and the nomads”. She helps me out and we talk a bit. She’s from Navaisha and tells me that lake is more beautiful. Willem and I drive after lunch towards Nyahururu. The landscapes are beautiful and green … More MAUREEN
He’s not a hitchhiker however he deserves some special attention. Willem will be my companion for the next two months. We met each other when we were 14 and forged an alliance ever since. We started travelling together at the age of 16; riding on a bicycle from Belgium to Italy. Nobody at that time … More WILLEM
I have one goal today: meeting my youth friend and motorcycle buddy, Willem. But before we meet I still have a long 500 km journey ahead. We will meet at Lake Navaisha, close to mount Longonot, 60 km north-west of Nairobi. As I’m making my way down south, some serious rains are chasing me. A … More STEVEN
WILDTRIPPING 