Shrugging off having her first bicycle stolen, Meryem Belkihel (28) from Casablanca, Morocco, cycled into Dundee last Tuesday (Heritage Day) as part of an epic journey which has already seen her ride through 20 African countries. She cycled down the west coast of Africa and entered South Africa via Namibia, riding down to Cape Town.
She has been cycling around South Africa for the past three months, aiming to get to Mount Kilimanjaro and climb to the top.
Inspired by seeing young people in her home country passing through with travel bags, Meryem started researching and planning her own journey.
“Africa is so diverse and there are many different cultures and places to see. I started in January last year and despite some setbacks, like having my first bicycle stolen, I am always smiling and looking forward to new adventures.”
During her brief stopover in Dundee, she told the Courier that she hoped her journey would break stereotypes (especially about women) and how people view Africa.
She cycles about eight hours a day; from Dundee, she heads out on the route to Swaziland, where she will take part in a safari.
You can follow Meryem’s journey on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/meghyem0ut/
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