It’s his greatest journey yet, #cairo2CapeTown

Supported and riding under the banner of Operation Smile he hopes that his venture will not only raise awareness but also bring smiles to those children that need it.
“We are looking to change at least 30 children’s lives by getting them cleft palette surgeries, children from countries across Africa,” said Keegan.
Keegan’s venture will see him taking on the elements across Africa with his main focus being breaking the World Record of 71 days in a self supported cycle from Cairo to Cape Town.
“The record stands at 71 days, if everything works out I plan to beat it in 64 days, we have planned for 68 days, just in case of delays and rerouting,” he continued.

Just last year Keegan cycled for Operation Smile in his third trip from eMalahleni to Cape Town, smashing records and setting personal bests. With a year’s worth of planning in the works, along with the support of Operation Smile, Keegan is now set Cairo to Cape Town.
This trip is no holiday and a lot of planning and preparation has gone into it, Keegan flies to Cairo on December 31, once he lands he books into the hotel and starts with assembling his bicycle, fitting it with his trusty carry bags and harnesses.

Taking into consideration the length of the trip, Keegan has packed the bare necessities for survival as well as the spares needed for this excursion – this will be the greatest challenge he has yet faced as he sets off from Cairo on January 2.
All that remains right now is for him to finish packing and preparing his bicycle as well as a sit down session with the team from Operation Smile.
“It’s something really amazing, watching one of these surgeries happen, a life being changed forever, – what I am doing is not just about raising the money for these surgeries, but making a change in people’s lives, for the better,” he added.

Keegan wishes to thank all the sponsors that have gotten involved, especially to Johan Stemmet and Gerhard van der Walt, and those that have contributed in any way to the trip and Operation Smile.
Follow Keegan as he makes his trip through Africa, visiting Cape Trek on Facebook and hashtag #cairo2CapeTown.
“It’s like a first date, but rather a date with adventure, you don’t know what to expect,” said Keegan, slightly nervous but at the same time confident in his ability.

Keegan commented on Facebook “This Saturday I’m gonna be at Fruit n Veg serving you some Boerewors rolls. Please come support. R20 may be nothing to you but it could save my life, literally on this trip.”

Keegan’s estimated route for Cairo to Cape Town is as follows (distances and totals are estimated and may change):

Leg 1: Cairo – Khartoum
1) Cairo – Matay (205km)
2) Matay – Asyut (173k)
3) Asyut – AR Rawatelo (163km)
4) AR Rawatelo – AS Sibaiyah (200km)
5) AS Sibaiyah – Aswan (141km)
6) Ferry crossing
7) Ferry crossing
8 ) Wadi Halfa – Abri (182km)
9) Abri – Dongola (230km)
10) Dongola – Al Dabbah (160km)
11) Al Dabbah – Desert/ Truckstop (160km)
12) Desert – Khartoum (210km)
Total km: 2146km
Average p/day: 195km
Days: 12 days + one allowance = 13 days.

Leg 2: Khartoum – Addis Ababa
1) Khartoum – Al Hilaya (127km)
2) Al Hilaya – Al Poa / veld (160km)
3) al Pora – Doka (200km)
4) Doka – Magana (118km)
5) Magana – Gondor (163km)
6) Gondor – adet (220km)
7) Adet – Dejen (209m)
8 ) Dejn – Debre Gurucha (80km)
9) Debre Guruchu – Addis Ababa (80km)
Total km: 1471km
Average: 163km
Days: 9 days + one allowance = 10 days

Leg 3: Adis Ababa – Nairobi
1) Addis Ababa – Meki (132km)
2) Meki – Mirga Alem (180km)
3) Mirga – Hagere Maryan (190km)
4) Hagree – Mega Mega (196km)
5) Mega – Veld (160km)
6) Veld – Mersabit (200km)
7) Mersabit – Archers Post (225km)
8 ) Archers post – Nanyuki (115km)
9) Nanyuki – Nairobi (200km)
Total km:1737km
Average: 193km
Days: 9 days + one allowance = 10 days

Leg 4: Nairobi – Livingstone
1) Nairobi – veld (66km)
2) Veld – Arusha (200km)
3) Arusha – Baboti (200km)
4) Baboti – Mnyoni (180km)
5) Mnyoni – Runga (230km)
6) Rungwa – Chunga (230km)
7) Chunga – Tanduma (174km)
8 )Tanduma – Iskota (120km)
9) Iskota – Chitembo (204km)
10) Chitembo – Chimutenda (170km)
11) Chimutenda – Mkhushi (241km)
12) Mkhusi – Kabwe (161km)
13) Kabwe – Lusaka (140km)
14) Lusaka – Mazambuka (126km)
15) Mazambuke – Choma (164km)
16) Choma – Livingstone (191km)
Total: 2763km
Average: 162km
Days: 16 days + one allowance = 17 days

Leg 5: Livingstone – Cape Town
1) Livingstone – Kazangula (65km)
2) Kazangula – Sibuya Forest Reserve (150km)
3) Sinuya – Nato Bird Sancyuray (200km)
4) Nato – Francis Town (175km)
5) F.Town – Palape (170km)
6) Palape – Gaberone (277km)
7) —- Gaberone —-
8 ) Gaberone – Mahikeng (150km)
9) Mahikeng – Hartswater (255km)
10) Hartswater – Hopetown (244km)
11) Hopetown – Victoria west (233km)
12) Victora west – Beufortwest (136km)
13) Beaufortwest – Lainsberg (200km)
14) Lainsberg – Worster (157km)
15) Worster – Waterfront (110km)
Total: 2671km
Average: 160km
Days 15 + one allowance = 16 days

Total days: 64 and four extra = 68 days with a total Km of 10788.