Moroccan adventurer Meryem Belkihel is returning home after nearly three years cycling solo across 33 African countries, during which she also climbed the continent's three highest peaks. Despite malaria, typhoid, storms, and visa hurdles, she never felt unsafe or discouraged and now plans to turn her passion into a career. On Saturday, November 22, Meryem Belkihel will finally land in Casablanca, concluding an African adventure she began almost three years ago. The 30-year-old adventurer spent the last years travelling solo across Africa, relying solely on her bike, an odyssey she launched in January 2023 from Casablanca, all the way to Madagascar. «I can't wait to see my family and friends», she told Yabiladi from Ethiopia, where she is expected to board a plane to Morocco in less than three days. In an epic journey, she cycled through mud, rain, and rugged terrain, travelling across West Africa down to South Africa, then through Central Africa, East Africa, and Madagascar, 33 countries in total. A Journey Born from a Dream Yet her trip was never meant to last this long, nor cross so many borders. It all began with her passion for the outdoors. «I've always been deeply passionate about Africa and about anything that involves adventure: mountaineering, hiking, long-distance travel», she said. Meryem had already crossed Morocco by bike and documented her tours. She knew that her next big journey would eventually be an African one. «In the beginning, the idea was simple: I want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. I imagined cycling to Tanzania to summit Africa's highest peak, and through that journey inspire other women, Moroccan women, African women, to pursue big dreams. A kind of empowerment through adventure», she explained. The plan expanded from there. While her friends were «not surprised» by her ambitions, her parents trusted her adventurous streak and the experience she had gained travelling across Morocco. She geared up for the trip, relied on her past travels to know exactly what to pack, and secured a sponsor. «During my journey, I ended up climbing Africa's three highest mountains: Kilimanjaro, on my thirtieth birthday, Mount Kenya, and Mount Stanley in Uganda's Rwenzori National Park», she proudly recalled. Battling Malaria and Other Hardships Climbing the summits was «the cherry on top», said Meryem, who was physically well prepared after cycling daily for three years. «Other things felt much harder», she admitted. Like the four times she caught malaria. «I took the medicine and rested, but when you come from a country where malaria doesn't exist, it hits you differently. By the fourth time, I no longer even felt how hard it was». Meryem also suffered from typhoid fever and several tooth infections. «I remember travelling with a dental abscess from Senegal all the way to South Africa, where I finally treated it», she joked. To embrace the adventure fully, she deliberately avoided major highways, choosing smaller roads and off-roads most of the time, often during rainy seasons. «The mud and storms made everything tougher… and with rain comes mosquitos and malaria», she said. Visas were another recurring struggle. In some countries, she had to apply, get rejected, reapply, and wait. On average, the Casablanca-native spent at least a month in each country. As for safety, the solo traveller remained cautious, even though she «never felt unsafe». «I didn't go out at night, and I never told people I did not trust my next destination. I passed through places experiencing crises, protests in Senegal and Guinea, elections in Mozambique, and Madagascar during the coup, but I still never felt unsafe». Cycling by day and resting by night, Meryem mostly camped in West Africa. «I would arrive in a village, ask for the village chief, and camp there», she said. In East Africa, accommodation was «cheap and easy to find», so she alternated between renting rooms and camping. «I never once felt like giving up. Even when I was sick or homesick, I never thought, I want to quit and go home», she insisted. The Human Connection What kept her going was «the human connection». «Seeing differences, similarities, and sharing my culture in return. It's one of my biggest motivations.» Food was part of that discovery too: injera and injera firfir in Ethiopia, and South African barbecue were among her favorites. Culturally, Ethiopia captivated her the most. «The culture, the history, the pride. It's a country never colonized, and I felt that everywhere». One thing she will «remember forever» is Africans' hospitality. «Everywhere I went, people were ready to help, offer food, or guide me», she said. «And whenever people learned I was Moroccan, football was the conversation opener. Most men knew Morocco through its football players», she said. After returning to Morocco, Meryem plans to transform her passion for adventure into her profession. After quitting her nine-to-five job at an international company before the trip, she does not see herself returning. «I want to help people travel, organizing trips in Morocco or across Africa. I don't see myself behind a desk again». And the next adventure is already on her mind. Once in Morocco, Meryem plans to begin preparations for her next challenge: cycling from Morocco to the North Cape in Norway. «I'll need a long visa and a sponsor, but that's the next dream».
