Cyclists Annabelle Golden and Alex Okhta have successfully completed a massive overland journey spanning 25,315 kilometers from Norway to South Africa. After 797 days on the road, they arrived in Cape Town on Sunday, July 19th, having traversed over 30 countries.
The pair shared this achievement with their followers on TikTok, noting the completion of a trip during which they crossed 27 countries and spent over 323 days cycling actively. Their route began in Tromsø, Norway, and traveled across all of Europe to the southern tip of Spain.
They then crossed Morocco and began moving across Africa, visiting countries such as Mauritania, Gambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, Angola, Namibia, and finally, South Africa.
Throughout the entire trip, the couple stayed in campsites and faced the most challenging landscapes and conditions of the continent. Alex Okhta noted that the realization of completing the trip came when they approached Cape Town. He said: 'After two long years, today was our last day of cycling in Africa. Riding on the highway, I just couldn't believe we were only a few hours away from finishing this journey. Seeing the kilometers to Cape Town rapidly decrease on road signs didn't feel real. Seeing Table Mountain, my brain said: 'Yes, you will finish. Yes, you did it. Yes, you rode across the entire continent of Africa from north to south.' '
Okhta also recalled the difficulties they had to overcome: 'We started in the fjords of Norway, rode across all of Europe to the southern tip of Spain, then crossed Morocco, where we cycled through the Sahara Desert. We survived the rainy season in the jungles of Sierra Leone, wild camped in the Congolese rainforest, faced serious bicycle problems in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, crossed the Namib Desert in South Africa, and suddenly it was all over.'
Annabelle Golden described the arrival in Cape Town as a surreal and emotional moment. She stated: 'It's a pretty unreal feeling. I can't believe this has been done. I can't believe we rode 15,731 miles to get here. I will tell you a lot about it later, but for now, I am taking a few days to process it all. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who followed us, supported us, and encouraged us. It meant so much to us and truly played a big role throughout this journey. We are not going anywhere—we still have a lot of Earth to ride.'
The pair mentioned arriving at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, where they were met by Golden's parents, who are currently in South Africa. They plan to spend the next month in their 'Motherland' before embarking on their next adventure.
Norwegian artist and traveler Annabel Golden continues her grand bicycle journey from Norway to South Africa. She is currently in the final stage of this trek, with Namibia being one of the most impressive parts of her adventure.
Golden, who is traveling with her partner Alex Ohtea, has spent the last 311 days documenting their cycling expedition across Africa. Their final destination is Cape Town.
In a recent TikTok video, Golden showed her followers the breathtaking landscapes they encountered while traveling through Namibia. She described the experience as both physically very challenging and deeply satisfying.
Among the events of their trip through Namibia were journeys across vast desert landscapes, the opportunity to rest under the huge sky, passing by the famous Etosha National Park and the Capricorn Tropic. They also went on a hike to see the ancient rock art of the San people in Lodge Namibia Naukluft.
Golden shared her impressions, noting: 'The landscapes in Namibia, especially the last few days, are simply otherworldly. I am such a mountain girl, so cycling next to such views is so special, and I just feel immense gratitude, despite how hard it is.'
Golden's ambitious expedition began in 2024 as part of a broader plan for a round-the-world cycling trip. A significant milestone was crossing the border between Spain and Africa in January 2025.
Since then, they have traversed many countries: Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, and are now passing through Namibia before arriving in South Africa.
Golden's love for cycling began in 2018 after graduating from Amsterdam. Influenced by Ohtea, the couple embarked on their first joint cycling adventure—a two-week winter tour of Austria along sections of the EuroVelo 6 route.
She previously spoke about this experience, noting that it was 'such a cool way to travel, and it introduced me to different styles of travel,' which sparked her interest in slow, deep journeys.
Their adventures have also covered East Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, and Zanzibar, where Golden even attempted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak. Alongside her travels, Golden successfully combines her passion for exploration with creative work. As an artist, she shares her work through digital platforms, using her online presence to fund trips and inspire thousands of people with her journey across the continent.
