Road to Namibia
The freedom of unending roads and horizons. The excitement and anticipation that get your heart racing every morning when you ride into the unknown. However, there is also uncertainty as to whether the rider and the bike are capable of facing all of the challenges, and how to react in an emergency.
This wide range of emotions accompanied a group of experienced motorcyclists this summer as they conquered an extraordinary route. Emotions go hand-in-hand with real adventure, and that’s exactly what it was: They rode from Germany to Namibia with the new BMW R 1300 GS Adventure. Their mission: to bring the GS Trophy cup to the base camp of the Int. GS Trophy 2024.
For the team of three – consisting of Nikki van der Spek from the Netherlands, Vasco Santos from Portugal, and Agustin Ostos from Spain, who were joined by Warren Venter from South Africa when they reached Botswana – it was also a journey to find themselves, which changed them forever. The adventure began at the BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. That’s where they started their tour through 11 countries, which would demand everything from them across countless kilometres, yet give them so much more in return.
Looking back, Agustin describes this journey with the metaphor of a kaleidoscope. It shows you fantastic images, and every time you turn it, those images change. You don’t tire of looking through it, as you discover something new each and every time. A fitting description.
To the destination in two stages
The route took the trio from Central Europe, over the Pyrenees, all the way to Morocco, and finally to the Agadir Desert. It was Nikki who planned and led this first stage. With her calm, considered manner and her excellent navigation skills, the experienced off-road rider guided the team to their destination safely. When they arrived in the Moroccan desert, the group took a short summer break while they waited for their motorcycles to undergo preparations for the next stage.
After the first part of the journey, Vasco was already gushing about the new GS: “It looks bigger than it is, but it’s still very agile. At the same time, it is an incredibly comfortable ride, especially thanks to the new automatic shift assistant.”
The team regrouped in Botswana. Warren Venter, winner of the Int. GS Trophy 2022 and a true expert on Southern Africa’s sandy terrain, then took over the job of leader.
Intense and unforgettable
There are only a few places in the world that are as untamed and untouched as some parts of Africa. On the southward journey, the riders were immersed in a captivating landscape: the deep orange at sunrise, the rich red at sunset, the unending vastness of the Savannah, and the roar of wild animals in the distance. Africa has a unique, almost surreal kind of magic that will never let you go.
If you ask the adventurers what their most unforgettable experiences were on the journey, they will always talk about the animals. For Nikki, it was the moment when a group of rhinos was running alongside the motorcycles at a speed of 50 km/h. “Seeing these massive, majestic animals up close was incredible.” Vasco, on the other hand, could hardly believe what he was seeing when a group of lions suddenly appeared after riding through the desert for hours. “It took me a while to realise that there was a herd of lions running wild only four metres away from us.” All of them said that the hospitality of the locals and the cuisine left an equally positive impression.
Seeing these massive, majestic animals up close was incredible.
Nikki van der Spek
No hurdle too high, no road too long
As idyllic as it may have been, the intensity of a trip of this nature is a challenge in itself. The riders’ strength of will and endurance were tested time and time again. The sandy terrain in particular demanded absolute concentration and physical strength. For Warren, the new GS provided a dose of comfort in the desert. Above all, he remembers crossing the border from Botswana to Namibia at night.
“We still had a long way to go on dusty, unpaved roads. This demanding ride in the dark sharpened our senses, and I’m glad that I was riding the new GS. That made it so much easier”, he says. Then, he explains that each new challenge created a strong bond within the group that would last a lifetime.
Speaking of the team – for Nikki, that was the key to success. “I have learned that problems are there to be solved. Almost every hurdle can be overcome with a good portion of humour”, she explains. “However, it’s much more important to have strong partners you can rely on at your side.”
None of them could go without the R 1300 GS Adventure as an extra member of the team. “Like every GS, it is reliable, comfortable, and easy to handle”, Nikki gushes. “Despite its weight, it is a light and effortless ride – perfect for both tarmac roads and treacherous terrain.” That’s something Vasco can only agree with: “There were plenty of times when I took the GS to its limits – and it was always able to keep up.” Be it in the Pyrenees, the dunes of the Sahara, or the sandy slopes of Namibia, the R 1300 GS Adventure never let them down. On the contrary; they gave the riders a feeling of freedom that only a BMW GS can offer.
