Have you always loved adventure?
As the only boy born to a conservative Moroccan family with three sisters, I was pretty shy growing up. This changed at the age of 12 when my friends and I rode through a forest near our home town of El Jadida. We only ventured 15km or so, but it was the furthest I’d ever been from home at that point. I remember falling behind and crying because I was alone and afraid. All the teasing that followed made me decide to live a more adventurous life. From that day on I became a competitive cyclist and started doing trips throughout Morocco.
When did you start your epic journey?
For many years, I had a dream of travelling to Dakar, the capital of Senegal, after seeing a signpost on one of my biking trips.
After completing my studies at the age of 20, I set off for Senegal with nothing more than a backpack and $80 to my name.
On the day I left home, I hitch-hiked to the border and crossed into Mauritania, the country that separates Morocco and Senegal. All my energy was focused on getting to Senegal; within a week I arrived in Rosso, a town on the Senegal River.
What was Senegal like?
This story is from the December 2021/January 2022 edition of go! - South Africa.
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This story is from the December 2021/January 2022 edition of go! - South Africa.
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