Pedalling into Adventure – from Bern to Cape Town on a bike

At the end of July 2025 Elias cycled the last hundred kilometers through South Africa. He did it: in 10 months he cycled around 12’000 km from Bern to Cape Town. He crossed steep mountain passes, rode along dusty country roads and traversed jungles and deserts on his bike. His partner, Sofia Anzeneder, accompanied him on his ride from Uganda to Tanzania. And so Elias left country after country behind him until he reached the destination of his dreams: Cape Town in South Africa.

For more than ten years, Elias Furrer has dreamed of cycling from his home in Bern to Cape Town. In mid-September 2024 he mustered up all his courage and pedalled out into the open world and towards new adventures – truly a wild ride!

Right from the start, as a social worker and a psychologist, they knew they wanted their project to have a positive social impact. With bikes, Africa, and social engagement in mind, Velafrica seemed like the perfect fit. They set an ambitious goal: for every kilometer cycled the want to raise one Swiss franc for Velafrica. You too can help them reach this goal!

The two are now back in Bern and the trip is over, but the journey continues. Sofia and Elias are continuously sorting through photos and stories from the trip and publishing them on their blog www.abgefahren.ch and on Elias’ Instagram profile elias_abgefahren. In autumn 2025, Veloplus’ free magazine Fahrtwind published a profile of the two and their trip. Elias was also invited to talk about his experiences and present a selection of the best photos from the trip. The two are continuing to collect donations for Velafrica.

The presentations took place on 23 January 2026 at the Veloplus shop in Bern and on 27 February 2026 at the Veloplus shop in Oerlikon.

Help ensure safer and quicker mobility in Africa

Support Sofia and Elias in their fundraising campaign and help them reach their goal. Even a small donation can make a big difference.

• Donate 40 francs to cover a basic bike repair, e.g.
• Donate 120 francs to fund a bike for the “Bike to School” program, e.g.
• Donate 300 francs to make the refurbishment and export of four bikes possible, e.g.
• Donate a different amount.