Prologue

I want to go out,
feel myself,

cross boundaries,
marvel and encounter the unknown,

experience the world on my own terms and find my own rhythm.
Every moment is new, every day I am somewhere else.

414 days, 15,000 kilometres, 15 countries.
A film about a young man who cycles across Africa alone.

On his 25th birthday, Anselm, a student from Hamburg, decides to embark on a journey of discovery through southern Africa with two friends – by bicycle. With only the bare essentials, the trio spends three months exploring South Africa before a surprising split forces his companions to fly home. In the scorching heat of the Kalahari Desert, Anselm is faced with an unexpected and difficult decision: return home or cross the desert alone? Initially uncertain, Anselm takes the plunge into the unknown, continues on towards Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, and immerses himself deeply in the African continent. Far away from the usual travel routes, without a windscreen or camera crew, he has immediate and moving encounters with nature and people from a wide variety of cultures. 414 days, 15,000 kilometres, 15 countries.

Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia – step by step, his breathtaking journey through the heart of Africa unfolds. Night-time encounters with lions and hippos, multiple bouts of malaria and typhoid, and robberies by uniformed rangers constantly challenge him. But what really moves him is an Africa far removed from the typical images and expectations, an Africa of impressive beauty and open, warm-hearted people. Intense experiences spark a deep love for this vast continent and allow him to develop a firm trust in his fellow human beings and himself. Having grown far beyond himself, Anselm realises that although he is alone, he is no longer lonely.

But at the end of the journey, the Sahara still awaits: Anselm battles his way through Sudan and Egypt for three months against the relentless north wind. After more than a year and 15,000 kilometres later, shortly before arriving at the Suez Canal, Anselm is arrested by the Egyptian military and his journey threatens to come to an abrupt end.

Epilogue

Step by step, I felt the pulse of Africa, powerful, colourful and unpredictable.

Alone on my bicycle, I was very close to the people,
but also very close to myself.
I sought the unknown and found so much more.

I learned that I am alone, but not lonely.

www.anselmpahnke.de