TRI CYCLING AFRICA is a two-part TV documentary series which chronicles an Australian's journey in a little travelled region of West Africa, on a rare and eye-catching mode of transport, with nothing pre-arranged but flights.
It shows the peace and beauty of West Africa, contradicting the commonly held belief that it's a hotbed of violence and instability.
Regardless of a peoples' reputation in most of the Western media, peace and safety remain the norm.
The biggest fight we have is fear.
The common view of Africa on television, and in other media, is one of corruption and drought. Pain and suffering is the common result.
This common portrayal does little to show the admirable qualities of the people of Africa, and more so in West Africa.
"Tri Cycling Africa" paints a different picture.
Rather than concentrating on drought and corruption, it focuses on the fine qualities of the indigenous peoples, and environmental richness.
While touching on the economic poverty and desperation of some of the locals, it shows a hardy, happy, diverse population, and a race of people that is noble and generous in its daily life.
Similarly, it shows a side of Africa that is not just wildlife savannah or desert. It shows a sparsely populated land that moves slowly from a sub-desert scrub, down to a tropical landscape. Neither of these images are often connected with Africa.
And this is all shown whilst following an adventurer and a cameraman, as they traverse the landscape on a tandem recumbent tricycle. All the action, excitement and emotion are captured with the freedom of a hand-held camera.
This colourful and emotional series shows:
- a fresh perspective of Africa, its people and its cultures,
- a faith in a people that most know little about,
- the challenges in dealing with foreign situations,
- the rigours, joys, freedoms, challenges and other benefits of cycle touring, and
- the comfort and safety of recumbent trikes,