Yves de Preux is a brave adventurer who rode his electric trike all the way from France to South Africa, crossing 16 countries. His trip mixed modern technology with the excitement of exploring new places and meeting kind strangers. Along the way, Yves faced tough deserts, high mountains, and wild animals but found beauty and friendship everywhere. Sharing his journey with over 300,000 followers online, he showed that with courage and curiosity, the world is full of amazing stories waiting to be discovered.
Yves de Preux is an adventurer who cycled from France to South Africa on an electric recumbent trike. His journey spanned 16 countries, combining modern technology, environmental awareness, and cultural exploration while inspiring over 300,000 online followers.
Yves de Preux’s ambitious quest to traverse continents on an electric recumbent trike began as a bold idea. With little more than unshakeable determination, his uniquely engineered bicycle, and a camera, Yves set off in 2022 from the heart of Reims, France. He planned to reach the windswept shores of Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa – a route that would take him across a remarkable variety of landscapes, cultures, and challenges. While the dream of moving across continents is as old as human curiosity, Yves fused the vigor of the great explorers with the ingenuity of modern technology. His journey combined the spirit of adventure with an environmental conscience, capturing the imagination of a digital audience.
Quickly, Yves – known online as Kino Yves – began sharing his journey with the world. His YouTube channel became a vivid travelogue, amassing over 300,000 subscribers who followed his every pedal stroke and detour. Through his lens, viewers experienced the world’s grandeur and its subtleties. The e-trike, quiet and efficient, became both his vehicle and symbol – a blend of nostalgia for the golden age of exploration and the technological promise of the 21st century.
The route Yves mapped out spanned sixteen countries, each presenting its own tests, surprises, and fleeting connections. He cycled through the Balkans, a region marked by centuries of shifting borders and cultural richness. From Ottoman-era towns in Bosnia to the dramatic coastline of Albania, Yves absorbed the layered histories etched into the land. Arriving in Turkey, he found himself at a crossroads of continents and civilizations, each step forward revealing new facets of the world and himself.
Throughout his journey, Yves collected countless stories and moments. In Greece, for example, he spent a night beneath the storied slopes of Mount Olympus, the wind whispering through olive groves. Experiences like these echoed the writings of 19th-century travelers, who sought meaning in the world’s details. Yves’s keen observations brought the journey to life: he noticed the laughter of a roadside vendor, the rich aromas of Istanbul’s spice bazaars, and the haunting call to prayer drifting through Anatolia. Every encounter broadened his perspective, weaving together the complex cultural tapestry that defines the route from Europe to Africa.
As he pushed beyond Turkey, Yves entered the often tumultuous landscapes of the Middle East. Iraq and Jordan, lands steeped in both history and upheaval, presented a blend of warm welcomes and ever-present risks. In northern Iraq, he found himself sitting with shepherds, sharing tea and laughter as locals marveled at his unusual mode of transport. While the threat of conflict lingered in the background, the kindness of strangers repeatedly provided reassurance and inspiration.
Crossing into Egypt, Yves followed the timeless path alongside the Nile River, once walked by explorers and artists in pursuit of adventure. The river’s changing moods – from lush deltas to stretching deserts and frenetic cityscapes – challenged both man and machine. The relentless African sun exposed the e-trike’s limitations, sometimes forcing Yves to pause in the shade or improvise repairs with whatever materials lay at hand. These small acts of adaptation formed the fabric of his expedition; every day became a study in resourcefulness and resilience.
Sudan and Ethiopia brought Yves face-to-face with the stark realities and striking beauty of the continent. Riding through Sudan, he endured the Saharan heat as sand swirled around his wheels. The isolation of the desert fostered moments of deep reflection, interrupted only by spontaneous interactions – a group of children, running alongside, cheering him on in broken English, gave him renewed energy and a sense of belonging in unfamiliar lands.
Ethiopia’s dramatic highlands increased the physical and mental demands of Yves’s journey. The steep climbs taxed the e-trike’s batteries and his own endurance. However, the rewards proved worth the effort. He dined on injera with villagers, listened to traditional songs beside campfires, and watched the sun rise over a patchwork of ancient valleys. These moments of sharing and connection turned the journey into more than a personal challenge – they became a testament to the universal language of hospitality and human connection.
As Yves rode south, the great sweep of Africa revealed itself in rapid succession. Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi each unfolded with their own distinct rhythms and landscapes. The grandeur of the Great Rift Valley left a deep impression, its wildlife and vistas reminiscent of nature documentaries. In Kenya, Yves cycled with vigilance through lion country, his senses heightened by the possibility of encountering Africa’s untamed creatures. Lake Victoria in Uganda offered a welcome respite after weeks of punishing roads, its serene waters restoring his strength for the journey ahead.
Rwanda and Burundi, sometimes overshadowed by turmoil in news reports, revealed an entirely different face to Yves. Rolling green hills, terraced farms, and vibrant markets offered daily reminders of the region’s resilience and beauty. He lingered in small guesthouses, trading stories with locals and travelers alike, learning about lives shaped by history yet looking forward with hope.
The last stretch of Yves’s journey led him through Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia. The shifting geography – from the plains of the Serengeti to the wind-carved dunes of the Kalahari – brought new challenges and unforgettable encounters. Wildlife sightings grew more frequent and sometimes more threatening. In Botswana, Yves sometimes camped discreetly to avoid drawing the attention of nearby elephants, describing the thrill and vulnerability of sharing space with some of the planet’s most formidable animals.
Namibia’s vast, ochre desert and endless sky proved both intimidating and awe-inspiring. The silence of the Namib Desert, broken only by wind and the occasional distant rumble of thunder, underscored the humility required by travelers in such ancient landscapes. Here, Yves came to appreciate the limits of individual ambition in the face of geological time and elemental beauty.
Finally, Yves crossed into South Africa. The Orange River marked his entry into a nation shaped by struggle, reconciliation, and hope. He cycled through vineyards and mountains, eventually reaching Cape Town. The city, set dramatically at the foot of Table Mountain and where two oceans meet, became a symbolic milestone. However, Yves’s adventure did not stop there. After recuperating, his wheels carried him through Kommetjie, the surf of Muizenberg, the gentle hills of Kleinmond and Hermanus – each new location adding stories, flavors, and vistas. The journey reached its literal and figurative end at Cape Agulhas, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans converge amid treacherous reefs once feared by sailors.
Cape Agulhas stands as a quiet but powerful endpoint. Portuguese navigators dubbed it the “Cape of Needles” for the jagged rocks that have wrecked countless ships. Here, at 34.8 degrees south, Yves stood in triumph, greeted by winds carrying the scent of salt and the promise of further adventure.
Yves de Preux’s journey, chronicled through modern technology, paid homage to the great artistic and philosophical traditions that have long celebrated humanity’s drive to confront the unknown. Like Romantic explorers of the past, Yves uncovered beauty in adversity and drew meaning from the unpredictable twists of his route. His use of the e-trike and digital storytelling created a bridge between eras, inspiring a global audience to see the world through a fresh lens.
Even as Yves paused at Cape Agulhas, his eyes turned toward future horizons. Plans formed for a new route north, taking him through West Africa and beyond. Rather than seeing his achievement as an endpoint, Yves embraced the open road as a constant invitation – an echo of explorers, artists, and dreamers who have always found purpose in the journey itself.
For those who followed his odyssey online, Yves’s adventure offered more than entertainment. It stood as a powerful reminder: the world remains vast, complex, and full of wonder – and with courage, curiosity, and creativity, anyone can seek their own path across its continents.
Yves de Preux is a modern adventurer who cycled from France to South Africa on an electric recumbent trike, crossing 16 countries. His journey combined cutting-edge technology, environmental awareness, and cultural exploration, inspiring over 300,000 followers on his YouTube channel as he documented his experiences through diverse landscapes and communities.
Yves encountered a wide range of physical and environmental challenges including harsh deserts like the Sahara, steep mountain climbs in Ethiopia, wild animal territories such as lion country in Kenya, and extreme weather conditions like the relentless African sun. Mechanical limitations of his electric trike, combined with the need for resourcefulness in remote areas, also tested his endurance and adaptability.
Yves’s electric recumbent trike was both a practical vehicle and a symbol of blending tradition with innovation. The e-trike provided an environmentally friendly mode of transport that supported long-distance travel while minimizing carbon footprint. Additionally, Yves used digital technology – cameras, social media, and YouTube – to share real-time updates, stories, and beautiful visuals, engaging a global community and inspiring others to explore sustainably.
Throughout his journey, Yves connected deeply with local communities – from sharing tea with shepherds in northern Iraq to enjoying traditional meals and songs in Ethiopian villages. He witnessed vibrant markets in Rwanda and Burundi, experienced the rich histories of the Balkans and Turkey, and found warmth and hospitality even in regions affected by conflict. These interactions enriched his journey, revealing the universal language of kindness and human connection.
Yves began his epic journey in Reims, France, in 2022. After cycling through Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, he reached his official endpoint at Cape Agulhas, South Africa – the southernmost tip of the African continent where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. This symbolic and challenging destination marked a triumphant conclusion to his intercontinental adventure.
Yves’s journey bridges the spirit of historic explorers with modern technology and environmental mindfulness, inspiring a global audience to embrace curiosity and courage. Far from viewing his trip as complete, Yves plans to continue exploring, aiming to travel north through West Africa and beyond. His story serves as a powerful reminder that the world is full of stories waiting to be discovered, and that adventure is a lifelong pursuit.
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