Going everywhere slowly

Ingo Ehret (42) from Germany cycled through Empangeni last week - just in time to make the World Cup semi-final between Germany and Spain in Durban

While most Soccer World Cup tourists flew into the country in comfort, one German man decided to go a different route. Ingo Ehret (42) cycled 7 000km from Kenya to South Africa - and made it to Durban just in time for the World Cup semi-final game between Germany and Spain. Talk about taking the scenic route. Ehret stopped over in Empangeni and while in town, popped in at the Zululand Observer for a chat. A world traveller, Ehret began his cycling trips 15 years ago going around the Himalaya mountains. Cycling over some of the highest passes in the world (15 600m), Ehret caught the travel bu, and now cannot stop pedalling. ‘I have a travel virus,’ he says. His most recent trip through Africa included Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa. He is thinking of continuing up to Namibia and beyond. ‘I observed that African people are very hardworking and friendly and I never felt unsafe.’ ‘Cycling is a totally independent adventure. ‘I take my tent and stove and I can go anywhere.’ ‘By travelling slowly you get to know the flavour of a country, its smells, tastes and sounds.’ Ehret also writes a column for his local paper in Germany and has used the opportunity to raise money for an orphanage in Kenya.