WebreaderShopNewsletterTop dealers & workshops

Alone through the whole of AfricaWiebke Lühmann's gravel adventure - the book

Gitta Beimfohr

 · 20.02.2026

Travelling by ferry from Spain to Morocco in 45 minutes and suddenly finding yourself in a completely foreign world.
Photo: Fabienne Engel
How does it feel to cycle against all advice, with a fully loaded bike from home through the whole of Africa to Cape Town? As a woman, all alone? Wiebke Lühmann takes the readers of her book "Immer Richtung Süden" (Always South) with her.

Wiebke didn't have a relaxed "I'm off then" moment. Of course, she had planned the tour for a long time: a bike-packing adventure to Kilimanjaro with her boyfriend. But the relationship broke up during the planning phase and the dream was over. Heartbreak. A low that gave rise to a new idea in the woman from Freiburg. To do so, she had to quit her beloved job and flat share, convince her highly concerned father and, above all, overcome her own doubts that kept coming up: Do I really want to do this? Crossing the whole of Africa by bike, as a woman, alone?

>> Wiebke Lühmann: "I am drawn by an abstract longing."

>> Gravel: The perfect equipment for your own adventure

>> The best gravel bikes 2025 in the test

In October 2024, she sets off from Freiburg, but by the time she reaches the south coast of Spain, she cannot shake off the remaining doubts. On the ferry journey to Morocco, she is advised to cancel this solo trip. Africa cannot be compared with Europe. Wiebke makes up her mind and pushes off in the direction of the Atlas Mountains.

Immer Richtung Süden

Immer Richtung Süden

Ein Buch über das Unterwegssein. Über das Loslassen. Und darüber, wie man Stück für Stück unabhängiger wird – auf dem Fahrrad und im Leben.

„Immer Richtung Süden" erzählt die Geschichte einer jungen Frau, die aufbricht, um auf ihrem Fahrrad von Freiburg bis nach Kapstadt zu radeln – allein und in Gesellschaft, durch Europa und 18 afrikanische Länder, über 430 Tage lang. Wiebke Lühmann nimmt die Leser:innen mit hinter die Kulissen einer Reise, die weltweit zehntausende Menschen bewegt und inspiriert hat – und erzählt dabei viele bisher unveröffentlichte, ehrliche und sehr persönliche Geschichten. Vom Fahrraddiebstahl in der Sahara, über einsame Nächte im liberianischen Urwald bis zu den Herausforderungen ihrer Rückkehr.
Eine Einladung, sich selbst neu kennenzulernen, die Welt zu entdecken und den Mut zu haben, die eigenen Träume zu leben.

  • Das Buch zeigt die einzigartige Schönheit des afrikanischen Kontinents für Radreisende sowie die Herzlichkeit und Gastfreundschaft der Menschen auf authentische Art
  • Wiebke Lühmann bricht mit dem Klischee des männlichen Abenteurers und zeigt, dass Frauen mutig, stark und abenteuerlustig sind
  • Ab Mitte März als Film im Kino

Mehr als ein gewöhnlicher Reisebericht

Das Buch ist eine Suche nach Unabhängigkeit; mal laut, mal leise, mal kämpferisch, mal zart. Seit ihrer Kindheit träumt Wiebke davon, frei zu sein: frei von Erwartungen, frei von festen Plänen, frei in Entscheidungen. Als Zwilling geprägt von einer tiefen Sehnsucht nach Bewegung und Autonomie, sucht sie auf dieser langen Reise genau diese Freiheit. Es versammelt die echten Geschichten hinter einer Reise, die viele in Echtzeit mitverfolgt haben – und doch nie in dieser Ehrlichkeit, Tiefe und persönlichen Offenheit erzählt wurden. Ein Plädoyer, die Welt mit eigenen Augen zu sehen, und ein Gegenentwurf zu perfekt inszenierten Abenteuern.

Wiebke Lühmann auf Kinotour zum Film "SAME SUN" – Termine und Veranstaltungsorte:

12.03.26: Hamburg - Savoy
16.03.26: Berlin - Zoopalast
17.03.26: Leipzig - Passage
18.03.26: Frankfurt am Main - Astor
19.03.26: Köln - Filmpalast
22.03.26: München - Astor
23.03.26: Karlsruhe - Schauburg
24.03.26: Stuttgart - Metropol
26.03.26: Freiburg - Harmonie

More Info
only 24,90 €

Price including VAT and shipping

More Info
The Atlas Mountains done: Now "simply" southwards - to the Cape of Good Hope.Photo: Fabienne EngelThe Atlas Mountains done: Now "simply" southwards - to the Cape of Good Hope.

In her recently published book "Immer Richtung Süden", Wiebke tells the story of her 430-day gravel bike adventure from Freiburg to Cape Town - 20,000 kilometres through half of Europe and 18 African countries. The fact that not everything went smoothly along the way could already be followed live on Instagram during the tour. But in the book, you can take a deeper look into her inner life and empathise with her many personal stories. There is, for example, the bike theft in the Sahara, her terrible 30th birthday in the Liberian jungle, the rollercoaster-like encounter with bikepacker Julien and, at the end, the challenges of her return. Basically, you follow Wiebke on her exciting quest for independence. Her narrative is sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, sometimes combative, sometimes tender.

How do you like this article?

Anyone who has already toyed with the idea of travelling to Africa by bike will also learn a lot about the entry requirements of the various countries. The stress of reaching the next border before your visa expires, when to pay bribes and when not to. Which equipment is essential for survival and what is better to do without, also to save weight.

A must for every bikepackerPhoto: Delius KlasingA must for every bikepacker

The book is available at Delius Klasing Publishing House, price 24,90 Euro

The whole trip on the big screen

Wiebke Lühmann was accompanied on several stages of her journey by her friend and filmmaker Fabienne Engel. The film about the African adventure is now being released in cinemas under the title "Same Sun". However, all dates are already completely sold out!

Filmmaker Fabienne Engel accompanied Wiebke very closely and sensitively with her camera at various stages.Photo: Fabienne EngelFilmmaker Fabienne Engel accompanied Wiebke very closely and sensitively with her camera at various stages.

These are the dates:

12.03.26: Hamburg - Savoy (sold out)
16.03.26: Berlin - Zoopalast (sold out)
17.03.26: Leipzig - Passage (sold out)
18.03.26: Frankfurt am Main - Astor (sold out)
19.03.26: Cologne - Filmpalast (sold out)
21.03.26: Düsseldorf - Cyclingworld Europe (sold out)
22.03.26: Munich - Astor (sold out)
23.03.26: Karlsruhe - Schauburg (sold out)
24.03.26: Stuttgart - Metropol (sold out)
26.03.26: Freiburg - Harmonie (sold out)

Gitta Beimfohr

Gitta Beimfohr joined the BIKE travel resort during her tourism studies when the Strada delle 52 Gallerie on the Pasubio was closed to mountain bikers. Since Gitta crossed the Alps twice at racing speed, she has favoured multi-day tours - by MTB in the Alps or by gravel bike through the German low mountain ranges.

Home

Most read in category About us