March 12, 2007 – Tour d’Afrique, the annual 12,000-kilometer bicycle race/expedition from Cairo to Cape Town, billed as the world’s longest and most grueling bicycle race, has completed its eighth week of the 17-week odyssey.

After facing down scorching temperatures and unrelenting corrugated lava rock roads through northern Kenya last week, one of the cyclists remarked “The Tour de France is luxury compared to this!”

After crossing the Equator the scenery changed dramatically once again as the cyclists experienced cooler weather, huge elevation climbs on paved roads and lush green vegetation.

“What made the climbing easier were the amazing views; Mount Kenya, rolling hills covered with sunflowers and corn crops, thatched cottages and super friendly Kenyans who smiled and waved and told us “˜not much further!’” reported Tour Leader, Shanny Hill.

The Tour arrived in Nairobi on Sunday, bringing to a close the section known as “˜Meltdown Madness’ where they were welcomed by the Kenyan media at a press conference in Nairobi.

Tour d’Afrique Foundation, the fund raising arm of the Tour, donated bicycles to Maji Mazuri and the National Council of Women in Kenya, two NGO’s dedicated to easing the suffering of HIV/Aids victims in Nairobi.

“It was more than your average press conference,” reported Shanny Hill. “It was full of heart and emotion when the kids from Maji Mazuri arrived, on their way to receive their treatment, and recited a poem of celebration they had created especially for the occasion.”

The cyclists will enjoy a rest day in Nairobi today and prepare for the fourth stage of the Tour – “Snows of Kilimanjaro”.

This 12 day, 1012 km section from Nairobi, Kenya to Iringa, Tanzania, will take the cyclists past views of Mount Kilimanjaro and its smaller sibling, Mount Meru and into the city of Arusha, the gateway to the Serengeti National Park, where the cyclists have three rest days in which visit the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Taragire and Ruaha.

Leaving Arusha, the Tour will cycle towards Dodoma along roads where the Masai will be their constant companions. The cyclists will experience some of the most unique, verdant, memorable and least traveled parts of Tanzania on this leg before they finish the section in Iringa.

Dutch racers, Adrie Frijters and Eva Nijssen still hold the overall lead in the men’s and women’s race.

For regular updates and more information visit www.tourdafrique.com