Nothing combines exotic locales, competition, endurance, and sightseeing like the 120-day Tour d'Afrique.

The odyssey begins at dawn on Jan. 18, 2003 at the Great Pyramid on Egypt's Giza Plateau and concludes May 18 at a spot overlooking the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Organized by two Toronto enthusiasts, the Cairo to Capetown route covers 10,500 kilometres and passes through 11 Dark Continent countries.

It costs more than $10,000 to take part (plus travel expenses to Cairo), and, unlike most tours, food and accommodation are far from luxurious. Participants will chow down on dehydrated foods augmented by what is available locally, and they will tent out under the stars. They must provide their own camping equipment.

One van will carry the equipment and another will follow the route to help anyone who sags under the 105-kilometre-per-day load. Included in the schedule are 20 days of rest and sightseeing. Those who can't commit to four months of cycling can jump in and do parts of the route at a cost of $1 per kilometre.

Organizers Michael de Jong and Henry Gold are hoping for 200 registrants. In September, they reported that 50 had signed up: 39 Canadians, nine Englishmen, one American, and one Dutchman.

Inspiration for the trip came 10 years ago when Gold watched Russian cyclists train for the Olympics in Ethiopia. He created an event with a threefold mandate: to provide competition for both amateurs and professionals; to foster international goodwill; and to raise funds to promote environmental, ecological, and educational charities throughout Africa. www.tourdafrique.com