Crossing continents on a Santos tandem: 9000 kilometers and counting
Last July, Dutch couple Andreas and Caro quit their jobs and gave up their apartment. They set off on a Santos tandem, heading for South Africa. Along the way, they got married in the Austrian Alps. Now — more than 300 days and 9000 kilometers later — they’re pedaling through East Africa.
We asked them to share a glimpse of life on the road. They sent us snapshots of milk tea, chapatis, steep climbs and warm encounters. And about what it means to keep moving. Together.
Andreas & Caro
Santos Double Travel
Snapshot 1: Chasing the horizon, one day at a time
We’re currently cycling through Tanzania on our tandem bike. Our days usually start at 7 a.m. when the alarm rings. We pack our bags, put on sunscreen, and get dressed — gloves, scarves, and long-sleeved shirts to protect ourselves from the equatorial sun.
Our first stop is usually a street food stall in the next village, where we fuel up with breakfast: milk tea, chapati (a local type of pancake), a malaria prevention pill, and sometimes a few bananas to take with us.
As we pedal another kilometer uphill on a smooth tarmac road, the landscape unfolds — rolling hills, forests, and smiling people welcoming us with karibuni, which means “welcome” in Swahili. We mostly stick to paved roads, as dirt tracks are often too rough, too steep, and generally not very pleasant on a tandem.
Snapshot 2: Curiosity and connection
Whenever we stop at a restaurant, people gather around our tandem and ask, “How does it work?” After three months of cycling through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and now Tanzania, we’ve gotten used to the curiosity. Our Santos Double Travel tandem always stands out.
Our journey started last July in Scheveningen, a coastal town in the Netherlands. We quit our jobs, gave up our apartment and set off to explore the world on a bike built for two. One of the most special moments came early on: we got married while riding through the Austrian Alps.
Along the way, we’ve met other long-distance cyclists who share our love for slow travel and the simple rhythm of the road. In Türkiye, we were overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers. People invited us into their homes, shared meals with us, and poured endless cups of çay.
Snapshot 3: Challenges and solitude
In January, we flew to Nairobi to avoid conflict zones further north. Since then, our days have followed a familiar rhythm — early starts, quiet roads, and the steady pace of life on a tandem.
The journey has been incredible, but not without challenges. Spare parts are hard to find. The heat can be exhausting. We draw constant attention, and sometimes we miss the comfort of familiar faces or shared cultural ground.
Yet we carry on. With 6,000 kilometers still ahead of us before we reach South Africa, we look forward to the road unfolding. Meeting new people, eating local food, playing unfamiliar games, feeling every climb and descent — all of it reminds us why we chose this path.
Curious to see where the road takes them next?
Andreas and Caro traded their daily routines for life on two wheels and chose a Santos Double Travel to carry them across continents. They’re still pedaling south, sharing stories, photos and moments along the way. Follow their adventure onhttps://www.instagram.com/andanotherkilometer/
