Ken Vincent and Rachelle Vincent’s latent interest in an African trip flourished five years ago when they met Rene at the Edmonton Motorcycle show. They’d already traveled to a few continents and were curious about life in Africa.
Ken’s been riding forever; it was his mode of transportation when he and Rachelle began dating. Like Rachelle, he gave up riding while they were raising their family. Since returning, most of his riding has been long distance touring as the couple extends their riding season as much as possible.
The relatively nearby mountains of British Columbia are a favourite destination. They also love the prairies. Both are from Manitoba and family celebrations during riding season are a great reason to ride across open landscape under big skies.
Unforgettable Rides with Rachelle and Ken Vincent
Over the years, motorcycles have taken Ken and Rachelle throughout much of North America. One excursion took them to Key West through the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico and then up to the Tail of the Dragon. Last year they rode through the Okanagan, crossed Washington State to Seattle, then ferried over to Vancouver Island before returning to Edmonton. In the winter, they trailered their bikes to Las Vegas and rode to Puerto Vallarta for an extended vacation.
When they’re not on two wheels, they also enjoy the open seas. They’ve cruised to New Zealand, the Mediterranean, Hawaii, and the Canary Islands.
To prepare for their Victoria Falls to Cape Town safari, Ken bought a 1000cc V-Strom and booked himself for a challenging three-day course. Determined to develop his adventure riding skills as much as possible, he pushed himself beyond what was expected. Many falls left him feeling beaten up but knew the only way to get better was to try again.
An Epic Adventure in South Africa with Ken & Rachelle
The first day on African sand tested his mettle, especially with Rachelle on board. After another fifty-kilometre stretch of gravel and more sand, he began to enjoy it. So much so that he bought a BMW 1200GS when he returned. It was a big change for someone whose touring experience has been exclusively on Harley-Davidsons.
As much as he prepared, Africa’s diversity of terrain and exotic wildlife surprised and delighted him. He’d seen much natural beauty and wildlife in Canada, but it was very different. Fortunately, he had time to adjust to the dramatically different culture and climate in Victoria Falls before. Every day Rene introduced something new that would “blow your mind,” making that day more magnificent than the one before.
Both Ken and Rachelle want to experience as much as they can, while they can. In keeping with that, partaking in the local cuisine, flavours, and wines was a highlight. The accommodations, “far better than just nice!” also exceeded their modest expectations.
Used to traveling on their own and making all their own arrangements, Ken and Rachelle appreciated the tour’s organization and attention to detail. It freed them up to relax and immerse themselves in an experience they’re not likely to forget.
Photo credits: Rachelle and Ken Vincent
