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Woman Alone Around Africa: A tale of courage and overcoming the seemingly impossible
Jo Rust is one of the world’s most prominent female adventurers. In 2011 she set out to become the first woman in history to circumnavigate the African continent on her own. No support. No back up vehicles. A story she shares in Woman Alone Around Africa – a tale of courage and overcoming the seemingly impossible.
First Jo attempted to travel around Africa on her bicycle, she made it all the way to northern Angola, 3500 kilometers away from home, until her bicycle was stolen by 4 machete-wielding men. Then, in a miraculous turn of events the Angolan government steps in to become the main sponsor of Jo’s journey as she starts all over again, this time on a motorcycle, even though she had never ridden a motorcycle before.
Woman Alone Around Africa is about so much more than just an epic adventure. It’s about the people in Jo’s life who helped make her dream a reality and the life changing experiences had along the way. It’s about having enough courage to do something even when you are afraid and overcoming crippling fear and a life-long battle against depression to achieve something extraordinary.
First Jo attempted to travel around Africa on her bicycle, she made it all the way to northern Angola, 3500 kilometers away from home, until her bicycle was stolen by 4 machete-wielding men. Then, in a miraculous turn of events the Angolan government steps in to become the main sponsor of Jo’s journey as she starts all over again, this time on a motorcycle, even though she had never ridden a motorcycle before.
Woman Alone Around Africa is about so much more than just an epic adventure. It’s about the people in Jo’s life who helped make her dream a reality and the life changing experiences had along the way. It’s about having enough courage to do something even when you are afraid and overcoming crippling fear and a life-long battle against depression to achieve something extraordinary.
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2018
8 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 20, 2024
Book Review – “Woman Alone Around Africa” by Jo Rust.
Ok I do this because, it’s fun, it is my opinion and I’m not paid to do it. As I said my opinion.
But if any author out there wants an honest review on their book, just send me the book.
As with all journeys there is a start, the middle and the end, so with this book there is a start, ok multiple starts. The starts include a couple of local bicycle trips round South Africa, and then the wild idea to try and become the first women to cycle around the circumference of Africa.
That stopped in Angola due to been robbed. Reality is this incident was the start of her journey on a Dakar BMW bike.
Reading the book, you find how luck, fate or just good old human nature of people wanting to help people, for Jo this came in the way of the Angolan Government providing the financial support, and others who help her finance her journey.
You are introduced to the many people she meets, the places she visits, the countries, the quick excursion into Europe because of political problems.
She is honest about what can happen or potentially to a lone and at times not alone traveller. There was many a time she was escorted by the local biker community in different countries, and was given a police escort through Angola just to make sure she got through the country safe due to previously been robbed. Parts of the book are funny, there is humour, parts of danger, and lots of help and hospitality of strangers.
So, for me, I went from not liking the book, to liking it, to not liking it, to liking it ……. And I am still working out whether I liked the book or not but I am happy that I read it.
Some parts I just struggled with, so who reads this book will make their own minds up. Overall, its an interesting read, and she does get home.
Overall its worth spending your money on, I read the book version bought from Amazon and yes there is the usual black and white photos.
Ok I do this because, it’s fun, it is my opinion and I’m not paid to do it. As I said my opinion.
But if any author out there wants an honest review on their book, just send me the book.
As with all journeys there is a start, the middle and the end, so with this book there is a start, ok multiple starts. The starts include a couple of local bicycle trips round South Africa, and then the wild idea to try and become the first women to cycle around the circumference of Africa.
That stopped in Angola due to been robbed. Reality is this incident was the start of her journey on a Dakar BMW bike.
Reading the book, you find how luck, fate or just good old human nature of people wanting to help people, for Jo this came in the way of the Angolan Government providing the financial support, and others who help her finance her journey.
You are introduced to the many people she meets, the places she visits, the countries, the quick excursion into Europe because of political problems.
She is honest about what can happen or potentially to a lone and at times not alone traveller. There was many a time she was escorted by the local biker community in different countries, and was given a police escort through Angola just to make sure she got through the country safe due to previously been robbed. Parts of the book are funny, there is humour, parts of danger, and lots of help and hospitality of strangers.
So, for me, I went from not liking the book, to liking it, to not liking it, to liking it ……. And I am still working out whether I liked the book or not but I am happy that I read it.
Some parts I just struggled with, so who reads this book will make their own minds up. Overall, its an interesting read, and she does get home.
Overall its worth spending your money on, I read the book version bought from Amazon and yes there is the usual black and white photos.
December 29, 2018
What an amazing journey of courage, perseverance and determination. I can only admire, even though I don’t understand the drive behind such a dream to fulfil. As there is no map of the journey in the book, whenever I was able to read with my laptop handy, I would plot Jo’s journey on Google Maps, opening Africa up to me and I would pop into another tab on Google Images to visualise further, this amazing journey. Jo – all I can say is “You go Girl”. No, I would never attempt this and can only sit back in my comfort and be awestruck at your achievement. And what you have proceeded to do with your life since, as a result.
Looking forward to meeting you again some time. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Looking forward to meeting you again some time. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
June 8, 2021
Jo Rust is the first woman in history to circumnavigate the entire African continent on a motorcycle, and on her own! A brilliant adventure and incredibly inspiring story. A 29 year old woman, 45,000km, 28 countries and an 18 month long ride through real Africa. Relatable in that adventures with a spark of madness are healing.
April 19, 2020
Inspirational
I am obviously biased, having followed Jo’s journey years ago, being South African myself, and on top of it all, a motorcyclist. This is a book for travelers, even armchair adventurers, and everyone interested in places and people.
Of course the language used is tainted South African, but Jo tries her best to explain when she uses South Africanisms. And then those that would like a faultless language and spelling experience above an immersive narrative, should perhaps manage their own expectations - not everyone can afford extensive editing.
Ultimately, when i finished the last chapter, I was glad that Jo published this book when she did, as it stands. This is a book that reflects all of us: the potential we have to accomplish our dreams despite our flaws. This is a book that is full of character.
I am obviously biased, having followed Jo’s journey years ago, being South African myself, and on top of it all, a motorcyclist. This is a book for travelers, even armchair adventurers, and everyone interested in places and people.
Of course the language used is tainted South African, but Jo tries her best to explain when she uses South Africanisms. And then those that would like a faultless language and spelling experience above an immersive narrative, should perhaps manage their own expectations - not everyone can afford extensive editing.
Ultimately, when i finished the last chapter, I was glad that Jo published this book when she did, as it stands. This is a book that reflects all of us: the potential we have to accomplish our dreams despite our flaws. This is a book that is full of character.
April 14, 2020
Interesting read and courageous woman to accomplish what she did.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews