Burning Hills and Extreme Roads - My Ride to Guinea 🇬🇳

Leaving The Gambia, I continued south toward Guinea, beginning another major stage of the journey across West Africa. The relatively relaxed atmosphere around Banjul gradually gave way to longer distances, increasingly remote settlements and roads that became noticeably more demanding as I approached the border.

Crossing into Guinea brought an immediate change. The landscape became greener and more mountainous, but the road toward Labé was rough, unpredictable and relentless. Broken tarmac, deep potholes, loose surfaces and badly damaged sections forced me to slow down and choose every line carefully. On a fully loaded 2023 Honda Africa Twin DCT, even a minor mistake could easily result in a fall or mechanical damage.

Along the route, I encountered hillsides being burned, filling parts of the landscape with smoke and creating an almost apocalyptic atmosphere. Fire is often used to clear vegetation and prepare land, but seeing entire sections of the hills burning beside the road was still unsettling. Combined with the heat, dust and difficult terrain, it made the ride feel far more intense than the previous days.

Despite the conditions, Guinea immediately revealed itself as one of the most visually impressive countries of the journey. The flat and dusty landscapes further north were replaced by dramatic hills, dense vegetation and winding mountain roads. The scenery was spectacular, but enjoying it was difficult when the surface beneath the motorcycle constantly demanded attention.

The ride toward Labé became a test of patience and endurance rather than speed. Progress was slow, the road repeatedly deteriorated without warning and the physical strain accumulated throughout the day. Yet this difficult introduction also showed me that Guinea would be a very different experience—wilder, greener and considerably less predictable than the countries I had already crossed.

By the time I reached the end of the day, I was exhausted, but the ride had been unforgettable. Guinea welcomed me with burning hills, extreme roads and extraordinary scenery. It was a difficult beginning, but also the start of what would become one of the most intense chapters of my African journey.

I’ll be documenting this adventure along the way — the good, the bad, and everything in between. If you want to ride with me through Africa’s deserts, mountains, chaos, and calm, you can follow the journey on Instagram, and TikTok. I’ll be sharing stories from the road, raw moments, and the reality behind chasing freedom on two wheels.

So, come along for the ride — the long way through Africa.

Peace!