Windhoek
Two Russian bikers made their stopover in Windhoek on their European and African trip to honour the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
Gagarin was a Russian pilot who made history when he went into space on April 12, 1961, becoming the first human being to do so.
The two bikers arrived in Windhoek from the Northern Cape in South Africa. Their tour is part of the 55th anniversary of Gagarin’s venture into space.
Embassy of the Russian Federation in Namibia Counsellor Vadim Klyuev said Gagarin was chosen as the Man of 1961 by Time Magazine and remains a prominent figure in global history, hence the rally that will cover a marathon 45 000 km.
Klyuev said the trip started in Moscow last year on October 25 and by mid-November the two men had entered Africa through Morocco.
The two bikers Ilya Dubinin and Iurii Volkov belong to a well-known Russian and international motorbike club called Night Wolves.
The bikers are also planning to visit Damaraland, Kaokoland and Tsumkwe before exiting the country through the Zambezi Region.
They will ride through neighbouring countries Zimbabwe and Zambia. “They are impressed by the rich Namibian culture and different ethnic groups,” remarked Klyuev.
“This is part of the rally and consider it to be a step in meeting the (African) continent, it’s people and realities,” Klyuev said.
Klyuev said the men are trying to identify sites where it is possible to interact with Africans in a more practical way on how to bring Russian culture closer to the African people.
Dubinin said they having been sleeping in hotels, hostels or bed-and-breakfasts. They also have tents and sleeping bags.
Volkov rejoiced at the hospitality and kindness of Africans that they interacted with during their trip so far.
“They had great interest in us and have not forgotten the positive role of the USSR during the period of liberation struggles,” said Volkov.
The bikers will head back to Russia through Egypt and travel via Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. They are expected to complete their six-month trip before April 12, the date on which Gagarin made his pioneering space odyssey.
So far the duo have been to Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland.