Kenyan biking couple Dos and Wamuyu Kariuki rose to fame at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic for their love of adventure. These wanderlusts had it all on two wheels—motorbikes. The couple married in 2018, and one of the things they shared in common was their love for adventure. Even special is their affinity for sports bikes, and tying the knot meant more adventure for them.
Table of Contents
When Did Dos and Wamuyu Kariuki Start Bike Adventure?
Two months after walking down the aisle in 2018, Dos and Wamuyu decided to tour the seven continents on their bikes. They resigned from their respective jobs to ease up on their bid to see the world differently. Wamuyu told Reuters in a past interview that it is uncharacteristic of Africans to travel and engage in that level of adventure. She cited that most of it is done by Westerners.
Kenyan biking couple Wamuyu and Dos Kariuki. Photo/IG/Throttle Adventures
The couple mentioned there’s a notion among Africans that it’s difficult to travel given the strength of the African passport. She said that although the Kenyan passport isn’t as robust as those of Americans and Europeans, it is still feasible.
What Inspires Wamuyu and Dos Kariuki to Travel?
Dos and Wamuyu Kariuki are well-travelled and planned to visit all seven continents in three and a half years before the coronavirus pandemic struck. This journey started in 2018 but the pandemic halted their plans. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the couple was in Nicaragua. But the coronavirus pandemic was then hitting the world hard in March and many months thereafter. Still, the two lovebirds had hope of heading into North America via Panama.
However, many borders shut down forcing them to make alternative plans. They spent four and a half months trapped in a cheap hostel in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. They only returned to Kenya in August 2020 when the country’s airspace opened up partially and international flights resumed. Travelling across the world pushes the biking couple out of their comfort zone. Traveling has helped them discover new things, and take in the customs and civilizations of other nations.
How Many Continents Have Wamuyu and Dos Kariuki Visited?
Dos and Wamuyu Kariuki have been to at least four continents so far. This Kenyan biking couple rode across the following four continents since their wedding in 2018.
- Africa
- South America
- Europe
- Antarctica
What’s special is that in 18 months since tying the knot and taking off on monstrous-looking bikes for a world tour, they have a tall tale to tell. They made it across three continents; Africa, South America, and Antarctica before March 2020 when COVID-19 struck. They halted their journey four months after the pandemic struck and shipped their German speed bikes to Kenya. Despite this turn of events, the bike adventurers say the icy beauty of Antarctica awed them.
Secondly, the friendliness of Colombians despite the country’s terrible past is among their fondest recollections. Their takeaway is that the best moments in travelling are in the least expected places such as Columbia. Their dream to continue with their tour of four other continents is still on because they motivate many other people.
What Does Wamuyu and Dos Kariuki Do Now?
To inspire more people, Dos and Wamuyu Kariuki launched Throttle Adventures, an Instagram page linking like-minded adventurers. It is a community for speed bikes and travel lovers. They share experiences and network too. Wamuyus, 50, implores that foreigners have been telling Kenya’s story for a very long time. Thus, on their motorbikes, they tell of Kenya’s beautiful travel to the rest of the world in a unique way.
Kenyan biking couple Wamuyu and Dos Kariuki in Costa Rica. Photo/IG/Throttle Adventures
Contrary to the negativity about travel in Kenya, she adds, the county is secure, stunning, and the ideal vacation spot. Throttle Adventures takes it as a responsibility to sell the country as a top destination in Africa for vacationing. A BMW F 700 GS is the beast of choice for them. Dos says it wasn’t their first choice either. They wanted the Royal Enfield but upon testing it they realized it was sluggish and unresponsive.
Does says that the BMW came in as a second option. It’s fast, comfortable and easy to maintain anywhere in the world. In Europe, it is the most common bike for such arduous travel itineraries. Moreover, it is not as heavy as other bikes even when carrying luggage. Biking has taught the Kenyan couple different things, one of them being diversity and the love beyond Kenyan borders. Riding across the world has taught them a true sense of humanity too according to Dos.
