Popular French e-tricyclist and adventurer Kino Yves has named three of his best African countries. Yves shocked the world after embarking on a long journey from his home in France to South Africa. He has covered 19,000 km (11,806 miles) since 2022, when he started the journey.
His favourite countries are spread through Eastern and Southern Africa. He extensively toured each of them in the past, among others, but they stood out to him.
“My top 3 countries so far is easy! Number 3 is South Africa it is really awesome, coming to number 2 is Ethiopia and Number 1 on top of the world is, of course. Kenya. I love Kenya so much,” he recently confessed.
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Kino Yves Tricycle Safari
The Frenchman is also popularly known as Yves de Preux among the French. However, he remains the popular Kino Yves to the rest of the world. For a while, Yves toyed with the idea of touring the world differently. His starting point was never in doubt: it would be France.
In 2022, he hopped onto his e-trike and off he went on an extraordinary safari across 16 countries on different continents. His stay in Africa opened a new chapter of love in his safari book. Natural beauty, culture and warm people struck a soft nerve in his heart. Yves de Preux took three years to complete his circuit across continents in his very unique choice of transport: an e-tricycle.
French adventurer Kino Yves inspecting his e-trike. He has visited 16 countries since 2022 when he left his home in France and covered over 11,000 miles Photo/Kino Yves
Kino Yves Love for Africa
Kino Yves while reflecting on his three-year journey to 16 countries, had a lot of praise for Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia. Herds of elephants in Botswana welcomed him to Southern Africa, which nearly charged at him. He kept his cool and documented everything about his safari across Africa, earning over 280,000 subscribers from his YouTube safari tales.
South Africa
South Africa’s Lambert’s Bay charmed every safari sense in him. The pristine coastline sweeping a coastal aura to Lambert’s neighbourhood brings with it a level of generosity he hasn’t seen before. Cape Town’s beauty left him clamouring for more. He plans a second safari to this South African harbour city from France via West Africa. In his reflection, the bay is a paradise you can’t enjoy enough in one visit. Friendly locals living on this coastline make it even better.
Ethiopian Coffee
Typical Ethiopian coffee. [Photo by CGTN]
Besides coffee and Ethiopian food, his major highlight in the Addis Ababa-headquartered capital is drinking tej, a traditional honey wine. He partook in Arba Minch area of Ethiopia, where locals are welcoming and generous. His visit to Oroima region left a mark of gratitude on his face as locals fed him with all sorts of local delicacies.
Experience in Kenya
French adventurer Kino Yves on his e-trike. He visited 16 countries since 2022 and he is in love with Kenya. Photo/Kino Yves/YouTube
Kenya remains his best safari destination hitherto. Yves toured Kenya extensively, starting with the capital, Nairobi. He freely engaged with locals while touring every corner of the city. The adventurer from Europe detailed his interaction with a Kenyan barber who treated him cosily and served him hospitably.
A rare show for a tourist in Africa, he immersed himself in the Kenyan football culture, joining hundreds of fans in clubs to watch English Premier League matches. He discovered that Manchester United has the largest number of football fans in the country. In a twist, he visited a remote village in North Eastern Kenya, deep in Moyale and Turbi where he nearly left his e-trike.
These remote villages in the north do not have electricity. This posed a mobility challenge for him, but locals here, mostly of Somali origin, helped him through it all.
Why Did Kino Yves Use an E-Trike?
Admittedly, Kino Yves left many people in surprise over his choice of mobility – and e-tricycle to tour 16 countries in three years. He said that he found it unique, comfortable and efficient in his adventure journey. It’s stable, powerful, environmentally conscious and comfortable.
His e-trike’s recumbent design allowed him to ride in a more relaxed posture without straining his legs and back. Tackling steep inclines and descents was all too easy for the three-wheeled motor throughout the 19,000-km journey. Additionally, its electric setup was a campaign for sustainable travel.
