After entering Zambia (population: 20 million) at the southeastern border with Malawi, I headed west along the historic Great East Road, making my way toward the capital city of Lusaka, nearly 400 miles away. One of the highlights of this route—and beyond—was riding through the stunning Miombo Woodlands.

These woodlands are considered one of the most defining natural ecosystems of Zambia and much of south-central Africa. But they’re more than just forests—they’re living landscapes that support people, wildlife, and climate balance. They’re also considered a carbon sink, meaning they store massive amounts of carbon in both trees and soil. The Miombo Woodlands stretch across nearly 115,000 square miles (300,000 square kilometers)!

Much of this vast region is lightly populated, so it wasn’t unusual to ride for hours without seeing a single village. Most locals survive through subsistence farming and small-scale charcoal production. It’s a fascinating process, but unfortunately not a sustainable one—posing major environmental challenges for the country and region at-large.

As in previous countries I passed through, children came running from everywhere to cheer and greet me and my fellow riders. Their enthusiasm was infectious—it brought so much joy. Speaking of kids, here’s an interesting fact: 60% of Zambia’s population is under the age of 25—that’s about 12 million people!

The riding days were long and grueling. I found it increasingly hard to stay hydrated and consume enough calories to maintain the energy needed to continue. Once I entered the Luongo Valley, the radiant heat soared to over 110°F (43°C). I often felt like I might spontaneously combust. On several occasions, I had no choice but to end my day early just to avoid the peak heat and hear exhaustion.

As we neared Lusaka, I had to mentally prepare myself for urban riding—it kind of felt like being back in NYC: full-on defensive cycling. The roads were chaotic, with poor conditions and heavy traffic. Sadly, this stretch of the ride delivered one of the worst nightmares for any cyclist.

My amazing fellow rider, Billie, was just 10 miles from our final destination when a car clipped her by accident. She was knocked off her bike, hit the ground, and the vehicle ran over her before fleeing the scene. A passing Good Samaritan rushed her to the hospital. Miraculously, Billie survived, though she suffered punctured lungs and broken ribs. Her helmet—now shattered—saved her life, even after the vehicle ran over her head.

The experience was deeply shocking for all of us. We rallied around Billie for emotional support, and thankfully, our incredible tour leader and crew managed the crisis with grace and care. Billie will remain in Zambia for about a month to recover bedore heading home to Florida. Her sister, a nurse, flew in to help care for her.

It was hard for many of us to return to our bikes and carry on—but we eventually did. We continued westward toward Livingstone, Zambia, home to the ever-famous Victoria Falls. More on that in the next post.