User:Jorust/sandbox

Jolandie Rust, know as "Jo" by most, is a South African solo adventure rider. Jolandie was born on 8 February 1984 in Kempton Park, South Africa, and currently resides in George, along the picturesque Garden Route.

On 24 November 2013, Jolandie became the first female in history to have ridden around the entire African continent on a motorcycle (2007 BMW F650GS Dakar), on her own. A solo journey that saw her traveling approximately 45 000 kilometres, through 28 countries over a period of 18 months.

Jolandie initially started out on a bicycle, with the aim to cycle around the African continent in April 2011. She started off from Camps Bay, in Cape Town, and made her way up the west coast on the N7 towards Namibia, on the B1 through Namibia and finally entering Angola. Though after an unfortunate attack in the northern region of Angola (just north of the coastal town of N'zeto), Jolandie was left stranded on the side of the road whilst four inebriated young men, armed with machetes and knives, took off with Jo's bicycle and all her gear.

In an amazing turn of events the Angolan government stepped in, ensured Jolandie's safety with the Governor of the Zaire province flying in to take Jolandie to his private residence in M'banza Congo in the northern region of Angola. Jolandie then returned to South Africa to start planning on relaunching her epic adventure. This time on a motorcycle.

Despite the fact that Jolandie had never been on a motorcycle before, she decided that she wanted to have another go at circumnavigating the continent. With that, Jo discovered the engine.

The Angolan government contacted Jolandie when she returned to South Africa to apologise for what had happened back in Northern Angola and offered their assistance. Jolandie notified them of her plans to relaunch her journey on a motorcycle and after some discussion, the Angolan government became the sole sponsor of Jolandie's expedition.