Fester

Fester a biker through and through, finds his greatest pleasure in riding through the rugged landscape of the African Karoo. His faithful companion is a Honda Africa Twin, a machine that has been through so many accidents and subsequent renovations that Fester lovingly nicknames it Frankentwin.

Frankentwin – resurrected three times from the dead, and Fester loves it like his own child. It’s simply a reliable machine that never lets you down, especially when riding off-road. As he says: “Simple, old engine. No electrics, except for the lights. Just perfection, start it and go.” This suits him because he’s not a mechanic, but a chef. With a smile, he says he could cook a roasted muskrat in the wilderness, but fixing an engine would be a true challenge.

He fell in love with motorcycles as a kid when his dad taught him to ride an old Suzuki in the desert. Since then, Fester has traveled the world, but he claims that South Africa is probably the best place for off-road riding. For him, it’s “the most amazing, enchanting experience,” with the opportunity to ride everything off-road has to offer.

As a chef and passionate traveler, Fester believes that food is a key part of culture and brings people together. During his travels, he enjoys exploring local cuisine and sharing meals with locals. Although he can cook fancy dishes, his recipe for an off-road dinner is simple – anything fresh that can be found. But as a proper Brit, he always brings a teapot and well-hidden biscuits – they’re said to be better than money on the road.

Fester likes to tell the story how as a chef, once received a crazy request from a guest who wanted a live goat. Fester tried, ran all over Cape Town, but on a Sunday, you just can’t conjure up a live goat out of nowhere. He says it’s one of the few times he had to tell a guest, “Sorry, I just can’t do this.” But at least he has something to talk about, right?

Fester has been through a few serious crashes, breaking ribs and bones, but his love for motorcycles remains unbreakable.