Folbot Sponsors The 2012-16 Great African Expedition

We are thrilled to be sponsoring Anthropologist and modern day African explorer Julian Monroe Fisher’s 2012-16 Great African Expedition.  Mr. Fisher and the The Great African Expeditionary team will begin using fully loaded FOLBOT GREENLAND II kayaks with upwind sailing rigs and outriggers on the Upper Nile River in South Sudan and on their circumnavigation of Uganda’s Lake Albert and Lake Victoria.   

Additional details about the 2012-16 Great African Expedition is below and check out the website at: http://www.julianmonroefisher.com/greatafrica/index.htm

About Mr. Julian Monroe Fisher and The Great African Expedition:

Mr. Julian Monroe Fisher is a US citizen from Greenwood, South Carolina, currently based in Austria.  He is an explorer, an Anthropologist, an Ethnographic filmmaker, a publisher author, a Fellow with The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) in London and an International Fellow with the British Chapter of The Explorers Club in New York City. Between 2007 and 2011 he conducted five consecutive Explorers Club flag sanctioned research expeditions to the African continent (see his personal website at www.JulianMonroeFisher.com)

On February 22, 2012, Mr. Fisher announced a five year Ethnographical research project deep in the heart of Africa. Entitled, ‘The 2012-2016 Great African Expedition’, he is conducting a 21st century Ethnographical documentation of Central Africa.  The project will have him retracing the African expeditionary routes of the famed Victorian explorers including Speke, Grant, Brazza, Burton, Baker,
Baumann, Linz, Livingstone and Stanley.

The objective will be to compare the 19th century Ethnographic documentation of the tribal kingdoms along the Central African rivers and lakes gathered during the expeditions of the Victorian age with the
realities of 21st century Central Africa. For all the journeys he will implore the use of kayaks, camels, donkeys, horses, trains and on foot.

Phase One of the project took place between late February and
early May 2012, with the successful overland journey from Cairo, Egypt, to
Khartoum, Sudan. Here is a link to initial media coverage for Phase One of
The 2012-2016 Great African Expedition: http://www.julianmonroefisher.com/greatafrica/pages/media.htm

During Phase Two which is scheduled in late 2012 and early 2013 he will travel from Khartoum up the Nile and across the new nation of South Sudan to Lake Albert in Uganda. There he will circumnavigate Lake Albert, then follow the Semliki River to the Lamia River tributary that flows down from the Rwenzori Mountains. He will then follow that tributary up to the glacier on Mount Stanley.

The objectives of the expedition will be to:

  • Follow the expeditionary routes of the great Victorian age explorers to compare the 19th century Ethnographic documentation of the tribal kingdoms along the Central African rivers and lakes gathered during the expeditions of the Victorian age with the realities of 21st century Central Africa;
  • Conduct & document Ethnographical research in photography and film (Cultural & Physical) research;
  • Gather content for a book and Ethnographic film entitled ‘AFRICA – One Man’s Search for the Heart of Africa’.

We look forward to working with “Monroe” and his team as they prepare for this EPIC JOURNEY

Indoor Kayaking… Sort Of

One of the traditions that exist regarding Folbot kayaks is that new ones should first be assembled in one’s living room.

But once it’s used, the kayak is usually stored in its bag in a closet, a garage or barn. Some owners, however, keep the kayak assembled and store it inside their house or apartment. At that point, there may be alternate uses for the kayak — as in this case with a Citibot.

Good kitty.

What other ways could a Folbot be used inside?

Many thanks to Terrence Wong for sharing these photos.

David A.