Katiravan Set To Explore Much Of Africa In 2025

By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Katiravan Subrayan, 63, a passionate globe-trotter on his motorbike, has embarked on an epic journey across Africa, planning to explore much of the central and western regions throughout the year.

His quest, aimed at promoting Malaysia and championing environmental conservation efforts, follows his recently concluded Latin American expedition that included a visit to Antarctica in late November.

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On Jan 10, the retired electrician-turned-adventurer and environmental advocate arrived in Cape Town, after flying over 7,000 kilometres from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Speaking to Bernama, Katiravan shared that his trusty BMW touring bike, affectionately nicknamed Parameswara, was still en route from South America, prompting him to make the most of his time by exploring Cape Town’s historic Bo-Kaap neighbourhood, renowned for its rich Malay heritage.

"The Malay quarters were just 700 metres from my hostel. As I strolled through the Bo-Kaap streets, I saw traditional houses reminiscent of those back home in Malaysia.

“The Malay community here played a significant role in the history of how Islam spread to South Africa, and their culinary culture has become an integral part of South African cuisine,” he said.

During his explorations, he engaged with friendly locals who traced their ancestry to Malaya, brought to South Africa by the Dutch during the colonial era. However, he was slightly disappointed to find that most could only recall a few words of the Malay language.

Bo-Kaap's vibrantly coloured houses, clean streets, and prominent mosques impressed Katiravan. He also observed the community’s solidarity with Palestinians, evident through flags and messages displayed on the walls. The neighbourhood appeared affluent and well maintained.

Katiravan's journey has fascinated locals, as he has travelled to 53 countries, planting 116 trees along the way to support his green mission. To date, he has promoted Malaysia as a tourist destination to over 3,000 people during his travels.

In Cape Town, Katiravan indulged in Cape Malay dishes, including chicken rendang and yellow rice, which he likened to Nasi Kunyit from Malaysia.

With additional time at hand, he joined a hop-on hop-off red bus tour on Jan 12, taking in Cape Town’s breathtaking sea and cityscapes. His itinerary included visits to a vineyard, a bird park, and Hout Bay, where he encountered sea lions up close.

On Jan 13, Katiravan was finally reunited with Parameswara, marking the official start of his African adventure.

He ensured his bike was in top condition, servicing the drive shaft, replacing spark plugs, and securing essential supplies at the BMW Motorrad service centre in Cape Town, where he also installed Africa maps into the bike’s navigator system.

Katiravan's first ride in Africa took him to the iconic Table Mountain, a cultural and natural landmark of Cape Town, where he visited local Indian communities, temples and Indian-owned shops, embracing the city's diverse culture.

He plans to make Africa his home throughout 2025, meticulously charting his route north while strategically avoiding conflict zones and areas lacking BMW motorcycle service centres to ensure the smooth continuation of his mission.

Since departing Malaysia on Jan 2, 2023, Katiravan has covered over 130,000 kilometres. He highlights that some of the most memorable aspects of his journey have been discovering Malaysian-style cuisine in remote corners of the world and the warm hospitality of the locals he has met along the way.

In Africa, he aims to visit at least 25 of the continent’s 54 nations, continuing his mission to spread awareness of environmental conservation and foster global unity.

For updates on his extraordinary journey, follow him on:

• Facebook: Katiravan Subarayan

• Instagram: Katiravan6568

• TikTok: Katiravanbiker

-- BERNAMA