Always heading south

A book about being on the road. About letting go. And about how to become more independent, step by step – on a bicycle and in life.

"Always Southward" tells the story of a young woman who sets off to cycle from Freiburg to Cape Town – alone and with companions, through Europe and 18 African countries, over a period of 430 days. Wiebke Lühmann takes readers behind the scenes of a journey that has moved and inspired tens of thousands of people worldwide – and shares many previously unpublished, honest, and very personal stories. From bicycle theft in the Sahara to lonely nights in the Liberian jungle to the challenges of her return.

An invitation to rediscover yourself, explore the world, and have the courage to live your dreams.

• The book authentically showcases the unique beauty of the African continent for cyclists, as well as the warmth and hospitality of its people.
• Wiebke Lühmann breaks with the cliché of the male adventurer and shows that women are brave, strong and adventurous.
• In cinemas from February

More than an ordinary travel report

The book is a search for independence; sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, sometimes combative, sometimes tender. Since childhood, Wiebke has dreamed of being free: free from expectations, free from fixed plans, free in her decisions. As a twin, shaped by a deep longing for movement and autonomy, she seeks precisely this freedom on this long journey.

It gathers the true stories behind a journey that many followed in real time – yet never told with such honesty, depth, and personal openness. A plea to see the world with one's own eyes, and a counterpoint to perfectly staged adventures.