Noraly Schoenmaker, the Dutch solo traveller and globetrotting biker famously known as Itchy Boots, has unexpectedly ended her Africa tour following a crash.
Schoenmaker, whose daring rides around the world and especially through Africa has been quite popular and hugely followed on YouTube, crashed while biking through Tanzania two weeks ago.
The YouTube sensation with over 2 million subscribers on the platform is known for her solo travels and travel documentaries showcasing her candid experiences as she travels from continent to continent on her motor bike, which she calls Alaska.
She has ridden over 140,000 km around the world on bikes through 49 different countries, including Iran, Mexico and Madagascar.
Her trips through Africa has been particularly captivating to her audience as she navigates through sometimes perilous locations while also showcasing the continents beauty and the hospitality of its people.
Her journeys are captured by several cameras she wears and mounts on her motorbike.
Nigeria
In December of 2023, Schoenmaker made the news in Nigeria when she showed how she was intercepted by “rogue” police officers who openly demanded bribe from the Dutch biker on the Moniya-Iseyin road in Oyo state, on her way to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The video sparked outrage in Nigeria and helped amplify the longstanding conversation on the need for the reform of the Nigerian police. The two police special constables who were implicated in the viral video where subsequently dismissed from the force.
Crash in Tanzania
In a recent video titled “My journey through Africa is over,” the 36-year-old who has documented her travels across Africa since 2021 shared a setback.
While attempting to reach Kilimanjaro during her Tanzanian leg, she encountered a rough, unpaved road in Mbeya. A crash there resulted in a broken collarbone and foot, forcing her to cut her African adventure short.
“I think I just broke my collar bone and a foot in the middle of nowhere,” she said.
Kind strangers later rescued her from the accident site and took her to a Tanzanian hospital, where doctors confirmed a broken collarbone. Deciding to return home for proper treatment, she flew back to the Netherlands where further examination revealed additional bone fragments from the injury.
She developed complications after the doctors punctured her lungs during surgery and failed to realize the mistake. She was admitted again for a second treatment.
“Maybe Tanzanian doctors would have done a better job,” Mkurugenzi, one of her fans, remarked on YouTube.
Despite everything, from the accident itself to her post-surgery video update, Schoenmaker maintained a surprising calmness. She said her injuries and the treatment makes her tired easily and she would require months to fully recover.
The biker revealed her debut book, which captures her experience, would soon be released.
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