A PEDALLING doctor who aims to cycle around the world in five years has reached Africa.

Dr Steve Fabes now faces what could be his most difficult challenge, complete with 50C temperatures, deserts, jungle and political instability.

The 29-year-old, who grew up in North Oxford, and went to Abingdon School, aims to raise £50,000 for medical charity Merlin, which sets up medical clinics in developing countries.

As he entered Egypt by ferry last week after cycling through Jordan and Syria, Dr Fabes found his arrival less than straight- forward.

Writing on his blog, the medic, of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, said: “At the end of the ride the boat’s passengers were asked to surrender passports to the ship’s crew. In exchange we were given a slip of white paper with some uninterpretable Arabic scrawl, and then we were deserted.

“I was told the passports were no longer on board. I cornered someone looking official, said ‘One minute Sir’, and with that he was gone.

“This would happen a lot over the next half an hour. I realised that if you hear ‘one minute Sir’ you will never see that person again.

“Eventually we worked out the procedure which involved trekking between banks, police stations and immigration offices.

“It was a DIY arrival into Egypt.”

After setting off in January, Dr Fabes was forced to halt his trip temporarily when doctors in Greece told him he needed keyhole surgery on his knee and a 12-week rest.

He resumed his ride in August after hitch-hiking home for an operation.

Dr Fabes said parts of Egypt seemed distinctly British.

He said: “I cycled south down the Sinai Peninsula to Dahab, a small town that had been dubbed the hippy capital of the Middle East, but now bigger corporates had started to move in to compete for backpacker cash and resorts of the ilk found in neighbouring Sharm El Sheikh were beginning to surface.

“But Dahab still feels laid back and easy.

“I’ve already noted the Churchill’s Bar and Grill complete with a photo of Sir Winston, the availability of fish and chips, the red and white striped Brits abroad and the Egyptian response to telling someone you’re British – ‘Lovely Jubbly’ in Del Boy style.”

While in Jordan, Dr Fabes visited the ancient ruins of Petra, one of the New Wonders of the World.

He said: “It was a place I thought I must see before I die, another one to tick off my checklist.

“It was magnificent.”

Dr Fabes has so far raised £10,000 for Merlin, 20 per cent of his target.

  • To follow Dr Fabes’s progress, or to donate, see cyclingthe6. blogspot.com