Lewi Blake – Remote Bikepacking Adventures on YouTube

Lewi Blake is a travel vlogger unlike anyone I’ve ever seen. He’s just an independent guy with some camera gear, a sense of storytelling, a skill for editing, and the wherewithal to post it to YouTube.

His channel is exactly what the Internet should be about. He’s cheery, honest, open, adventurous, and culturally sensitive. I appreciate that he’s meta-self-aware of his race, class, and abilities – and his directness to treat people as people. And he provides a small, hopeful window into parts of the world that will just never get a sleek resort travel Reel, but are beautiful, interesting, and deeply worthwhile.

And here is the full playlist for Africa. But all of his videos are worthwhile. It’s just that his Africa playlist is truly insane on multiple levels.

*also pairs well with books on modern Africa for the deeper, structural reasons why it’s 2026 and there are still millions of brilliant, creative, driven humans without basic sanitation, healthcare, roads, or educational opportunities all while millions of square miles of diverse ecosystems get exploited out of individual desperation & systemic greed.