Africa Trail lets kids relive an actual world-record setting bicycle trek across the African continent. With road-rally action, bike repairs, tests of endurance, and road surprises, there’s no shortage of adventures along the way. Kids will ride from the sweltering days and freezing nights of the Sahara to the lush green of Zaire. And they’ll interact with the people of contemporary Africa who are as diverse as the terrain they cover. Along the way, kids make decisions that are critical to their success.
This multimedia simulation includes over 1,000 photos and video clips taken by the actual bike team that document Africa–its geography and its people.
Product Overview
Africa Trail combines the thrill of interactive adventure with the rich diversity of Africa. Based on a world-record-setting bicycle expedition, kids lead the trek using a computer simulation that provides photos, video, sounds, and unexpected events actually experienced by the cycling team. The adventures are extraordinary, with thousands of possible encounters along the way for kids and their hand-picked multi-national team.
On the Africa Trail, kids make real-life decisions at every point on their journey. Plus its Multimedia Resource Tool makes it easy for kids to include their favorite trail events in their own reports and presentations. All the photos, video, sounds, and text can be easily exported into their favorite word-processing or presentation-making software. Kids can then create their own multimedia adventure journal!
Africa Trail Screen Shots
 |  |  |
| The talk screen lets kids meet African people who provide them with information about the history and culture of Africa and offer travel suggestions. | The Navigation Screen throughout Africa Trail | Kids can navigate their bikes through rugged terrain. |
Features and Benefits
- It’s challenging and engaging. Strengthens real-life decision making and planning skills as kids manage their team, time, and money.
- It’s multicultural. Develops cultural literacy as kids interact with Africa’s diverse people.
- It’s a real-world geography lesson. Encourages the development of geographic literacy as kids work with local, regional, and continental maps.
- It’s grounded in authentic content. Includes over 1,000 photos and video clips taken by the actual bike team as well as an authentic musical score.
Computer System Requirements Information
| Macintosh® Product Information: | Windows® Product Information: |
| CD-ROM System Compatibility: 68030 (LC III or greater) 68040 or Power Macintosh recommended System 7.1 or greater 5 MB RAM required (8 MB RAM recommended) 13″ or larger color display (640 x 480, 256-color) Double-speed CD-ROM drive Hard disk space Disk System Compatibility: 68030 required (LC III or greater) System 7.1 or later 5MB RAM required (8MB RAM recommended) 13″ or larger color display (640 x 480, 256-color) Hard disk space | CD-ROM System Compatibility: 486 or greater Microsoft® Windows® 3.1 or greater 256-color SVGA display 4 MB RAM required (8 MB RAM recommended) Windows-compatible mouse Windows-compatible sound card Double-speed CD-ROM drive 12 MB of hard disk space Disk System Compatibility: 486 or higher Microsoft® Windows® 3.1 or higher 256-color SVGA display 4MB RAM required (8MB RAM recommended) Windows-compatible mouse Hard disk Windows-compatible sound card |
Africa Trail CD-ROM Versions
- Home Version – The home version contains the standard Africa Trail CD-ROM and user’s manual. The perfect package for home learning and entertainment.
| Target Audience: | Ages 10 and Up |
|---|---|
| MECC Learning Category: | Learning Adventures |
| Support Materials: | User’s Guide, On-Screen Help |
| Product Number: | HCD 640 |
| Retail Cost: | $49.95 |
- School Version – In addition to the standard Africa Trail CD-ROM, the school version contains a teacher’s manual with supplemental materials and lesson plans for instructors to use as they teach students about the Africa Trail.
| Target Audience: | Ages 10 and Up (Grades 5 and 12) |
|---|---|
| MECC Learning Category: | Learning Adventures |
| Support Materials: | User’s Guide, On-Screen Help |
| Description | Product Number | Retail | Member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Product | CD640 | $79.00 | $55.00 |
| Lab Pack (5) | CD640LAB | $189.00 | $132.00 |
| 25 – Pack Site License | CD640BSL | $855.00 | $599.00 |
| 75 – Pack Site License | CD640DSL | $2100.00 | $1500.00 |
| Disk Based – Macintosh School Version | |||
| Single Product | MC240 | $69.00 | $48.00 |
| Lab Pack (5) | MC240LAB | $169.00 | $118.00 |
| Building Site License | MC240BSL | $699.00 | $489.00 |
| Disk Based – Windows School Version | |||
| Single Product | MW440 | $69.00 | $48.00 |
| Lab Pack (5) | MW440LAB | $169.00 | $118.00 |
| Building Site License | MW440BSL | $699.00 | $489.00 |
| School District Site Licenses are also available. Call MECC for details. |
Additional Resources on Africa
- Review by the School House Review
- African Studies Program at UW-Madison – In addition to information about the African Studies program at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, this site connects to a number of other African and Arabic servers in the United States and around the world.
- K-12 Resources on Africa – This site, part of a collection on information on African Studies resources at the University of Pennsylvania, is a great place to find additional information for use in K-12 education.
- CIA World Factbook – The CIA World Factbook is a repository of information on all of the countries of the world. A great place to start looking for specific information about a given African country.
- The Children’s Literature Page – anthology of picture books devoted to African-American images