A distance of 40,000 kilometres traversed by bicycle, foot, horse, boat, and camel defined the African expedition of Kazimierz Nowak. Spanning from 1931 to 1936, this solo journey across the continent from Libya to South Africa and back to Algeria remains a definitive record of his endurance as a correspondent, reporter, and photographer.
European Expeditions
Before his African travels, Nowak engaged in extensive cycling expeditions throughout Europe and his home country. Records indicate he completed four major trips between 1925 and 1930. These included a journey around Europe in 1925 and 1926, a trek through Europe and North Africa in 1927 and 1928, a tour around Poland in 1928, and a final trip through Southern Poland and Western Europe in 1930.
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Living in Poznań following World War I, Nowak launched his most ambitious project in 1931. Over the next five years, he navigated the varied terrain of Africa. The journey ended in 1936. His primary account of this experience was compiled later in the book Across the Dark Continent, which documented his movement from Libya down to Cape Agulhas and returning to Algeria.
Posthumous Publication and Legacy
Nowak died in 1937 in Poznań from complications including malaria, leg surgery, and severe emaciation. His photographic work reached a wider audience in 1962 with the publication of the album Przez Czarny Ląd. His travel letters to his wife were released in three volumes between 2014 and 2022. In 2006, Ryszard Kapuściński unveiled a commemorative plaque at the Poznań Main Railway Station to mark the starting point of his journey.
Fast facts
- Born: 1897, Stryi
- Died: 1937, Poznań
- Nationality: Poland
- Burial site: Górczyński Cemetery
- Major expedition years: 1931–1936
- Total African distance: 40,000 km
- Key publication: Across The Dark Continent
- Occupations: Photographer, writer, correspondent, journalist, explorer
Questions readers ask
What caused the death of Kazimierz Nowak?
He died in 1937 from pneumonia resulting from emaciation, malaria, and the aftereffects of leg surgery sustained during his travels.
When were his travel accounts first published in English?
The English edition of his book, Across The Dark Continent. Bicycle Diaries from Africa, 1931–1936, was published in 2017.
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