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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected] 

ON a Tuesday morning, a middle-aged man, pulling a modest three-wheeled cart, arrived at Khayelihle Lodges in Tsholotsho. He booked a two-night stay and then headed to nearby shops for provisions. His presence, though seemingly ordinary, piqued the curiosity of the locals.

Little did the Iziqholo zeZhwane residents know that this unassuming figure, clad in a distinctive headgear reminiscent of the explorer David Livingstone, was Daniel Korzeniewski, a 43-year-old Polish national. He was taking a well-deserved break from his extraordinary 830-day, 23 163-kilometre foot journey. His epic trek began in Cape Town, South Africa, on June 7 and has already taken him through Botswana, culminating in his recent entry into Zimbabwe via the Maitengwe Border Post.

He has named his journey “The Longest Trail.”

Daniel Korzeniewski’s utensils and hiking equipment

It took him four days to reach Tsholotsho Business Centre, passing through Tshefunye and Mbamba along the way. After a two-day respite at Khayelihle Lodges, he continued his journey. By the time he arrived in Tsholotsho, he had been on the road for 145 days, covering 2 593 kilometres. His ultimate destination is Singapore, a journey that will take him through 17 countries: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt in Africa, and then across to Asia, visiting Israel, Iran, a portion of Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Facing harsh weather conditions in several countries, Korzeniewski, who has no siblings but is engaged, anticipates needing 13 pairs of shoes to complete his epic trek.

Saturday Chronicle caught up with him on Thursday morning, about 15 kilometres outside Tsholotsho along Sipepa Road. Fresh from a brief interaction with villagers at a roadside shop, he was making his way to Victoria Falls. He hopes to reach this world-renowned wonder within the next two weeks.

During a three-kilometre walk-and-talk interview, Korzeniewski shared the remarkable story behind his journey. He revealed that he had spent four years meticulously planning this ambitious undertaking, which nearly didn’t materialise.

“I had planned to start my journey last year, but things almost took a turn for the worst. I went for a full medical check-up to make sure that I was fit and ready for the trip. Three days before departure, I received a call from my doctor who revealed that I had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer,” said Korzeniewski. 

Thyroid cancer is a disease characterised by abnormal cell growth in the thyroid gland. This butterfly-shaped gland, located at the base of the neck, regulates vital bodily functions like heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and metabolism. While early-stage thyroid cancer often presents no symptoms, as it progresses, it can lead to noticeable signs such as a neck lump, voice changes, and difficulty swallowing. Treatment options typically involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or radio-iodine therapy.

Korzeniewski explained that undergoing surgery was his only chance to survive and embark on his extraordinary journey. The operation was successful, leaving a nearly 15-centimetre scar on his neck. To fund this life-changing decision, he sold all his possessions, including his home, car, and even his bicycle. The only things he retained were the cart he pulled and its contents. Before the surgery, he had worked as a bread baker for 17 years.

“I sold everything, firstly to finance my trip and secondly to make sure my parents did not suffer in my absence. I was, as I still do, aware that this wasn’t going to be an easy journey, but it will have many challenges and indeed threats to my life, but I am prepared to face anything,” he said.

But what is the motivating reason for a man to endure all this and even sell his property? 

“I want to set a world record that will be recorded by the Guinness Book of Records, not to break any because there is none at the moment, so mine will be the benchmark if I succeed, something which I am looking forward to,” said Korzeniewski. 

Before his departure, Korzeniewski had a heart-to-heart conversation with his fiancée. He explained that she had the choice to wait for his return, but if the wait proved too daunting, she was free to pursue her own happiness with someone else. He revealed that the four-year preparation period involved extensive hitch-hiking experiences.

“I travelled from North to South in Sweden and did the same in Poland. I also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro just to build on my endurance,” he said.

He described his journey so far as excellent and peaceful, although he had a nasty experience in South Africa where he was almost mugged by a chap “who just said to me that he hates whites.” He, however, was saved by a passing motorist. 

When asked about potential dangers posed by Africa’s renowned wildlife, particularly the formidable Big Five, Korzeniewski admitted that his greatest fear was not from animals, but from other humans.

“Animals are harmless; they can also feel if this human being is meant to trouble or not, but human beings are just unpredictable, be it at night or during the day. The good thing, though, is that I mostly travel during the day, starting my journey around 4 in the morning, and each day I cover a minimum of 35km, which can go up to 40km depending on the weather,” said the voyager.

As night descends, Korzeniewski pitches his small tent wherever he finds himself, always ensuring there are signs of human habitation nearby. He carries a GPS device, attached to his cart and monitored 24/7 by a dedicated five-person team back in Poland.

“They constantly monitor my position and check for any distress signal from me. If there’s no unexplained movement or no movement from me for a certain duration, they contact me or immediately phone the nearest police station,” he said. 

The writer noticed a black device on his right wrist, which emitted a sound every minute. Korzeniewski would then tap the device twice, likely sending a signal to his support team. He explained that his backup team meticulously plans his travel itinerary, including visa applications, well in advance of his arrival at each destination.

“I also have a team of medical doctors who I send distress messages to whenever I feel unwell or have a certain condition, and they prescribe medication for me,” said Korzeniewski.

Korzeniewski shared his post-journey plans to write 18 books, each documenting his experiences in the 18 countries he would traverse. After an 18-kilometre walk from Tsholotsho, he found a shady spot beneath a tree for a two-hour nap. Unfazed by the cultural norm of seeking permission from the homeowner, he rested peacefully. The news crew, respecting local customs, took the initiative to engage with the homeowner on his behalf.

Korzeniewski maintains an active Facebook page, where he shares daily updates and photos with his over 11 000 followers. In a post following our encounter, he wrote:

“Before taking a rest, a car passed me very slowly. Three people inside; the young one with a Canon camera, the driver and the third in a suit who jumped up and joined me. The car was slowly driving either in front of us or behind us the whole time taking pictures of the cart. A gentleman in a suit introduced himself and said he is from a large newspaper in Bulawayo.

“And the interview began. He wrote down in detail what I was saying, the boy with a camera jumped out of the car and took pictures or recorded me. Gonna feature a great article in one of the biggest newspapers in Zimbabwe.”

He further wrote that while he was still resting, a car with three police officers pulled up, and he immediately recognised one of them, whom he had earlier met at the business centre. 

“Very nice police officers, normal people, joking and smiling. They are for people. The local community gives them trust and respect. After the photo session, they went on.”

According to the Guinness Book of Records, in April 2024, Pawel Durakiewicz, a 45-year-old Polish man, achieved a remarkable feat: the world’s longest barefoot journey. He walked and ran an incredible 3  409,75 kilometres around the Iberian Peninsula, covering the distance without any footwear.

Durakiewicz’s journey began in southern France, near the Spanish border. He followed the coastline in an anticlockwise direction, passing through the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail. Completing an average of 20-50 kilometres per day, he finished his extraordinary journey in San José, Spain, in just under six months.

The record for the greatest distance walked in 24 hours is held by Jesse Castenda of the United States. She achieved this incredible feat of 228,93 kilometres in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on September 18-19, 1976.