The World’s Longest Road Will Take You from South Africa All the Way to Russia

There’s a certain level of pride that comes with accomplishing something that not many have, whether it’s flying to the world’s dangerous airport or travelling the world with very little money. With Filipinos carrying one of the weaker passports, the thirst to prove ourselves in the world of travel is often at an all-time high. If you’ve dreaming about traversing the longest road in the world lately, for one, then you better read up.

Also read: What Travelling With a Hitchhiker Taught Me

Travel the longest road in the world on a third-world passport?

On 17 Nov 2020, a post by a certain Robert Kullus reminded us that such a road exists, and it is, in fact, possible to conquer it on foot. That is, if you’re willing to pass through a total of 16 countries along an over 22,000-kilometre distance without relying on a vehicle. Discussed countless times across global travel communities, this road starts from Cape Town, South Africa to Magadan, Russia.

According to Google Maps, it will take one a total of 4,391 hours or 183 days to walk the South Africa to Russia road continuously. Although, some of the resources say it’s actually more than that. In either case, knowing that this is quite a feat for most of us, you might be better off walking for about eight hours every day. Assuming this is uninterrupted, it would mean sparing around 550 days or nearly two years for the journey.

That’s not all, though. As you travel the longest road in the world, you will also need to ascend approximately 117,693 metres and descend 117,686 metres. This, they say, is equivalent to 13 trips going up and down Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world! Not to mention, you would have to endure changing time zones and seasons, among many other things beyond your control.

Also read: Explore Several Countries by Train: 6 Epic Rail Journeys to Cross Off Your Bucket List!

What you will need as a Filipino or Philippine passport holder

While the feat may sound a bit too overwhelming for many of us by now, for those willing to experience what just might be the most dangerous but best land journey for travellers, here are some more information that will prove to be useful.

To travel the longest road in the world, you’ll also have to pass through countries like Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Georgia. Except Israel, they all require a visa for Filipinos, while you can go to Georgia visa-free if holding a valid Japan visa. Filipinos also need a visa to go to South Africa. For Russia, we can enter with just a Russian e-visa starting 2021.

Although Google Maps and other travellers also assure that the entire road is walkable on foot, some paths might still require you to catch transportation for safety reasons. Moreover, you can extend the journey more by starting and ending in Cape Point National Park, South Africa and Ola, Russia. At the moment, not one person has been documented finishing the entire length of the longest road in the world.

Featured image credit: Google Maps