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The story of Kazimierz Nowak is little known, but it deserves to be told. Born and raised in Poland, he was a keen traveller, writer, photographer and cyclist. Following a number of successful cycling adventures in Europe, Nowak decided to travel to Africa. On the way he believed he would be able to make money – money to support his family – by submitting reports and photographs to Polish and German newspapers.In November 1931, Nowak set out from Tripoli, Libya, in the direction of South Africa. His only companion was his trusty seven-year-old bicycle.He followed the Nile to the Great Lakes, trading with native tribes as he went. Because of his anti-colonial beliefs he was often met with derision by his fellow Europeans. In fact, the only thing he could rely on from them was a fresh supply of bicycle tyres.Nearly three years after leaving Tripoli Nowak finally reached the tip of South Africa: Cape Agulhas. For most people, this would have marked the end of the adventure. Nowak, however, decided to turn round and travel across the great continent once more.Nowak reached Aligers in November 1936. In doing so, he became the first man in history to travel the length of Africa – and back again – alone.On his 25,000-mile journey Nowak took more than 10,000 photos. Today, these photos provide us with a fascinating glimpse of a time when Africa was – to European eyes at least – shrouded in mystery and danger.
http://www.makethman.com/2010/06/27/kazimierz-nowak-1897-1937/

Kazimierz Nowak (January 11, 1897 – October 13, 1937) – was a Polish traveller, correspondent and photographer, born in Stryi. After the First World War he lived in Poznan.
From 1931 to 1936, he traveled alone, on foot and by bicycle across Africa, covering a distance of 40,000 km: from Libya to South Africa (Cape Agulhas) and back to Algeria. He seems to be the only man in the world to do this. His accounts of the travel were first published jointly as late as in 2000, as a book entitled "By bicycle and on foot across the Black Continent". He died in Poznan from pneumonia as a consequence of emaciation of the body due to the travel, malaria and a leg surgery.
On the 25th of November 2006 in the Hall of Poznan; Main Railway Station, where Kazimierz Nowak began and ended his travel, Ryszard Kapuscinski unveiled a commemorative plaque dedicated to him. In his speech accompanying the ceremony he described Nowak as follows:

Through his accomplishment, Kazimierz Nowak deserves a place in dictionaries and encyclopedias and a mention among such names as Stanley and Livingstone. He was a man of great imagination and courage, a man who knew no fear. He showed that a lonely white man, with no means to protect himself, carrying no weapons but only his faith in another human being, can cross alone a vast continent. He did all this in the times when Europe was only beginning to discover the Third World. He taught us as early as in the 1930s how to treat the Third World and its inhabitants.

Only those who know the regions through which Kazimierz Nowak travelled and the way he did it can really appreciate that heroic courage joined with extraordinary modesty. He did not boast, he simply described what he saw.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazimierz_Nowak

once again: " He showed that a lonely white man, with no means to protect himself, - carrying no weapons - but only his faith in another human being, can cross alone a vast continent."

please look again at pic No. 6 and 8

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