Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Sunday Life Reporter
FOR many Zimbabweans living abroad, the journey home is usually marked by airport terminals, boarding passes and hours spent in the sky.
For Bulawayo-born adventurer Nkosilathi Mathe, however, returning home has become a much bigger mission — a 20 000-kilometre overland adventure across two continents, dozens of borders and countless cultures.
Instead of taking the quickest route from the United Kingdom to Zimbabwe, Mathe chose the road less travelled, embarking on an ambitious expedition that has transformed his homecoming into a story of discovery, resilience and connection.
Driving his trusted Nissan X-Trail, affectionately named Emily, Mathe is navigating some of the world’s most diverse landscapes, documenting the people, places and experiences that make Africa unique.
The destination is Bulawayo, his hometown, but the journey itself has become the greatest reward.
“I’m someone who loves travelling. My dream would be to visit every country in the world,” Mathe said.
The traveller said the idea of driving from the top of Africa to the south had always fascinated him.
“Over the last year, I put concrete plans together to carry out the journey and I haven’t looked back,” he said.
The adventure began in Europe on July 8, where Mathe crossed nine countries — France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco and Spain — within three days after travelling by ferry from Britain. For him, the European leg highlighted the contrast between the ease of movement across Europe and the challenges often experienced when travelling through Africa.
From Spain, he crossed the Mediterranean into Morocco before beginning the African chapter of his expedition. His route has taken him through Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia with the next stages set to include Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Eswatini, South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and finally Zimbabwe.
Earlier this week, Mathe, who is expected to arrive in Bulawayo in September, was in Liberia awaiting a visa to enable him to travel to Ivory Coast.
For Mathe, there was never a question about where the journey would end.
“Bulawayo is my hometown, so it is only natural that my journey ends there,” he said.
However, like any major expedition, the road has presented unexpected challenges. One of the most difficult moments came at the Rosso border between Mauritania and Senegal, where Mathe spent more than four hours dealing with officials after they discovered he was filming while approaching the border post.
Officials searched footage from his Insta360 camera and later formatted his memory card, resulting in the loss of recordings collected throughout his European and African travels.
Despite the setback, Mathe remained determined to continue.
“The journey has taught me patience. There is no need to rush,” he said.
His travelling companion, Emily, has played a crucial role in making the adventure possible. The 2017 Nissan X-Trail was selected because of its reliability, practicality and ability to handle long distances.
“I like Nissans for their reliability,” Mathe said.
The vehicle was modified before departure, with its suspension raised to improve ground clearance and a camping bed installed inside, allowing him to sleep comfortably without always relying on hotels. He has also adapted the vehicle along the way, including fitting off-road tyres in Senegal ahead of challenging road conditions in Guinea.
“I will do another service when I reach Ghana as I would have done about 10 000 kilometres and would be roughly around the halfway point of my journey,” he said.
While the distance and challenges have tested him, Mathe says the landscapes and cultural experiences have made every kilometre worthwhile. Among the most memorable sights so far was the journey between Switzerland and Italy.
“The most breath-taking landscape was between the Swiss and Italian borders, especially the super long tunnel one drives through under the mountains with the border line inside the tunnel,” he said.
Africa, however, has offered its own unforgettable moments. In Mauritania, Mathe discovered cultural practices that surprised him, including attitudes towards divorce among some communities.
“In some communities, divorced women are somehow valued for their experiences in managing households and divorce parties are actually held by women. But that is also more common in White/Arabic Mauritanians whereas Black Mauritanians tend to divorce less,” he added.
In Dakar, Senegal, he was fascinated by the unusual blend of old and new, where horse-drawn carts carrying goods share roads with modern vehicles while cattle move through parts of the city.
“It’s something you don’t expect in a capital city,” he said.
Language has been another challenge, with French and Arabic dominating many parts of North and West Africa.
Mathe has relied heavily on translation applications, although he jokes that not understanding local languages has occasionally helped him avoid uncomfortable encounters.
“It’s a constant battle trying to communicate with language translating apps. However, it has also proved useful when police officers request bribes. I just say, ‘Merci… Inglisi.’ They eventually become frustrated and let me go,” he said.
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Despite spending long periods behind the wheel, Mathe says loneliness has not been a problem. Through social media, family, friends and followers have remained connected to his journey, offering encouragement and advice along the way.
“I am never lonely. My family and friends are constantly checking on me and my followers are also always doing that,” he said.
The online community following his expedition has become part of the adventure, eagerly awaiting updates from each new destination.
Beyond personal achievement, Mathe believes the journey has highlighted bigger conversations about Africa’s connectivity and potential. Should the expedition become a documentary or book, he already has a title in mind –
Bound Continent, Hidden Power. The title reflects his belief that Africa has enormous potential, but challenges around movement, infrastructure and cross-border co-operation continue to limit opportunities.
He hopes the continent can learn from systems such as the European Union’s easier movement between countries to create greater opportunities for Africans.
As Emily continues her journey southwards, Mathe’s road odyssey has become more than a trip home. It is a celebration of Africa’s landscapes, cultures and people, a reminder that sometimes the longest routes reveal the greatest stories.
For Mathe, every border crossed, every conversation shared and every challenge overcome is another chapter in a journey of rediscovering a continent and finding himself along the way.
