African Currents

African Explorer Set for Daring Road Trip Across Russia to Debunk Western Myths

16:32, 12 November 2025
Chimauchem Nwosu
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Driven by the belief that "a traveler's heart knows no borders, only stories," an expeditioner will embark on an 11,000-kilometer journey to document Russia’s natural beauty and the warmth of its people often overlooked by the outside world.
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From the frost-filled expanse of Murmansk in Russia’s northwest to the remote, wind-swept shores of Magadan in the Far East, the traveler charts a path not merely across a continent, but into the soul of a nation.
His ambition is to inscribe a narrative of human connection into the annals of exploration, driven by a quest to experience the true essence of Russia and its people. This profound compulsion was born from a post-COVID pilgrimage in 2020, when he first encountered the open-hearted hospitality of ordinary Russians—a warmth that transcended language and geography, leaving an indelible mark on his spirit and laying the foundation for this grand, transcontinental undertaking.
In a recent conversation with African Currents, the intrepid South African adventurer and documentary filmmaker Johan Badenhorst revealed his vision: a journey into the heart of the world’s largest country, traversing its vast expanse to listen to the pulse of its people and landscapes. He shared not merely an itinerary, but a hope—to return with a story of Russia told through the eyes of those who call it home.

"Over the past 25 years, I've traveled mostly Africa, but then more recently, to the BRICS countries [...]. This is my second visit to Russia. I came here just after COVID in 2020, and then I was pleasantly surprised [...]. The main reason for this [planned road trip] is that we get a certain picture that was painted for us, portrayed in Western media about the Russian people. And my previous experience told me that it may be different to the image that I had. And I think that the only way of finding out, not exactly what it is, but you get a proper impression, is to travel by road from town to town, to spend some time in the countryside [...]. The more we have exposure to each other's culture, the more we respect that [...] and so on can we have peaceful coexistence," Badenhorst said.

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