The South African Stage
The route passed through the following locations:
Southern Tip of Africa – Cape Agulhas, Bredasdorp, Stormsvlei, Bonnievale, Ashton, Montagu, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Laingsburg, Leeu Gamka, Beaufort West, Three Sisters, Victoria West, Britstown, Strydenburg, Hopetown, Modderrivier, Kimberley, Warrenton, Jan Kempdorp, Hartswater, Taung, Pudimoe, Dry Harts, Vryburg, Setlagole, Mahikeng, Miga
South Africa Route
At the first dawn of 2026, while the world was in the midst of celebration, Mr. Alaya was lacing his boots at the southernmost tip of Africa. Facing the fierce ocean winds, he was acutely aware that 23000 kilometers of the unknown lay ahead. He stood at Cape Agulhas, where the currents of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans collide, a scene that perfectly embodies the resilience of the human spirit in the face of the vast horizon. It was not merely a first step; it was the birth of 'The World’s Longest Peace March'.Alaya set out carrying the 'White Flag,' not as an athlete chasing a record, but as a messenger of peace calling for coexistence among nations and supporting Early Childhood Development. He leaves behind a story to be told for generations, the story of a man who decided to unite the world with his footsteps.
From the coast, the route moves inland through the Overberg region, passing Bredasdorp, Stormsvlei, Bonnievale, Ashton, and Montagu. This region consists mainly of agricultural valleys, vineyards, orchards, and rural farming landscapes. The area around Montagu is bordered by mountain ranges that mark the transition between the coastal zone and the interior of South Africa. The scenery here is defined by cultivated land, river valleys, and mountain corridors.
Beyond Montagu, the route enters the interior region known as the Karoo. This landscape becomes increasingly semi-arid, with long open plains, dry vegetation, and distant horizons. Although the vegetation is sparse, the Karoo is known for its large open spaces and clear visibility across the landscape. Wildlife occasionally observed in these areas includes springbok and other antelope species, ostriches, and jackals. During several sections of the route, groups of antelope were seen moving across the open plains, which is typical for wildlife adapted to this environment.
Continuing north, the route passes through rural towns including Three Sisters, Victoria West, Britstown, Strydenburg, Hopetown, and Modderrivier, gradually reaching the historic mining city of Kimberley. Kimberley is internationally known for the Big Hole, one of the largest hand-dug excavations in the world, created during the nineteenth-century diamond mining rush. This site represents one of the most significant historical landmarks along the route and reflects South Africa’s mining heritage.
Further north, the environment gradually changes into the grassland and savanna landscapes of the North West Province. The route continues through Warrenton, Jan Kempdorp, Hartswater, Taung, Pudimoe, Dry Harts, Vryburg, Setlagole, Mahikeng, and Miga. These areas are characterized by wide open plains, scattered acacia trees, agricultural land, and broad skies typical of southern African savanna environments. Wildlife such as antelope species and ostriches may occasionally be encountered in these landscapes, and in nearby natural reserves giraffes are also present within the surrounding savanna ecosystems.
The area around Taung holds significant scientific importance due to the discovery of the Taung Child fossil, one of the most important early hominin discoveries in the study of human evolution, adding a unique scientific dimension to the route.
The South African stage was completed over a total period of 69 days. During this time, Mr. Alaya walked for 38 days, covering the full 1,361 kilometer route on foot. The remaining 21 days were used as break periods and community activities, including school visits, meetings with local communities, and outreach activities promoting peace and support for Early Childhood Development (ECD).
From the symbolic meeting point of two oceans in the south to the grasslands and savannas of the northern regions, the South African stage reflects the geographic range of landscapes, rural environments, and wildlife habitats found across the country.
