Saddam Al Alaya is almost a year into his attempt to walk 23,000km from Cape Town, South Africa, to Magadan, in Russia’s Far East. The 35-year-old Jordanian left Cape Town on January 1, 2026, on a trek that he estimates will take three years. He covered the 5,500km to Rwanda in nine months, so he is on schedule.
This year, Al Alaya has already passed through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, and now Rwanda. He expects to transit 18 countries in all, including his home country of Jordan, which he will cross from south to north.
Al Alaya grew up in Wadi Musa, beside Petra, and began guiding tourists around the famous archaeological site and the nearby canyons when he was about 16. He continued to guide while working for a business degree. He conceived the idea for this long walk in 2021, and spent almost five years organizing it.
Al Alaya meets a supporter. Photo: Facebook
Like so many adventurers, he wants to give his project a social angle, but Al Alaya seems particularly good at this. He founded an organization called Hike With Me, and many of his social media images show him glad-handing officials, walking with local people, or visiting regional schools. He often carries a white flag, symbolizing peace.
Al Alaya has official sponsorship from several Jordanian ministries, national organizations, and Jordanian embassies in various countries along the way. These have helped him with visas, security, and logistical support, according to the Jordanian News Agency.
Meeting some local people. Photo: Saddam Al Alaya
