Kazimierz Nowak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kazimierz Nowak
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| Born | January 11, 1897 Stryj, Austrian Poland (now in Ukraine)
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| Died | October 13, 1937 (aged 40) |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Occupation | traveler, correspondent, reporter and photographer |
Kazimierz Nowak (born January 11, 1897, died October 13, 1937) was a brave Polish traveler, writer, and photographer. He is famous for his incredible journey across Africa.
Between 1931 and 1936, Nowak traveled alone across the African continent. He used a bicycle, walked, rode horses and camels, and even used boats. He covered an amazing distance of 40,000 kilometers (about 25,000 miles).
Contents
Life and Amazing Journeys
Kazimierz Nowak was born in a town called Stryj. After World War I, he lived in Poznań, Poland. It was from Poznań that he started his epic adventure.
Traveling Across Africa
From 1931 to 1936, Nowak explored Africa by himself. He started in Libya in North Africa. He traveled all the way south to Cape Agulhas in South Africa. Then, he made his way back north to Algeria.
During his journey, he took many photographs. He also wrote detailed accounts of his experiences. These records show how challenging and exciting his trip was.
Sadly, Nowak passed away in Poznań in 1937. He suffered from pneumonia, which was made worse by how tired and weak his body became from the long journey. He also had malaria and leg surgery.
Sharing His Adventures
Kazimierz Nowak's amazing photographs from Africa were first published in 1962. They appeared in a book called Przez Czarny Ląd, which means Across the Black Land. His daughter, Elżbieta Nowak-Gliszewska, helped put the book together.
His written stories about the trip were published much later, in 2000. The book was titled Rowerem i pieszo przez Czarny Ląd, meaning Across the Dark Continent by Bicycle and on Foot.
A famous Polish reporter named Ryszard Kapuściński praised Nowak's book in 2006. He called it "an utterly exceptional book." Kapuściński believed Nowak's story should be much more widely known.
National Geographic Traveler (the Polish version) also recognized Nowak's talent. They wrote that he was "without a doubt a master of travel reportage."
Remembering a Great Explorer
On November 25, 2006, a special event took place in Poznań. A commemorative plaque was put up at the Poznań Main Railway Station. This is where Nowak began and ended his incredible journey. Ryszard Kapuściński helped unveil the plaque.
Nowak's book has been translated into other languages. In 2014, it was translated into Hungarian. In 2017, an English version was released, called Across The Dark Continent. Bicycle Diaries from Africa 1931–1936.
Other Travels and Letters
Before his big African adventure, Nowak also traveled around Europe and Poland. He made four bicycle trips between 1925 and 1930.
In 2011, a book about these earlier travels was published. It was called Polska Kazimierza Nowaka. Przewodnik rowerzysty (Kazimierz Nowak's Poland. A Cyclist's Guidebook).
During his African journey, Nowak wrote many letters to his wife. These letters were later published in Poland. The first volume of Kochana Maryś! Listy z Afryki (Dear Maryś! Letters from Africa) came out in 2014. More volumes were published in the following years.
See also
In Spanish: Kazimierz Nowak para niños
