Departing 10 December 2026 From Cape Agulhas to Windsor Castle.
Wandering through mankind
I’m setting out from South Africa towards home in Windsor, travelling mainly on foot through Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Along the way, I’ll explore our shared history, learn from different cultures and faiths, and share the people, places and everyday kindness that shape the journey.
until the first step at Cape Agulhas
Straight from the camera
Hear it from Leon
He films as he walks. These only load when you press play, so nothing follows you around the internet just for visiting.
Leon McFarlane
It started with a 500 km walk across Uganda
While rebuilding my life after a difficult period, a friend invited me to join a 500 km charity walk across Uganda.
Walking through communities and experiencing the generosity of people we met gave me a renewed sense of purpose. The conversations, shared experiences and everyday acts of kindness stayed with me long after the walk ended.
Wandering Through Mankind grew from that experience: a desire to keep walking, to keep learning, and to share the stories of people I meet along the way.
From the 500km walk across Uganda that started all of this
Three continents, one pair of feet
The journey north
My planned journey runs from Cape Agulhas, at the southern tip of Africa, to Windsor Castle, through Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Walking will be at its heart, giving me time to meet people, explore history, culture, faith and nature, and offer practical kindness along the way. The route will evolve with local advice, border access and conditions on the ground. Where walking is unsafe or access is restricted, I’ll use transport or change course, and explain those decisions as I go. There will also be detours to places that offer something important to learn and share. The map shows the proposed route. Countries, distances and timings remain provisional.
- 0 km South Africa
- 1,900 km Zimbabwe
- 2,600 km Botswana
- 3,380 km Zambia
- 4,280 km Tanzania
- 5,630 km Kenya
- 6,410 km Uganda
- 7,030 km South Sudan
- 7,730 km Ethiopia
- 8,980 km Djibouti
- 9,240 km Saudi Arabia
- 10,840 km Jordan
- 11,260 km Egypt
- 12,160 km Turkey
- 13,460 km Greece
- 14,080 km Albania
- 14,420 km Montenegro
- 14,600 km Croatia
- 15,080 km Slovenia
- 15,270 km Austria
- 15,690 km Germany
- 16,470 km Belgium
- 16,730 km France
- 16,910 km England
Every act, logged
Where your money goes
Donations through this website will be directed first towards practical acts of kindness for people facing hardship along the route.
The help will depend on the situations I encounter, what people tell me they need and the funds available. It could mean buying food or essential supplies, paying medical bills, helping someone establish a small business, or supporting a child’s education, including boarding school where appropriate.
Where resources and local arrangements allow, it could also mean contributing to a well for a community without reliable access to water, or buying shoes for children in a village. These are examples of what support could make possible; decisions will be guided by the circumstances in each place.
Two sponsors have already committed to supporting the project. My intention is to cover my own travel and living costs through sponsorship and my own resources. Only if absolutely necessary would donated funds be used for essential project costs.
I’ll record spending on acts of kindness in the ledger, respecting the privacy and dignity of the people involved. Any donated funds used for essential project costs will be clearly identified separately, so supporters can see how their contributions have been used.
What this is
Wandering Through Mankind is a personal expedition and storytelling project, not a registered charity. Donations through this website are intended first for practical acts of kindness. Only where absolutely necessary may they also cover essential project costs, with any such spending clearly disclosed. Contributions are not eligible for Gift Aid
The support page opens shortly. Join the list and you will be first to know.
Every pound gets a date, a place, a kilometre and a photograph. The ledger opens on day one.
What I hope to learn
Learning from the people and places along the way.
I want to explore where we come from, how we live and what matters to us. From human origins and ancient civilisations to faith, culture and our relationship with nature, this journey is an opportunity to follow questions I’ve carried for years.
I’ll visit historical sites, listen to local perspectives and spend time with people whose experiences differ from my own. I want to understand both what we share and where our beliefs and ways of life differ.
Through film, photography and writing, I’ll share what I discover, what challenges my assumptions and the questions I’m still trying to understand.