Many say that prefer to avoid long flights, but without adhering to them, you can’t explore the world at its fullest. I like them. Well, not the process itself, but the opportunities, in some occasions. In many cases, by night, it is a challenge, as I can’t sleep, the space is narrow, so not the most pleasant sensation. In these regards, I can understand why some persons would might fear / don’t like to travel long distances. But they don’t really know how it is, what these are, and the only explanation of them not willing to fly long is a lack of sense for adventure, a will to stick in their plain comfort zone.

Passing over the entire African continent on a long flight

In recent years, I’ve flied longer and longer flights, many in more legs, and one of them stands out from the rest: Doha – Cape Town. In beginning of 2026 this flight sounds crazy, and really is, but back in November 2025 it was a blessing, and I took advantage. The biggest catch I am enthusiastic to share is the experience of flying over might African continent. Seeing Cape Town makes you understand what is best in this part of the world, but cruising over the huge stretch of land, above Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana or Zimbabwe, ignites one’s imagination and dreams. They are territories that little visit in a lifetime – at least one, let alone all – so the single fact of contemplating this, being for some time even 10,000 meters above these places becomes fascinating.

Addis Ababa, what a view!

The biggest memory linked to this round trip is when I passed slightly over Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. It was night, the lights were more dense you might expect, and the spread is surreal. I know Addis Ababa from books and documentaries, I am not sure I will ever see it live, but this glance from the plane’s window is, itself, a pure fabulous experience. Because you can dream, can imagine, you can use your mind in the most beautiful ways, to transpose yourself in a reality you don’t necessary need to attend in person. It is complicated, but so interesting. It is a privilege. Nothing trains and challenges your brain more than travelling, stretching the boundaries of your experience, of your cultural comfort.

Zimbabwe, on the short list

Travelling itself is wonderful, but also travelling in imagination is a big deal. If you have imagination, and the imagination is fed always by knowledge and understanding. Real understanding of what you explore. I wasn’t joking. You don’t need in certain places to see you being there. Malawi might not be a place were I land, but I flew over. In Zimbabwe I am willing to go, to be on the same land as the feared Robert Mugabe, the “creator” of the biggest inflation on Earth – “I held in my hand a trillion dollar bill”, a cab driver from Mutare, told us in Cape Town – but until then I pictured it from above. The saying is a bit displaced from the rough context, as I saw Zimbabwe mostly from the interactive map placed in front of my eyes, in the plane. However, I flew over it, and that is enough to touch base its ground, in my perception.

When long flights takes you over Iran and Iraq

Traversing Africa from North-East to South-West and the other way around is an experience in its own sense. Over the pure wild land, all those endemic animal and plant species, over countries like Eritrea, which you think is not approachable, but everything can be dealt with by Qatar Airways. Or, at least, it could, in 2025. Even Iraq and… Iran! Now, I did took other long flights, but those were cross Ocean so apart from thinking about the immense water spread, not too much to care about. You can only acknowledge how small and insignificant you are. Maybe you can picture the serenity of the isolated islands, like Azores archipelago, but not always you touch their aerial space.

Best antidote for long flights

In the end, thinking about what it is outside, when you’re going on a long flight, is the best “medicine” to fight the narrow space, maybe some fear, or even the boredom or tiredness, because flying during a night, changing time zones, multiple of them, indeed is nor easy and neither it is pleasant. But thinking of interesting and amazing stuff, linked to the passage you are making is always a proof of high spirit and smart dealing with the moment, when you don’t really have too much to do, or too many options to make the time pass. Sure, reading and watching movies during flights, mostly long flights, is also a good antidote, but living the world under you, as you are integrated there, can be the real thing.

Photo source: pixabay.com