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Tengrinews.kz - A traveler from Germany, Luca Pferdmenges, has visited 190 countries at the age of 22. His trip around the world inevitably led him through the most dangerous regions of the planet, and now he shared his impressions of the five most terrible of them, according to Daily Mail.
Tengrinews.kz - A traveler from Germany, Luca Pferdmenges, has visited 190 countries at the age of 22. His trip around the world inevitably led him through the most dangerous regions of the planet, and now he shared his impressions of the five most terrible of them, according to Daily Mail.
Luca spoke about the countries where his life was in real danger and recalled shocking moments: from shootouts and robberies to encounters with gangsters - risk became part of his exciting journey.
He names Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Yemen (where you can rent a gun for a day), Chad, Syria, the Central African Republic, and Haiti as the most dangerous countries he has visited.
Haiti
"There are places like Haiti, where the local population suffers so much, that it feels weird to travel there as a tourist. But as I try to visit every country on the planet, I cannot avoid those countries. Often, they are the most fascinating and insightful ones," admitted Luca.
In Haiti, he recorded interviews with locals on the streets.
"It was heartbreaking. They were telling us how they don’t have access to drinking water, constantly worry about not having enough food, and electricity doesn’t work most of the time. There are suburbs in Port-au-Prince where cars don’t enter – they would be robbed. Those places – where anarchy rules and your safety is at risk – are the hardest countries to visit," the German traveler noted.
Luca Pferdmenges used the services of a local guide to show him the most dangerous areas. According to him, anything can happen, but with a reliable guide, the risk is minimized.
Afghanistan
The traveler visited Afghanistan six months before the Taliban came to power in 2021. He went there to teach juggling to children at a local circus school, a trip that involved a lot of risk. In the evenings, the German had to stay at the school because it was too dangerous to go outside.
One night, he heard gunshots. The trainers confirmed that there was shooting on the street where they were and advised everyone to stay put until things calmed down. The shooting stopped quickly but left a deep impression.
"Two days later, still in Afghanistan, we wanted to visit a park, but our plans got canceled in the morning since the park was subject to a bombing," Luca concluded about his trip to Afghanistan.
Papua New Guinea
In Papua New Guinea, Luca found himself in a dangerous area when the police intervened and saved him. He was in Port Moresby and, as usual, decided to go on foot. However, as he was heading towards one of the unsafe areas, he was spotted by a police jeep. The officer warned him not to go there and offered him a ride.
Luca agreed, and soon, while driving through the suburbs where he was going to walk, they witnessed a car robbery. Bandits stopped cars, demanding money, phones, or even the car itself - a common practice in Port Moresby. The police driver did not lose his nerve: he pulled out a shotgun, opened the door, and fired several warning shots into the air.
"I was the enemy in that moment, I was literally in the police jeep. My fitness tracker confirmed that it was the highest heart rate I had had all week. My driver returned to the jeep as if nothing happened. That’s everyday life in Port Moresby – for me, it was a terrifying experience," said Luca.
French Guiana
Luca found himself in a dangerous situation in French Guiana when a man attacked him.
"It was a Sunday, and a muscular guy ran after me. I had my heavy backpack on with all my belongings inside," he said.
The attacker grabbed him by the neck and demanded two euros.
Luca Pferdmenges would have gladly given the money, but he didn't have any euros. He found a £10 note and gave it to him, but the man got really angry. At that moment, the cafe owner noticed what was happening, and while the attacker was complaining about the money, He managed to run into the cafe. The owner's family hid him inside and closed the door until the threat passed. This incident left a strong impression on Luka.
Police against selfies
In some countries, for example in Djibouti, taking photos on the street can have unexpected consequences. Once, after taking a selfie in the center of Djibouti City, Luca encountered a policeman who not only checked his phone but also refused to give it back for 20 minutes. At first, Luca thought that the officer wanted to get money, but it turned out that the policeman simply strictly forbade him from taking photos, reminding him of local rules.
Earlier, National Geographic released its annual list of the 25 best places to visit in 2025.
Read also: Kazakhstan is ranked among the best countries for travel
