Travelled to all countries in the world: 23-year-old Luca sets world record
Luca set his goal in December 2020 in his 76th country: South Africa. His mission? To travel to every country in the world. It took the now 23-year-old 4.6 years to accomplish this. "It feels incredibly overwhelming: When I meet someone, I can say, 'I've already been to your country.' That's something very special," he says in an interview with reisereporter.
What many people don't know: Luca deliberately dropped out of school shortly before his Abitur (high school diploma). "I was a very good student, but I decided for myself: I don't need the Abitur for what I want to do."
Instead, the artist pursued a career as a juggler: "I broke eight or nine world records with Guinness, but it was never the goal to collect more and more trophies." His art took him to various continents and to a wide variety of countries, including China and Afghanistan.
195 countries, countless encounters: For Luca, the biggest lesson was that people around the world are friendlier than you think.
Source: Luca Pferdemenge
"I taught at the country's only circus school in Afghanistan, before the Taliban took over. I made contacts there through juggling," says the Mönchengladbach native. Later, social media became his new platform. As an influencer with around three million TikTok followers and a quarter of a million on Instagram , Luca has since shared his travel stories with a huge community. "I can make a good living from it. But traveling is also expensive. I haven't gotten rich in the last few years."
Before the social media money, he traveled through the most remote regions with very few resources but all the more curiosity. He deliberately avoids dangers: "I often don't inform myself that much about risks. Otherwise, you just become paranoid." Instead, he relies on local contacts, people who refer him, or the global travel community. For example, he recommends the Facebook group "Every Passport Stamp." "You can ask: Is this border crossing open? And someone will write: Yes, I know Mohammed, he works there."
Between control and humanity: In North Korea, Luca learned how much a personal story weighs – even in the shadow of propaganda.
Source: Luca Pferdemenge
Dealing with so-called high-risk countries like North Korea, Russia, or Syria is particularly sensitive. Luca knows how quickly interpretations can be loaded: "After North Korea, people accused me of spreading propaganda. Others claimed that the border had been closed to other travelers because of my critical reporting – which shows me that I probably landed somewhere in the middle." His goal is not to ignore political complexity, but also to keep an open mind for everyday life: "Millions of people live in North Korea, too, and when my young guide tells me a personal story, I find it at least as fascinating as the criticism of the system."
His stay in Sudan remains particularly formative. Despite the war, he was welcomed there with unexpected friendliness: "The local people were incredibly hospitable. At home, I was told: How disrespectful of going there. But when I got there, they said: Thank you for coming and giving my country a chance." His stay in countries without a truly functioning rule of law, such as Haiti or Papua New Guinea, was particularly challenging. "If someone does something to you there, nothing will happen to them," Luca reports.
The encounter with the Mundari tribe in South Sudan was also extreme: "I was the first tourist to go through their entire morning routine." This involves cleansing oneself with warm cow urine. "It sounds absurd, but it's hygienic and pleasantly warm. It makes you realize how far you're stepping out of your comfort zone—and that's exactly what I love."
The men of the Mundari tribe in South Sudan use the warm urine of their cattle to cleanse their bodies because it has antiseptic properties, is readily available in the region, and provides warmth—which is particularly pleasant in the cool morning hours of the open savannah. The practice also has cultural significance: It symbolizes the close bond between humans and animals. For the Mundari, cattle are at the center of life—as a status symbol, source of food, and spiritual reference point.
Luca channels his impressions into projects. With a friend, he founded Every Country Tours , a platform that organizes trips to hard-to-reach countries like Afghanistan, Yemen, and the Congo. And his own eSIM app will soon go live. "I've promoted so many products for others. Now I'm finally starting something of my own."
In the midst of the conflict – and yet welcome: Luca experiences hospitality in Sudan.
Source: Luca Pferdemenge
He wants to unite, not divide. Politically too. "I want to create a place where people from very different backgrounds can meet." For Luca, hope prevails in his view of the world: "People are friendlier than you think. In Pakistan, it's harder to pay for food than to get it for free. People say: You're our guest," he says.
He found the Maldives and Saint Lucia, on the other hand, rather overrated. "Beautiful – but apart from the beaches, there's not much to do," he would tell young travelers looking for a lot of action. On the other hand, Luca has seen many regions that aren't on many bucket lists, but which he believes absolutely belong there.
He names Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as underrated travel destinations: "I have been to Uzbekistan four or five times – and could go again as often." Countries in Central America such as El Salvador and Guatemala are also worth a visit, as are North Macedonia, Albania and the Baltic country of Latvia.
Turquoise water? Luca has seen many beautiful beaches on his world trip.
Source: Luca Pferdemenge
Whether under the sun of Uzbekistan, on a dusty road in Sudan, or in the shadow of North Korean propaganda, Luca Pferdmenges says he tries not to skim over cultures, but to engage with them. For him, the value of a trip isn't measured in clicks or likes, but in lasting encounters.
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