How Far is Turkey from Africa? Exploring the Vast Distance Between Two Countries

Turkey and Africa may not seem like neighbors on a world map, but they share some deep historical and cultural connections. Even though separated by the Mediterranean Sea these two regions have interacted for centuries through trade conquest, and migration. So just how far apart are Turkey and Africa? What routes connect these two distant lands? Let’s dive into the geography and logistics of traversing the space between Turkey and Africa.

Getting Perspective on the Distance Between Turkey and Africa

To start grasping the scale of the distance between Turkey and Africa, let’s look at some comparisons:

• The driving distance from Istanbul, Turkey to Cairo, Egypt is about 2,500 miles. That’s roughly the distance from Los Angeles to New York City.

• Looking at the closest point between the two landmasses, the sea crossing from Turkey to Egypt is about 560 miles. That’s slightly longer than a drive from Denver to Dallas.

• Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, sits further north than the entire continent of Africa. Istanbul has roughly the same latitude as Chicago.

• Meanwhile, Cape Town, South Africa has about the same latitude as Sydney, Australia. So Turkey and South Africa are staggeringly far apart latitudinally.

These analogies help convey just how vast the gap between Turkey and Africa really is. They are not neighbors by any geographic definition, besides proximity of their coastlines along the Mediterranean. You have to traverse huge distances over sea and land to directly connect these two regions.

Analyzing the Sea Crossing from Turkey to Africa

For travelers moving between Turkey and Africa, the most direct route requires crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The two landmasses nearly touch at their closest point, with just a 560 mile stretch of water separating them. Let’s take a closer look at the options for bridging this sea crossing:

• The closest point between Turkey and Egypt across the Mediterranean is from the Turkish town of Tasucu to the Egyptian port city of Alexandria. A ferry service connects these two cities across approximately 395 miles of open sea. Total sailing time is about 18 hours on the ferry.

• Alternatively, you can travel between Turkey and Egypt via passenger ship from the Turkish seaside hub of Antalya to Alexandria. This slightly longer trip of 490 miles takes around 24 hours by ship.

• Heading west, you can also sail between the Turkish metropolis Istanbul to Port Said, Egypt. This approximately 560 mile journey takes around 30 hours direct by ship across the Mediterranean.

So unless you have a private yacht, passenger ferries and cruise ships are the way to go for crossing directly from Turkey to the African mainland. These journeys take close to a full day or more, showing the immense scale between the coastlines. Air travel is of course much faster for those not prone to seasickness.

Analyzing Overland Routes from Turkey to Africa

For travelers who prefer keeping their feet on dry land, it is possible to journey overland between Turkey and Africa. Be prepared for extremely long road trip adventures if you want to drive the distance. Here are some potential routes and what they entail:

• Istanbul to Cairo: Driving from Turkey’s largest city to Egypt’s capital covers about 2,500 miles through 9 countries. You would pass through Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and into Egypt. Total driving time would exceed 50 hours just for the Istanbul to Cairo portion.

• Istanbul to Nairobi: An overland route from Turkey to the capital of Kenya traverses roughly 5,500 miles through at least 15 countries. This epic road trip would pass through Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Somalia, and beyond. You’re looking at 100+ hours of drive time to connect these two cities. Definitely bring some extra gas cans and music for the journey.

• Istanbul to Cape Town: One of the longest possible drives from Turkey to South Africa runs over 8,700 miles through more than 20 countries. This route would take you across Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and into South Africa. We’re talking 200+ hours of nonstop driving through countless borders and checkpoints.

As these routes illustrate, overland travel between Turkey and Africa requires an extreme amount of time, planning, and perseverance. Unless you tack months onto your itinerary, flying is definitely the more efficient option.

Options for Air Travel Between Turkey and Africa

For those looking to cross between Turkey and Africa within a reasonable time frame, air travel is the most viable option. Let’s survey some flight paths connecting these distant regions:

• From Istanbul to Cairo, direct flights take around 3.5 hours to cover the roughly 1,100 mile journey. Multiple airlines offer regular service between these two major metropolises.

• Traveling from Istanbul to Johannesburg, South Africa takes around 10 hours by air. This route crosses about 5,700 miles nonstop over North Africa and down the continent’s east coast. Turkish Airlines provides direct flights on this marathon international route.

• Flying direct from Istanbul to Cape Town, South Africa climbs to around 11 hours in the sky. You would cover nearly 6,800 miles cruising over the Mediterranean and the length of Africa. This nonstop flight path is also operated by Turkish Airlines.

• If you’re heading all the way to South Africa from Turkey, one-stop itineraries are also readily available. Stopping in Cairo, Khartoum, Nairobi or Addis Ababa are common connections when flying between Turkey and destinations in South Africa.

So while still lengthy journeys, flights provide the fastest transit times for linking Turkey to African cities in the 10 to 12 hour range. Travelers can choose from an increasing number of direct or one-stop options when flying between these distant regions.

Historical Significance of Connecting Turkey and Africa

Beyond just understanding the geography, it’s important to explore the historical significance of the links between Turkey and Africa. These connections go much deeper than mileage on a map in the modern era.

Some key historical ties between Turkey and Africa include:

• The Ottoman Empire controlled Egypt from the 16th century until the late 19th century. This established strong political and cultural bonds between the two regions under Ottoman rule.

• The Ottoman provinces of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli linked northern Africa with Turkey for hundreds of years through imperial administration and trade networks.

• The Ottoman Empire expanded down the Red Sea coast to conquer Sudan and Somalia during the 16th century. This cemented Turkey’s influence deeper into continental Africa.

• Turkish traders maintained active commercial ties with ports all along Africa’s eastern coast, from Egypt down to Mozambique. Goods like coffee, spices, gold, and slaves flowed between Ottoman lands and Africa.

• Significant populations of Turkish descent remain scattered across North and Northeast Africa today, such as Egyptian Copts and Sudanese Turks. These communities are the legacy of the Ottoman Empire in Africa.

So for all the physical distance between Turkey and Africa, their shared histories reveal intimate connections that persisted for centuries. Appreciating this historical context makes the divide seem less distant.

As this exploration shows, Turkey and Africa are separated by a vast geographic expanse and long travel times. No direct land routes exist to easily walk or drive between them. Yet despite the distances, these two regions have built enduring cultural and economic bonds over history. Air travel and modern ferries make traversing the miles much faster today. But the length of time it historically took to directly connect Turkey and Africa reminds us of just how big the world can be. Next time you look at a map, consider all of the stories and hidden histories that exist in the spaces between. Even far flung lands have deeper connections than we often realize at first glance.