Kawai’s journey represents an extraordinary adventure that saw him cross the China Sea by ship from Kobe to China, where began an odyssey of no minor scale.

"It has been quite an adventure, and I can’t believe I’m actually in Cape Town," Kawai said on Saturday. “I have been dreaming of seeing Table Mountain for so long, and now I am finally here.”

It’s been quite a journey for Kawai. He explored vast tracts of China, before moving onto Tibet — “the most beautiful place I have seen” — and northern India, also a place of great beauty.

From there it was on to central Asia, visiting Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Georgia, "where they make very good wine". Then came one of two countries Kawai entered with great trepidation: Afghanistan.

"I wrote to my parents and told them where I was going, which I probably shouldn’t have done, as they were very nervous," Kawai recalls with a wry grin. But he made it safely through, despite his nerves, and he managed to get to Pakistan in one piece.

The Middle East followed, including a lengthy stint in Iran, before arriving in Egypt, the country in Africa he’s enjoyed most so far.

"It’s a great country, and very easy to travel in," Kawai explained of his introduction to Africa, the launch of the Alexandria to Cape Town leg of his journey.

That journey meandered along the eastern side of the continent, Kawai braving local transport and unfamiliar terrain as he moved towards the second country he was worried about entering — the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tomohiro in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen

"I entered the Congo from Rwanda, having spent time in Kigali, and was quite nervous," Kawai admitted. "But I managed to get through okay, although getting transport was very difficult. Even harder than in Tanzania, where the buses are always breaking down."

Having survived the DRC, Kawai worked his way down through Mozambique — acquiring a jaunty straw sombrero along the way — and finally into South Africa, where ironically the Japanese traveller had the worst experience of his journey.

Time in Durban was followed by a gentle wander down South Africa’s east coast, with Cape Aghulas the final target before arriving in Cape Town — which was where Kawai hit trouble.

A rude awakening...

"I wanted to visit the southern most point in Africa, but there was no public transport, so I had to hitchhike," Kawai recalled with a grimace. "A German couple dropped me off on the way back with a guy who said he was waiting for his father to come from Johannesburg and give him a lift.

"But as soon as we were alone, he started asking me how much money I had, and wanted to see what I had with me. He tried to attack me, but then asked if I knew karate; I don’t know very much karate, but I told him I was an expert, and he backed away, so I could run down the road with my pack and find help.

"I was very scared, and it would have been a great shame to have been stopped so close to Cape Town, so now I am very, very happy to be here!"

And understandably so. 96 countries into his trip, and two years of epic travel, the Japanese foot soldier has realised a grand dream. Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe will bring up his century of nations visited, whereupon he will finally succumb to the temptation of air travel, and fly back to Japan in time to watch his country participate in the soccer World Cup.

But for now he’s relishing the end of his ambitious mission; he still wants to see Cape Point, but the target of his two-year expedition has been reached.

"It is so beautiful, and seeing Table Mountain at last is a wonderful sight," Kawai beamed; after two months and 96 countries, it’s a sight he fully deserves to be setting eyes upon at last. Welcome to Cape Town, Tomohiro Kawai — it’s good to finally have you here.