Africa, the world's second largest and second most populous continent. The place where the human species took it's first stumbling steps. The continent which lays claim to ancient Egypt, Alexander the Great, and an estimated 25 million people sold into slavery. Not to mention 5.4 million people killed in the 2nd Congo war, Aids, Darfur and 18 people awarded the Nobel Peace prize. Nelson Mandela too. Africa can also boast of the world's 2nd fastest growing economy and the world's poorest economy. Even the very land mass is on the move with the Sahara Desert expanding south at a rate of half a mile a month. Contrast this with the world's second largest fresh water lake. It is even home to the world's largest frog. And it is the place where I was born.
When planning this trip, Africa came into the equation only briefly, a thought so terrifying it brought about a brief loss of body-function control. Nearly everyone I had talked to had a gruesome tale about some guileless individual who had either disappeared, been eaten, or had suffered some other unimaginable fate. There was no way I would even entertain it.
But this decision niggled at me for months. I was born there, I had lived there for a large part of my adult life. I knew what to expect. A world trip that did not include Africa would be a bit like eating a toffee with the wrapper on. So I decided to do it. More rashly, I announced my intention, making it common knowledge among those who know me. I then belatedly began to research a possible route and came gradually to realise that this was way beyond - way beyond - anything I had attempted before. But having committed myself there was no going back.
My route starts at the southern tip of Africa, heading north up the east coast ending in Cairo.
When planning this trip, Africa came into the equation only briefly, a thought so terrifying it brought about a brief loss of body-function control. Nearly everyone I had talked to had a gruesome tale about some guileless individual who had either disappeared, been eaten, or had suffered some other unimaginable fate. There was no way I would even entertain it.
But this decision niggled at me for months. I was born there, I had lived there for a large part of my adult life. I knew what to expect. A world trip that did not include Africa would be a bit like eating a toffee with the wrapper on. So I decided to do it. More rashly, I announced my intention, making it common knowledge among those who know me. I then belatedly began to research a possible route and came gradually to realise that this was way beyond - way beyond - anything I had attempted before. But having committed myself there was no going back.
My route starts at the southern tip of Africa, heading north up the east coast ending in Cairo.
