Dreams of a Vanishing Africa

When Craig Harrison spent a year traveling on a shoestring within the fabric of African societies in 1971-1972 he avoided safe well-trodden routes. Instead he depended on decrepit trains cargo trucks rattletrap buses jammed bush taxis dugout canoes and ferries. Arriving in Spanish Sahara on a cargo ship from the Canary Islands he trekked through Mauritania Senegal Gambia Mali Upper Volta and Ghana. From Accra he took a freighter to the Congo to journey overland to Kenya Rwanda Uganda and Tanzania. After five months in East Africa he returned to Europe via Ethiopia Sudan and Egypt. During his journey he dealt with delays and dismaying circumstances enjoying colorful encounters with ordinary Africans and fellow adventurers. He also met obnoxious public officials and faced obstacles that would have sent most others home.