Midwest Book Review, Mars 2006
"Terrific read from first page to last… would make a popular addition to any personal or community library travel section."
James Damico, Wanderingtheworld.com
"The most eclectic collection of travelers I've ever read about. I couldn't stop laughing. Highly recommended."
Hadley Goodman, Copper Press Publishers
"More than a guide to Africa, but an in-depth, often times laugh-out-loud humorous look at the pitfalls of group travel in such a magical country."
John Heminway, film producer/author of Yonder: A Place in Montana and No Man's Land: A Personal Journey into Africa
"It used to be only the British mastered the art of spinning the sweaty traveller’s tale. Along comes Brandon Wilson who teaches us that an observant fellow from Hawaii can deal with Africa’s grime, dysentery and uncertainty with superior grace and wit. Honest, gritty and insightful. Best of all, it makes the world’s most exciting continent read just like that."
Richard Bangs, producer of Richard Bangs ADVENTURES/author The Lost River and Mystery of the Nile/adventurer
"This is a masterful crossroads of characters, exotic places, history and human drama in a rig that never stalls…"
Joseph W. Bean, Book Reviewer, Maui Weekly (Hawaii), 26 Oct, 2005
"An adventure journal only the craziest traveler would take as a guide. But we can dream, can’t we? (5 shakas)"
C. W. Gortner, author of The Secret Lion
"Transcends its genre to become a tranformative journey of the soul into a disparate and gorgeously challenging culture…"
Andrew F. O’Hara, author of The Swan: Tales of the Sacramento Valley/journalist
"A magical story laced with humor and tragedy…it brings Africa to readers on an intimate level not found elsewhere."
Dr. Bob Rich, award-winning author of thirteen books/editor/counselling psychologist
"Wilson is a writer with the eye of an artist, a basic decency and social conscience…I strongly recommend it."
Honolulu Advertiser (Gannett), 22 Jan, 2006
"Wilson offers great advice for the road… And his concerns about the ecological and social woes of Africa are shared by the many who love the continent that Paul Theroux has called the "Dark Star.""
Liz Janes-Brown, The Maui News, 20 Nov, 2005
A great read in the comfort of an easy chair, one of those books that inspires the dream of wanderlust…
Mayra Calvani, Midwest Book Review, Avril 2006
"…His journeys are not only physical but highly spiritual as well. His are journeys of body and soul in every sense of the word. The author writes with honesty and a sharp eye for detail, making this an invaluable amalgam of information for readers of adventure travel or anybody who is considering “do-it-yourself” safaris or simply visiting Africa. Interlaced with this honesty and detail are Wilson’s beautiful prose, obvious passion for adventure and a deep inquisitiveness about other cultures, making this book a pleasure to read."
Debra Weaver, Reviewer, Avril 2006
"For quirky humor, fascinating character study, and glimpses of an Africa that most of us will never see, Wilson’s story is well worth the trip for the reader. He’s already tackled Tibet with Yak Butter Blues and now Africa in the latest book. Let’s hope that Brandon Wilson’s wanderlust continues.”
BRANDON WILSON, Chev. is a Lowell Thomas Gold Award-winning author/photographer and explorer, a peace pilgrim and long distance trekker. He has explored nearly 100 countries, including making an African transect from London to Cape Town. Over decades, he's been especially passionate about hiking historic long-distance pilgrim trails. In 1992, Brandon and his wife Cheryl became the first Western couple to trek the 1100-kilometer trail from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu. Then he focused on Europe, trekking the Camino de Santiago Francés (twice) across northern Spain, then the Via de la Plata from Seville, and the Camino Catalan and Camino Aragonés from Barcelona. Brandon was the first American to traverse the 1850-kilometer Via Francigena from Canterbury, England to Rome. In 2006, he hiked and founded the 4500-kilometer Templar Trail, recreating the route of the First Crusades as a path of peace from France to Jerusalem. Later, in 2009, Brandon and Cheryl trekked the Via Alpina along the backbone of the Alps across eight countries from Trieste to Monaco, climbing the equivalent of 12 Mt. Everests. In 2015, he hiked the ancient St. Olav's Way for the second time across Norway and Sweden on an Explorers Club Flag expedition. Most recently, he trekked the Alta Via 1 across the Italian Dolomites and the Tour de Mt. Blanc in France, Italy and Switzerland.
