Walking the Nile
(Book)

First published in Great Britain in 2015 by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd.

Maps on the lining paper.

Includes index (p. [328] - 338).

"The Nile, one of the world's great rivers, has long been an object of fascination and obsession. From Alexander the Great and Nero, to Victorian adventurers... the river has enticed many into wild adventures. [The author] continues that tradition...[in] the captivating account of his remarkable and unparalled Nile journey. Starting in November 2013 in a forest in Rwanda, where a modest sprint spouts a trickle of clear, cold water, [the author] set forth on foot, aiming to become the first person to walk the entire length of the fabled river. He followed the Nile for nine months, over 4,000 miles, through six nations-- Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, the Republic of Sudan, and Egypt-- to the Mediterranean coast. Like his predecessors, [the author] camped in the wood, foraged for food, and trudged through rain forest, swamp, savannah, and desert, enduring life-threatening conditions at every turn. He traversed sandstorms, flash floods, minefields, and more, becoming a local celebrity in Uganda, where a popular rap song was written about him, and a potential enemy of the state in South Sudan, where he found himself caught in a civil war and detained by the secret police. As well as recounting his triumphs... [the author's]... account recalls the loss of Matthew Power, a journalist who died suddenly from heat exhaustion during their trek. As [the author] walks on, often joined by local guides who help him to navigate foreign languages and customs, [this book] maps out African history and contemporary life." -- Jacket.