Dark Star Safari: Overland From Cairo To Cape Town — Paul Theroux

Condition : Good.
Penguin, 2003 , Medium-format Paperback – Travel – 495pp.

Dark Star Safari: Overland From Cairo to Cape Town by Paul Theroux is a gripping work of travel writing that charts an extraordinary overland journey through the heart of Africa. In this evocative memoir, Theroux revisits the continent where he once lived as a young teacher in Malawi, setting off from Cairo and making his way, by bus, train, canoe, cattle truck, and on foot, to Cape Town. Along the way, he encounters the full spectrum of African life, from bustling cities to remote villages, capturing the complex, often contradictory spirit of the places and people he meets.

More than just a physical voyage, Dark Star Safari is also a deeply personal and at times nostalgic reflection on the passage of time. Theroux contrasts the Africa he knew decades earlier with the continent of today, confronting issues of poverty, politics, foreign aid, and progress with unflinching honesty. His sharp observations, dry wit, and keen storytelling reveal both the beauty and the hardship of life across Africa, offering readers a vivid, unfiltered perspective rarely found in mainstream travel narratives.

Published in 2002, this acclaimed travel memoir has resonated with readers for its candour, insight, and the sheer daring of its premise. Dark Star Safari is essential reading for fans of travel literature, armchair adventurers, and those intrigued by the raw, unpolished reality of Africa beyond the tourist trails.