No comments about Kenya (Oxfam Country Profiles Series).

No comments about On God's Mountain/the Story of Mount Kenya.

No comments about The Beautiful Plants of Kenya.

5 comments about The Ukimwi Road: From Kenya to Zimbabwe.

1. This book is a waste of time, a waste of space, and a waste of money. Demonstrates amazing ignorance about the places and people she visits, and arrogantly assumes the right to make judgements about things she clearly does not understand. People who've lived in the areas she bikes through, especially those who've done any work relating to AIDS or women's issues, have an involuntary gagging reflex whenever someone mentions this book.



2. A couple of years after reading The Ukimwe Road, which I found to be excellent reporting, I was surprised to find so many negative and emotional views posted here. I have repeatedly recommended this and other Murphy books to friends as good entertainment and the most unbiased sources of on-the-ground information in print. Where Dervla Murphy has gone, we can learn truth that is seldom found in more conventional sources.

   The picture she painted of the seriousness and extent of the AIDS problem in Africa was well supported by her first-hand (if anecdotal) evidence. Subsequent developments have shown that her alarming portrayal was accurate, and hers was in print *years* before the authorities began to recognise the scope of the problem. She did an excellent job of illustrating the wide range of psychological devices used to deny or minimise the problem.

   Her portrait of the plight of a well-informed woman who despaired of protecting herself against AIDS, saying "You just don't know what it means to be a woman in Africa" still haunts my memory.

   Official accounts, however alarming, have not yet caught up with Murphy's detailing of the cultural and social situations that have made the present disaster inevitable. Slowly and belatedly, news accounts are reflecting what she told us years ago. She can hardly be faulted for failing to suggest a solution, when any solution must involve massive cultural change: iconceivable to the locals as well as to western liberals.

   This is not a cheerful read, like some of her other books, but it may be one of her most important.

   Bias note: I have read and enjoyed almost all of Dervla Murphy's books, and bought a couple. I'll buy the rest for my permanent library when cheaper paperbacks appear. I do not share her political views (which I believe are far to the left of mine), but I do not find that this has made her observations any less valuable. She has my respect.




3. This is an unusually well-written and consistently interesting travel narrative. The author does come across as a tough old crow at times. (I can't imagine why she feels entitled to sneer at hikers who use the Lonely Planet guide.) But who else would have braved such an arduous journey in the first place? I can understand that her opinions about women's issues and the AIDS epidemic might be irritatingly opposed to yours. But isn't one of the points of traveling to meet people who aren't like ourselves?



4. Since 1964 Irish writer Murphy has been traveling the world by foot and bicycle and writing about her experiences. An outspoken loner, drawn to the more remote parts of the globe, her beautiful but rugged experiences fascinate and educate the armchair traveler - without inspiring similar ambitions.

   As a 60th birthday present to herself, Murphy undertakes a 3,000 mile journey through Eastern and Southern Africa on her Dawes Ascent mountain-bike, "the cyclist's equivalent of a Rolls-Royce," named Lear. The trip was a "self-described unwinding therapy.....a carefree ramble through some of the least hot areas of sub-Saharan Africa."

   But "carefree" it is not, though nothing - not heat, torrential rains, hunger, illness, hostility or impassable roads - can stop her.

   Murphy is greeted in Nairobi by drought and a mothers' hunger strike which rapidly degenerates into a riot when paramilitary troops arrive to disperse the women. Leaving the city as quickly as she can, Murphy contemplates the contrast between Western luxuries and construction projects alongside the shanty towns and hungry children.

   From her first stop in a dusty village for a Tusker beer, AIDS predominates and a pattern is set which endures thoughout the lands and cultures she passes through during the coming months. By day she enjoys the solitude and scenery of rural Africa; by night she is embroiled in local discussions of politics and Western incursions and AIDS, often dodging individual pleas for help in getting to the land of opportunity - the West.

   Ukimwi is Swahili for AIDS. In Africa, wherever she goes, it surrounds her. Some blame Western conspiracies and medical experiments; missionaries preach behavioral changes and deny condom distribution; men say they cannot survive without a variety of female partners; wives say their husbands refuse condoms; prositutes say they would have no business if they insisted on condom use.

   Everywhere Murphy meets widows, orphans and more orphans.

   She at first resists the pull of AIDS. For her this is a pleasure journey and she can do nothing to slow the epidemic. But it has become part of the fabric of culture, threatening traditional family life, taking the most productive and leaving behind the old and the young to fend for themselves.

   In addition to the scourge of AIDS, Murphy finds much of Africa suffering from economic collapse, spurred in large part by misguided Western "development projects" that destroyed the local agrarian economy, often displacing the people and departing, leaving behind devastation and tribal strife.

   She meets hospitality and hostility, and takes what comes; be it a bedbug, mosquito-infested tourist hotel, or an earthen floor, or a spontaneously offered bed in a local home. She sets out at dawn hardly knowing whether to expect a corrugated wartorn road or spectacular mountain scenery or a beguiling path that ends in a swamp (through which she is guided by a silent tribal elder). She pushes Lear up rutted mountain tracks and hurtles down, marveling at the African cyclists she meets everywhere - man cycling, two children on the cross bar, wife behind holding baby and toddler, and a heavy load balanced over all.

   With a cast-iron stomach, she eats and drinks whatever is available (which is generally awful), especially enjoys her beer, cycles through bronchitis and is finally felled by malaria. Even that she comes to regard as fitting - ending her journey in Zimbabwe where "Blacks had been subjugated as nowhere else in British Africa." Murphy concludes that Westerners ought to get out of Africa once and for all - that Western systems have not "taken" and have only undermined traditional culture.

   Whether you come to agree with her or not, her harrowing, thrilling, eye-opening and heartbreaking journey will stay with you when other travels are long forgotten.




5. i wanted to recommend this book to a friend who is about to travel to tanzania, so i came to check the author murphy's name and the spelling of "ukimwi" again. i'll second the reviewer who was surprised at the negative reviews. i read murphy's book while i was a tourist on safari in tanzania (which i also recommend if you can afford it). murphy's book was an interesting balance to my touristic experience. i wouldn't say it give me an ultimate insight into the "real" africa, but it was an important read for me then and now. it prepared me to have some conversations with tanzanians that i wouldn't otherwise have had. it allowed me, among other things, to know what i was seeing when i passed a small building in dar es salaam that read "ukimwi." it helped put in perspective what it means for a nation to be able to spend $2 per capita total on health care costs (at least when i was there). it made me able to make some of my own observations -- say that the gross national product of burundi was approximately the same as the market capitalization of most u.s. microcap stocks -- and form my own conclusions. so i didn't find murphy overly judgmental. i seem to remember her giving opinions, but mostly i felt as though i was given a complex picture. i'd highly recommend it. other recs re: africa very generally: basil davidson's *the black man's burden,* any novel or film by sembene ousmane, naipaul's *a bend in the river,* the french film *lemumba,* and of course plenty of other excellent african novelists and playwrights. o, and the epic *sundiata.*

4 comments about SAFARI: My Trip to Africa.

1. An absolutely charming book, "Safari" is the journal of Reginald Oliver Smythe, a vintage Teddy bear who was taken along on a trip to Africa by his owner (and travel companion), Susan. I've read lots of books on Africa, but none like this one--told entirely from the toy bear's perspective. It is filled with interesting facts and suffused with "Reggie's" endearing personality. Written in the form of a travel journal, the book is as lushly illustrated as an artist's sketchbook. Reginal Oliver Smythe's "Safari" is perfect for reading to my young nieces and nephew. A great gift!



2. I was apprehensive that a book ostensibly written by a teddy bear would get sneers from my teen aged son, however, despite a few pages of cuteness at the start, the book was so well done in art work and content, and mirrored our own safari experiences so well, that Nick loved it. He even, abeit a bit sheepishly, liked the teddy bear humor. If this book succeeds so well with a cynical teen, it should work for everyone. Read this book before you go to East Africa, then re-read it (and get a little misty-eyed) after you return.



3. I have been on a safari with each of my daughters and am going on another with my son, his wife and 3 young grands this summer. Mailed them Reggie's book which was so beguiling I had to get another copy for my daughters to share with me. Needless to say I love the East African experience and this book gives some useful information in a fun, easily accessible and creative way.



4. This delightful book tells the story of the bear Reggie, who travels to Africa for a safari with his owner. His handwritten account records everything he sees in a journal/scrapbook format that is accompanied by beautiful illustrations. A wonderful book for any age. Also check out the follow up, Journey Up the Nile.

5 comments about Reunion in Barsaloi.

1. A great follw up to the two previous books - i really enjoyed this easy to read book.



2. I feel the same way! These books are a waste of time. I am a very open minded person and have a family who lived with the Masai people for 5 years. That's why I was interested in her books in the first place. But my family can truly appreciate what these people have gone through and lived with them for years and still visits.
   They received much more respect and attention from the Masai than she seemingly ever did. She just seems as though she is making a good living off of a lousy experience.
   Did she have to go through intense rituals to become a member of their society? No, she just slept with a member of their society? Did she even do any of her own chores to get water or wash clothing? Hardly, she hired a girl to do it for her!
   For those of you who know nothing about lust and travel, tourist can easily find a Masai man to sleep with and Masai men can easily find a tourist to help make a living for themselves. Its a give and take relationship that most people accept as just that. Sure some fall in love! This is mainly what her story was! Nothing more!
   I'm not sure about what Lketinga's feelings are from reading her side of the story, but I can tell you that alot of men from these tourist countries thrive off of finding a foreign woman with money to help them survive. That's how I saw her story.
   Not many Outsiders can truly become a member of the Masai society like my family member did. And he is of a race and culture, you'd least expect to live in a home made of cow dung!
   Also her ignorance affected not only that sweet man but her daughter. That man was living out his culture and his beliefs and didn't deserve her abandonment with his child.
   I don't mean any disrespect to their daughter by talking about her parents but, I just feel her mother doesn't deserve the rights to profit from this tale. I personally know other people who actually deserve more reputable respects than she does for living with and understanding Masai people and they don't receive any movies or acknowledgments like she does. They just continue to live their lives and look back on their past experiences with joy.
   Basically, her experiences were nothing to write a book over or to make a sequel to. I suppose if you know nothing about lust and tourism, or Masai culture you could easily find this book amusing. But a romantic tale, it is not!!!!!



3. This book can stand on its own but ideally you should read "The White Masai" and "Back From Africa" first. You will not regret traveling with Corinne Hofmann on any of her journeys. She has had an amazing, colorful life....and I'm sure there's more she'll share with us. I do hope she'll write at least one more as she does have unfinished business in Africa and I'm looking forward to hearing about its resolution.



4. Corrine Hoffman wrote 3 books regarding her life experience in Kenya. She is the first white woman to marry a Masai Warrior, lives in the Bush and has a daughter with him. She goes back to Switzerland and then visits Kenya again 14 years later. This is a non-fiction series that is exciting, well written and easy to read. It shows courage and relates to life. The first book is called the White Masai and the second book is Back From Africa. This is the third book where she returns to Kenya for a visit to her family there without her daughter.



5. Well I read the White Masai with the intention to be as open minded as possible and to try to understand why a White European woman would want to marry someone who was of another race and culture. Well the first book was entertaining in that I found myself reading to find out what kind of horrible situation this silly woman would find herself in next. She showed total disrespect for the Masai people and their culture and then ran off wit the man's daughter when things didnt go the way she imagined they would go which must have been very embarrassing for him as a warrior.
   
   Anyway this book, was probably the most boring book that I have ever read. I had to force myself through it, waiting for something to actually HAPPEN. But nothing never happened worth note, it was just the author cashing in on the story once again. I have had more interesting trips to the grocery store that I could write about.

5 comments about Kilimanjaro & Mount Kenya: A Climbing and Trekking Guide.

1. Mr. Burns book was informative but I took strong exception to his reccomendations on physical preperation for the trip. Further, his reccomendation on nonuse of Diamox for altitude sickness prevention also disturbed me. Mr. Burns gives the impression that the trek is nothing more that a brisk walk and that a genuine workout program of cardiovascular training and weight training is of little use. If one were to rest on his reccomendations they would stand a very small chance of reaching the summit. Further, the use of Diamox for many who summited proved to be a key factor in their success. If one were to take these sections of his book to heart I do not think their Kilimanjaro experience would be a positive one. Be in the best condition you are able and have Diamox at the ready if you need it.



2. This is a good book to read before you actually book a trip. There is alot of information in this book that puts you in a frame of reference of where you are going. Africa is a total different world from the United States so it is nice to know what you are getting into. In regards to some of the info I think Burns thinks that everyone is in as great a shape as he is in. I would recommend overtraining and doing altitude to make the trip as enjoyable as possible. I was in great shape and zipped up to the top but anyone can make it if they go slow. Also don't worry about travelers checks they take any kind. I would recommend booking an African travel agent and advoid using an American agent. This will save you money. We used Easy Travel and Tours for our Tanzania trip and were very satisfied with them



3. As others have noted Mr. Burn's book is well written, and informative. But as Keith D. Kendall correctly observes in a review elsewhere on this page, the notion that a trek to the summit of a 19,000 foot peak may be accomplished without achieving a high level of cardiovascular fitness is not only misleading and potentially dangerous, but frankly absurd. Ditto for Mr. Burn's comments on the use of Diamox, which he either doesn't understand (his comments in the book indicate little experience with its correct use), or again, dismisses out of hand as he has never had to use it. You may. The information in the book is valuable, but as with everything else, it is only a single point of view. I liked the book a great deal, but take some pause when obvious misinformation is attributed to an `expert' source.



4. Cameron Burns has filled a void with the publication of this climbing and trekking guide for Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. While much is probably written about Kili, there is very little practical literature about Mount Kenya. The introductory pages are full of useful hints for traveling in Kenya that, from my recent experience there, all ring true. The route descriptions on Mount Kenya, while lacking in some detail, certainly convey the necessary information for a successful climb. It is already time for a new edition, however, since some of the features have changed. Kami Camp, for instance, no longer exists.



5. Having gone through the preparation to climb Kili, I found this book to be very informative ... especially the sections on traveling through Tanzania and Kenya. Much thanks to the other reviewers for warnings on the use of Diamox and the need for conditioning.

No comments about Poverty and Promise: One Volunteer's Experience of Kenya.

5 comments about Jambo, Mama.

1. although descriptions of her native carpet factory employees were interesting, much more of the book is devoted to the author's many personal problems: a discordant sibling relationship; well-educated friends in kenya who at first help the author settle in, then mysteriously drop her completely; and especially the author's dalliance with a philanderer even though she knows he is sleeping with other women...east africa is a fascinating part of the world...surely one could have found something else of interest than watching the same American videos over and over while crying about a balloon pilot who was always somewhere else...



2. Allured by the introductory chapters accessible on the net, I was enticed by the backbone of her solo mission to a place with an almost contrary rhythm to the West. She definitely chose a beautiful country, still raw, still real. I'm bias of course - Having grown up in Kenya; it was another opportunity for sweet nostalgia.
   
   While reading the book, I enjoyed the witty incorporation of Kiswahili idioms and expressions. I enjoyed her novel descriptions of Kenya's unfamiliar Northern Frontier and I took pleasure in the recognition of places such as Karen and Kiambu. It brought familiar places back to life.
   
   Nonetheless, although this book has the potential to play sugary games with the hearts of fellow Kenyans, it lacks some of the insight that I had initially expected and desired. I was not disgruntled by this but simply listened to another story between the lines. By this I mean that, whereas the book strove for transparency and appeal, some sections were opaque and lacked the detailed artistic revelations that this intelligent and perceptive woman so apparently preserved in her mind. It felt like there were pieces missing as she was pushed by her peers and fans to write on. Perhaps a more integral account of the relationships that went terribly wrong was needed, or may be more reflections on the how her past plays with her present lifestyle and state of mind. The reader demands the full story.
   
   There seems to be a lot of latent potential that I know can come through in a sequel (which I would read -hint hint). After all, writing is a never-ending journey as we grow and evolve. I'd like to see how the author processes her life and her past and changes accordingly. Overall, It's a very nice book and I hope that Melinda continues to write as she progresses through life. Hopefully we will get a chance to see what this strong and incredible woman has learned with time. Share.



3. I really enjoyed this book from the first page through the last. It took me on an incredible journey of life in Kenya, Africa with all it's mishaps, adventures, safaris, and real life day to day living as a local living in Kenya. I really hated to see it end! This book is a must have for anyone planning a trip to Africa or for anyone that loves exotic destination travel.



4. AFTER TRAVELING IN KENYA ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASIONS, THERE WAS ALWAYS A DREAM IN THE BACK OF MY MIND--"WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL TO LIVE HERE" THIS IS A STORY ABOUT AN AMERICAN WOMAN WHO DID JUST THAT. IT WAS A REALISTIC NARRATIVE ABOUT THE JOYS AND DIFFICULTIES OF TRYING TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WITH A SEMI-CLOSED ENGLISH SECTION OF SOCIETY AND THE RULES AND REGLATIONS OF A AFRICAN WORK FORCE THAT SHE HIRED FOR HER RUG MANUFACTURING AND ALL THE PROBLEMS SHE HAD WITH BOTH. IN THE END I THINK IT WAS PURE LONLINESS THAT LED HER BACK TO THE U.S. BUT THE JOURNEY WAS INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE. I LOVED IT.



5. I live in Kenya for 6 months out of each year. My experiences there are both wonderful and difficult, and I am always looking for books written by other foreigners who have lived there. I am VERY disappointed with this book. Ms. Atwood moved to Kenya to experience Africa, but chose to do so from a completely self-centered and white settler basis. She lived in the lap of luxury surrounded by servants and never went out of her way to understand (not to mention participate) in the local culture of Kenyans. She gets excited by things reminiscent of what she calls "old Africa", which she then describes as the good old days of the British colonialists. I found her attitude typical of many foreigners living in Kenya, but very disheartening.
   
   If you want to learn about Kenya from the perspective of a wealthy and relatively self-centered white lady, this is the book for you. Otherwise, skip it.

No comments about Kenya, Tanzania (Country Map) (Country Map).