Lions, no problem but dangerous drivers…..

VISITING the Oxford Literary Festival recently, Nicholas Newman, of Oxford Prospects magazine, interviewed travel writer, Fran Sandham, author of TRAVERSA, A Solo Walk Across Africa, from the Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean.

LIKE many before him, Fran Sandham felt the pull of Africa. This sense of adventure led him to undertake a trek from Namibia?s notorious Skeleton Coast to Zanzibar on Tanzania?s Indian Ocean coast. This amazing 3,000 mile walk took him across some of the wildest parts of Africa; it was lucky for him that the locals were, for the most part, friendly.

Inspired by the great adventures of noted Victorian explorers, David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley, Fran had felt the call of the wild. Like these two famous adventurers he was to find it a life changing experience. Before his trek across Africa, Fran had been a quiet bookseller, surrounded by books telling of the adventures of famous travellers and explorers. Since his African adventures he has become a popular travel writer, and, for several years, editor of the well-liked Rough Guides series of travel guides for others with adventure in their hearts.

I interviewed Fran following his talk about his book ?TRAVERSA? that recounts his African journey on foot, in a room lined with paintings of notable academics overlooking Oxford?s Christ Church meadow.

As for Fran himself, he, was dressed in a smart broad pinstripe suit, which somehow clashed with his rugged features. During the course of the interview Fran revealed himself to be a self-deprecating and likeable, humorous person, who reminded me of that other great writer, the creator of Morse, Colin Dexter.

Fran realised that his Reginald Perrin dream of trekking across Africa was going to cost him at least