The Black Nile: One Man's Amazing Journey Through Peace and War on the World's Longest River
Morrison and a buddy embarked from Lake Victoria with the goal of descending the Nile River to the Mediterranean Sea. This was in 2006, when civil wars in countries on their route—Uganda and Sudan—had recently subsided. So prospective dangers awaiting the travelers included river rapids, wild animals, malaria, and armed and suspicious men. Solving their first problem, obtaining a boat, the duo discover that their craft is less than seaworthy; as its woes mount, Morrison merrily narrates landings at riverside villages and bargaining for food and accommodations. When his pal has had enough of equatorial Africa and returns to America, Morrison, now boatless, presses on via barge and bus. With sympathetic acuity about the personalities, tribal societies, and mechanical ingenuity of those he encounters, Morrison crafts impressions that will teach travelogue readers much about contemporary Sudan. There’s enough amusement to balance the seriousness of politics, such that when visa problems interrupt Morrison’s journey, his audience will stay to see if he reaches the sea. Recommend this title to readers who enjoyed Tim Butcher’s Blood River (2008). --Gilbert Taylor