The Swahili Coast: The Ancient World Hidden in Plain Sight A Living Guide to the Culture, History and People of East Africa's Greatest Civilisation — by Steve Braker, Mombasa I have lived on the Swahili Coast for over twenty-five years, and the Swahili Coast...
I came to Africa to enjoy the tropical heat, but now the immortal words of the Geographical Society are ringing in my ears: “Snow on the Equator! Impossible!” I slept in a cold bed with two hot water bottles, and now I am jumping on the spot, trying to get some...
I’m sitting in my living room, watching the rain pour down as the heavy clouds creep in from the ocean. We have had no power in Mombasa for the last twenty-four hours, which is usually not a problem as we have a backup generator. However, on this occasion, the...
Princip, a man in despair, sits in a café, his black coffee untouched. His friends, their plan in ruins, are either dead or captured. Gripping his coffee with a white-knuckled hand, he frantically contemplates his escape from Sarajevo. Suddenly, cheering erupts...
Lake Tanganyika: Africa's Hidden Gem is an ancient African Great Lake, one of only twenty lakes in the world over a million years old. It is a marvel of nature. It emerged during the violent volcanic age when the earth was young and tearing itself apart, creating...
Lake Victoria is such an excellent geological site, and I thought I would finish my visit to Kisumu and its environs with a few interesting facts. Before John Hanning Speke visited the lake in 1858 and peered at it through unfocused, sick eyes, it had been a wonder...
The Noise of Zulu Battle (The Soldier’s Son Book 1)Andrew Baird, the son of the famous “Fighting Jack Windrush,” has just arrived in South Africa. It is 1877 and he enlists as a lowly mounted police man. Andrew wants to prove his own worth and not climb the ladder...
Queen Victoria described Sir Henry Morton Stanley as an “Ugly determined little man with an awful American twang!” He was indeed determined and, in my belief, a ruthless man who would not let anything get in his way. This did, however, stop him from being buried...
“Dr Livingstone, I Presume?” I have always admired Dr. David Livingston on many different levels. The iconic statement made by Henry Morton Stanley, “Doctor Livingstone I presume?” has become a household saying some one hundred and fifty years later. But the...
African Wildlife Safari Photography: Ten Tips for Capturing Wildlife in AfricaAfrican wildlife safaris offer a unique opportunity for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike to witness the majestic beauty of the continent's fauna in their natural habitats....
Top-Ten Safety Tips for a Secure African Safari Experience Embarking on an African safari is an experience of a lifetime, offering the opportunity to witness stunning wildlife and explore captivating landscapes. However, it's essential to prioritize safety during...
Tippu Tip-African Slave Trader Imagine, a white-walled three-story house in the middle of Stone Town, Zanzibar. A six-foot-tall man, with broad shoulders and a bright white kanzu, is standing on the flat roof in the early evening twilight. He holds a fine porcelain...
The Anglo-Zanzibar War. The Shorest War in History A Ten Minute ReadThe story starts when Zanzibar was a hub for ivory, cloves, and allegedly the largest slave market in the world; at its peak, there are estimates that over 50,000 slaves were traded per year from...
The Sahara Legacy Author: Ernest Dempsey The Saharan Legacy is the fourth or fifth of Ernest Dempsey’s books I have read. He is a prolific author, who always manages to find the next plot to write about. The Sean Wyatt series is entertaining and keeps the pace up....
My top ten tips for that once-in-a-lifetime safari. Why should you take this advice? I am Steve Braker and I have lived in East Africa for the last twenty years. I am an avid safari-goer and have taken my wife and four children on many different adventures across...
