Description
South from Barbary: Along the Slave Routes of the Libyan Sahara by Justin Marozzi is a captivating travel memoir and historical exploration rolled into one. In this remarkable debut, Marozzi recounts his 1,500-mile journey by camel through the unforgiving landscapes of the Libyan Sahara, tracing the ancient slave-trade routes once traveled by Tuareg and Tubbu caravans.
Joined by his companion Ned, with no prior desert or camel-riding experience, Marozzi embarks on an extraordinary adventure, learning survival skills from colourful local guides and forging bonds with their hardy camels. Along the way, the pair navigate political tensions, natural dangers, and the harsh beauty of one of the world’s most remote regions.
More than just a travelogue, this book weaves in the gripping history of Saharan exploration and Britain’s 19th-century attempts to combat the African slave trade. Rich in wit, historical insight, and evocative descriptions of desert life, South from Barbary is an engrossing tale of endurance, discovery, and the enduring spirit of the Sahara and its people.
