My first Theroux travelogue was Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, a journey in which the venerable travel writer retraced a trip he took thirty five years ago. In Dark Star Safari Mr. Theroux does something similar - he goes on a trip from Cairo to Cape Town, covering the landmass of that great and wondrous continent, a place that seems to cling hungrily to its moniker of the dark continent.

Theroux eschews air travel, as anyone whose read any of his travel books will know well. Mr. Theroux Africa is on a different planet, on a Dark Star as the author keeps reminding us. He compares the Africa of 2001 with the Africa he lived in forty years ago when he taught at a small school in Malawi and then at the Makerere University in Uganda, and most everywhere he sees an Africa "on the wane". He encounters pretentious aid workers driving around in expensive Land Rovers, self righteous missionaries, indifferent bureaucracy and superstitious politicians. He also meets some old friends and makes a few new ones. I found the story of an almost deaf Naguib Mahfouz holding court a Cairo hotel delightful.

There is much to recommend and very little to distract. If you are familiar with Paul Theroux' other work you already know his writing is not exactly full of hope but it is excellent. Highly recommended. ( )

I read this book in a class about vocation. A lot of questions came up about how much we could trust his account. He makes some pretty harsh judgments on people, especially relief workers. All the same, this is worth the hefty page count. It is not tedious to read, I find, because Theroux keeps you wanting to know how things end out and where he ends up. Very entertaining! ( )

Depressing insight into modern Africa. Interesting travel writing that makes me eager to leave everything behind and strike out, too. Mr. Theroux is not favorably disposed to Christians (for their hypocrisy) and is extremely critical of African aid and charitable organizations. ( )

One of Theroux's best. A marvellous report of his travels from Cairo to Capetown. Some shocking descriptions of the results our 'aid' to Africa has. ( )

Theroux is an amazing travel writer - he is genuine. When he is irritated or finds something to be disappointed about he tells us, but it doesn't seem contrived or as though he is being deliberately ironic or negative (looking at you Bill Bryson). When he is enthusiastic about something, he is not gushing, but you appreciate what he is sharing.

Many readers have not liked this book because Theroux is obviously disappointed with Africa. Having lived in a third world country myself, I felt in so many places that I could relate to his disappointments, his realistic dry-eyed assessment of the people and the situations around him. Fact is, much of what he comes across is total crap, and much of it is due to the people who continue to live in a dire situation without helping themselves. While that is not a particularly PC or romantic view, Theroux tells it as he sees it; therefore when he praises something you feel that is equally as genuine.

This book worked for me - the romance of the travel makes me want to jump on a train and take off for an adventure; but the description of Africa makes me realise that is not where I would want to be heading. ( )