A fascinating account of the hardships and hilarity Fran Sandham experienced during his epic solo journey on foot across Africa, from the Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean through Namibia, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania.

Inspired by the legendary crossings of the great explorers, Sandham left the daily grind of London to undertake an extraordinary adventure. Traversa describes his brushes with danger in the form of lions and snakes, land mines and bandits, his 2-month battle with a syphilitic donkey, malaria and the everyday troubles that arise when walking across Africa.

Underpinned with stories of the great explorers themselves - Livingstone, Stanley and Galton among others - Traversa is written proof of Sandham's grit, determination and sheer obsession with Africa.

'A fresh and hugely amusing perspective... a heartwarming reflection of Africa's people and places' Metro

'A likeable and self-deprecating narrator... I found myself increasingly gripped' Observer

'An honest and hugely amusing account... Sandham's love for Africa is contagious' South African Magazine

'Classical account of one man's struggle to test himself against Nature... Hope we shall hear more of his travels' The Daily Telegraph

'Frank and uplifting, a well-written account' Wanderlust

'This is real old school adventure... Great stuff' Adventure Travel

'Writes with down-to-earth glee of the personalities, hardships, pleasures and idiocy of a solo walk' Longitude Longitude

'Warm and entertaining... It is his enthusiasm for adventure and the variety of human life that makes Traversa so memorable' New Statesman

Fran Sandham was an editor at Rough Guides, and worked as a bookseller and in the voluntary sector before that. He has travelled in over 40 countries. He lives in Brighton and London.