Have you ever wondered what Africa was like before satellite phones, GPS navigation, and carefully curated safari experiences? Barry Maughan's remarkable journey from Alexandria to South Africa during the tumultuous late 1960s offers a window into a continent few modern travelers will ever experience.
Barry's adventure began with a chance encounter that would set the tone for his entire expedition. After meeting an Egyptian general, what could have been a casual exchange blossomed into extraordinary access to Cairo during the War of Attrition. This serendipitous connection – having his VW camper transported by train while being guarded by armed soldiers – illustrates the unexpected kindness that defined his journey through Africa.
What makes this story truly exceptional is the historical context. Barry traveled through countries experiencing the early days of independence, navigated borders during the rise of dictators like Idi Amin and Muammar Gaddafi, and witnessed a continent in transition. Without electronic tethers – no phones, no GPS, not even reliable maps – Barry and his family relied on ingenuity, observation, and the goodwill of strangers. When their son Kevin was born in Ethiopia, this blue-eyed, towheaded child became what Barry calls their "goodwill ambassador," opening doors to experiences and connections that might otherwise have remained closed.
Throughout our conversation, Barry returns to a fundamental truth discovered on dusty roads and in remote villages: behind cultural differences and diverse circumstances, people share universal desires – safety for their families, enough food on the table, and minimal government interference in their lives. The Africans they met consistently offered help without expectation of payment, whether pushing their vehicle from mud, guiding them across rivers, or simply sharing what little food they had.
Barry's book "Beneath the African Sun" captures these experiences not for commercial success but to preserve a legacy of adventure and human connection for future generations. At 84, his definition of adventure remains powerful: "searching for the heretofore unknown" and "not being afraid of what's around the next bend." His journey reminds us that the most meaningful adventures aren't about conquering places but connecting with them – a lesson as relevant today as it was fifty years ago.
Check out Barry's website www.barrymaughan.com to learn more about Barry and get a copy of his book, "Beneath the African Sun."

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