Reddit reviews Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown

That said, there are a lot of NGOs that are wasteful and self-indulging rather than really wanting to help. Paul Theroux does a lot of anecdotal ranting about them in Dark Star Safari, and it's a topic that guys like Beat Richner who does amazing work trying to get first-class healthcare to poor areas in Cambodia rails about really angrily whenever he gets a chance.

Paul Theroux wrote about his Cairo to Cape Town adventure in Dark Star Safari.

It's an excellent read. I would highly recommend it.

According to the book, the trip was difficult and at times extremely dangerous. He mentions being stuck in Egypt for quite some time (several months, I think) because he wasn't able to get the necessary paperwork to enter Sudan. Nowadays, with the state of Sudan, it might very well be worse.

Theroux mentioned specifically the difficulty of crossing the border of Ethiopia and Kenya, reporting that his vehicle had been shot at from close range. Somewhere later in the book, after a series of near death experiences in Matatus, dalla-dallas, and other forms of public transport, he swore them off.

I have deep respect for Theroux, who spend a great deal of time in Sub-Saharan Africa working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi, then teaching at Makerere University in Kampala. So I understand that his concerns don't just stem from the normal white-tourist-goes-to-Africa reaction. This isn't his first rodeo and when he says things are bad, they probably are.

That having been said, I do know people who have traveled throughout Africa, including a guy who biked around West and Central Africa. Most of the continent is safe, as long as you avoid trouble areas. People will definitely let you know if the place you are going to is dangerous. There are obvious areas that you should probably avoid unless you are running around with a UN escort (Southern Sudan, Eastern Somalia, Eastern DRC, Northern Nigeria, a few others). Also, I have no idea what state Egypt and other North Africa countries are in right now as far as travel is concerned.

Here are some resources that might help:

Irish guy bicycling around Africa

I have a journalist friend who traveled around West Africa. She had a blog called Inkslinging in Africa, but I can't seem to find it now. She is writing a book about her adventures, so maybe that's why. Hmm

Here's a blog from some Polish folks who drove from Poland to Cape Town. They have a blog in polish, but Google will translate it into readable english.

A quick google search on traveling through africa seemed to net a mix of useful tips and Africa overland tour packages. Oh well.

Good luck!

Well said. For more info, check out 'Dark Star Safari', which is a great read about travelling overland from Cairo to Cape Town. It has numerous stories about how foreign aid has proven ineffective for decades:

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Star-Safari-Overland-Capetown/dp/0618446877

Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux. A fantastic read.
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Star-Safari-Overland-Capetown/dp/0618446877

Dark Star Safari, A travelogue I was unable to put down.

> We have spoken to the heads of several large charitable organizations that are doing more for the world than your cynical mind could ever fathom.

Exactly my point. Have you talked to anyone that lives in Kenya? How about South Africa? Morocco? People in charities need charitable contributions so they can maintain their jobs. That's like asking George Bush or Obama if Government is necessary: of course they're going to say yes.

> We have heard stories, first hand from people who would not be alive today if it weren't for organizations and the good people who work for them.

Have you stopped to ask why they're starving over there? I'll give you a hint: it's because of terrible governments, brutal dictators, civil wars (due to government), and charities that make their situation worse.

Also, what you haven't heard about is the millions of people that die from starvation because donated food put them out of business. That's what I mean when I say unintended consequences. You're only looking at one side of the coin. Have you ever heard of the broken-window fallacy?

> You care about manipulating economies toward future financial improvements.

I care about the government stopping the manipulation so that VOLUNTARY economies can flourish. It's call the Free Market.

> We care about giving water to a thirsty child.

I care about teaching that child skills so that she can get a job and quench her own thirst.

> and for you to say that giving medical aid to the sick is wrong, or that advocating for justice for a young girl living in sexual slavery is wrong - or that anything we will be doing is wrong - just because some professor wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal whining about the money that is given not working fast enough?

You can't just cherry-pick which sources you respond to. Taken collectively, there's overwhelming support for most charities to stop donating money.

> I dropped out of college because I was tired of hearing people like that professor and you hiding behind statistics when I can see with my own two eyes what is really going on. You keep feeding people lies. We will work to spread the truth.

You can start spreading the truth by acknowledging that paternalistic/maternalistic is the worst kind there is. Again, I've agreed with you that Short, Specific, and Goal Oriented charity is Preferable. If you agree with that, then that's great!

Here's another book you should check out: Dark Star Safari.

Lastly, stop taking everything so personally. I'm just trying to inform you about which types of charities are more beneficial than others, the problem with unintended consequences, the economics of aid, etc.

I didn't really want to argue about this, and again I apologize if I came off too negative. But if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Before I leave, here's a few final videos that I think are important to watch: Here's an excellent video series by Milton Friedman. Here's a video by John Stossel about having the 'Freedom to Prosper.' Another video about Freed Trade and the Poor. [Taking care of the Poor in a Free Society.] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azDiUln3WU4) Here's another good one.

If you want to start changing the world, start be abolishing governments. That's a charitable message I can get behind.