[VAC] Re: Capetown to Cairo in "09"

[Sarah Calhoun <srcalhoun@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

My parents were missionaries in Ethiopia in the early 50s and my father
has a large collection of photographs of fierce-looking warriors who
came to him in their best tribal regalia with their pointiest spears,
wanting to have their photographs taken and to hear his portable wind-up
Victrola.  Even in the 70s when we went back there, out in the
countryside people stopped us wherever we went because they heard we
were back and they wanted to show us their now grown-up children, the
grave of the patriarch, the scar where my mother had sewn up some
terrible wound (giving them either aspirin or sulfa depending on what
kind of malady they had) all those years ago.  Being white made us
curiosities but not necessarily targets of hatred.  I'm sure the 00s
can't be compared to the 50s or the 70s, but in every era there are
events that can be considered threats and events that are just wonderful
cultural sharing.  After all, they told Livingston not to go, too, that
he would be eaten, etc.  On the other hand, Dian Fossey did get murdered
for a political point, and that wasn't state department hype.  Bill is
right that a large caravan of well-off-looking folks with these
marvelous contraptions could be a huge target.  But it probably was in
'59 too, or could have been assumed to be and the trip not taken.  I
don't know if there has been a time in the last 50 years that there
weren't terrible atrocities (as opposed, maybe, to just routine ones?)
being committed, in South Africa and Rhodesia as well as further north. 
I'm sure there are all kinds of good reasons not to consider it, and I
have a feeling also that it could be done, although not without its
uncertainty and even potential for disaster.  I would certainly think it
worthwhile, probably essential, to have experienced guides with good
local contacts, maybe even different sets of them for different places. 
Finding such people would be a way to begin exploring the diplomatic and
geographic/physical feasibilities.  Of course not all travel guides are
created equal, and there will be good and bad apples.  The links Gerald
provided looked interesting; also maybe there is a place to get
reliability information on the various outfits?

--Sarah