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Sam Mancom’s first travel book Into Africa takes you riding an enlightening, yet daunting journey across fourteen countries between Cairo to Cape Town. It’s completely upfront with the adventures, mishaps, dust, heat and the thrills of overlanding. You’ll find that Sam’s perceptions of people, places and the various predicaments have real depth and texture. Whether he’s being shot at, arrested, jailed, knocked unconscious in the depths of the Namibian desert or living in a remote Tanzanian village, you’ll find that he evokes the sights, sounds and smells with a natural ease that takes you right into each scene.

340 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2008

41 people are currently reading
202 people want to read

About the author

Sam Manicom

13 books30 followers
Sam Manicom, overlander, traveller and author of 4 motorcycle books, was born in the Congo in Central West Africa where his parents worked. His family returned to the UK when he was 10 and he has been travelling for much of his life.
His first solo trip was age 16 by bicycle into Europe. Many backpacking, hiking, cycling and hitch hiking journeys later, and back in the UK but wanting to do something completely different, Sam learned to ride a motorcycle. Within 3 months of starting to ride, he set off to travel the length of Africa. This 1-year trip turned into an 8-year, 200,000 mile, around the world motorcycle adventure across 55 countries.
Sam’s 4 'Every Day an Adventure' series books take the reader travelling through the different sections of the eight-year journey. Africa – ‘Into Africa’, Asia and the Middle East – ‘Under Asian Skies’, Southern Africa and South America – ‘Distant Suns’, and North America – ‘Tortillas to Totems’.
His 5th book, released in February 2022, is called ‘The Moment Collectors’. An anthology of 20 authors original work compiled and published with the subtitle ‘Twenty Travellers’ Tales from Around the World.’
Sam now works full time in the world of adventure travel. He’s a keen advocate of motorcycle travel in particular and when not writing his books, magazine articles and conducting multimedia travel presentations within Europe and the USA, he’s very much involved with travel related organisations. Sam is a co-host for Adventure Rider Radio RAW.
In 2017 he was awarded the Overland Magazine ‘Spirit of Adventure’ Award for his contribution to Overlanding.
When he isn’t writing or presenting, Sam and his partner Birgit are usually off riding somewhere.
Find out more about Sam and his travels via his website www.Sam-Manicom.com ‘Every Day an Adventure’
And the first Adventure Bike TV ‘Under the Visor’ interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bToV6...
Catch up with Sam on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

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5 stars
148 (48%)
4 stars
115 (37%)
3 stars
36 (11%)
2 stars
5 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
3 reviews
January 10, 2020
Just finished reading Sam’s first book and OMG! WOW, what a read!
Couldn’t put it down and was even nearly late to work a couple of times because I just wanted to read one more page!

I was fortunate enough to meet Sam in person at the ABR Rally last year (At Ragley Hall, well worth going to). Sam and his trusty steed were there and he had a display of books. I couldn’t figure out why i had never heard of him, 4 books and 200,000 miles over eight years! You don’t get to post stats like that without having some stories to tell!

Sam was a really down to earth unassuming guy and ever so friendly to talk with, until I’d finished reading into Africa I hadn’t realised just what a legend I was privileged to be talking to one on one, the more I read of his first book the more I felt humbled by this man’s sprit of adventure, honesty and humility in the face off adversity.

WOW has he had some adventures!!!!

Cannot recommend this book highly enough and have already since ordered all of his other books and started reading his second book! Whether seeking inspiration for adventures of your own or wishing to live vicariously through the eyes of another adventurer, Sam’s books are a must for you and/or for a loved one.

What a legendary adventurer in a modern world!
An inspirational story of courage and adventure, scrapes, scuffles and celebrations!

Buy this book, you won’t regret it!
1 review2 followers
November 19, 2013
Sam is an incredible story-teller. I am not generally into "travel books," but Into Africa was a real page turner.

What really comes out in this book is Sam's love of travel and meeting new and interesting people, and the way he tells it makes like you are there with him.

If you are into motorcycles I cannot recommend this book enough, and you know what I'll recommend it to you even if you aren't into motorcycles.
Profile Image for Pascal Leclerc.
Author 1 book2 followers
September 15, 2012
This is Sam Manicom's first episode of a series of four books (so far). It's a rough ride so expect tough stories and, thanks to Sam's excellent descriptions, don't be surprised if you find yourself sweaty a little because, for as long as it takes you to read his pages, you will be in Africa for real and... it's hot!
Profile Image for Erik Beyer.
35 reviews
August 16, 2014
What an amazing journey, to travel Africa on a motorbike. Sam encountered some challenging times, met some great people, and accomplished a huge goal. This was a wonderful book to listen to as the story was painted well in my mind the whole time.

Recommended to those looking to journey vicariously through the author's experience.
Profile Image for Lara.
7 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2012
Loved this book. Wonderfully written and every story more interesting than the last. Made me want to do the same journey!
Profile Image for Michelle Lamphere.
Author 4 books2 followers
October 13, 2012
Good read - adventure travel written by a rookie on the road. Enjoyed it loads!
Profile Image for Randy Smith.
649 reviews22 followers
August 8, 2014
This is a great book but it does not encourage me to ride through Africa anytime soon. Maybe I just love my creature comforts too much. :-)
Profile Image for Luke Southard.
455 reviews5 followers
March 12, 2022
I watched this one guy’s motorcycle travel video where he takes off from the US, rides down to something like Panama, turns around and rides back. He was expecting this life-changing trip and was disappointed by the whole thing because he didn’t meet anyone interesting, didn’t really see anything interesting, and suffered from loneliness.

But it had to happen. The guy didn’t try to learn any languages, rode as fast as he could, didn’t try to communicate with anyone outside the required people like motel owners, gas station attendants, and chasers for food and supplies. The guy spent something like two months doing the world’s longest out-and-back and got absolutely nothing out of it.

That’s just not the way to travel on a bike and he definitely should have read this book.

Manicom rides from Europe to the bottom of Africa (covered in this book), and then takes a boat to Australia to carry on with his adventure. He sold basically everything he had and went on a crazy adventure. He lived as cheap as possible and took odd jobs to refill his travel funds, he spent time in cities and villages, made friends with locals, other travelers, and bikers. He had adventures. He took a guy’s leg off in his travels because the guy saw him coming down a road and INEXPLICABLY walks out and gets wrapped up in the bike.

And then, another time, he rode himself into a deep hole that could have killed him. A couple had lucked upon him and got him to a hospital where he was transferred to other, more capable hospitals, and he was unconscious for days. When he came to, he saw a nurse that was about to give him a shot having a casual chat with another nurse while her hand was resting on a pile of bloody bandages (not his) in a place in the world where AIDS is bananas prevalent. So he had to wait the incubation period and then get tested for AIDS (negative).

But as much as you would expect these kinds of stories from riding through country after country in a continent that is largely ignored by other first-world nations, it’s the quieter moments that make the book such a success in my eyes.

He comes across a boy, for instance, that has a strange accent - like he was taught English by Norwegians - and the kid says that nobody has ever visited his village. The author figures “why not?” And tracks it down. He comes across a village with sexual demarcations, a kitchen chair for the ranking member, and a lifestyle where they provide everything for themselves with the exception of medicine (obviously), which they sell Knick-knacks at the roadside miles away.

It’s that kind of stuff - the seeking of other cultures in order to broaden your own horizons and understanding - that I love about this book. He wasn’t setting out to prove a point or to document the motorcycle aspect of it too much (the bike is only pointed out when it becomes an issue mechanically or in some other way like at a country’s border or during an inspection) and it’s more about observing different facets of humanity.

I like it.
Profile Image for Tiger Coward.
61 reviews4 followers
December 3, 2023
If you have not read Sam Manicom's work, then I suggest that you do. I would start with Into Africa and then read all the rest. Actually, that is what I did.

Into Africa is one of the best books that you'll ever buy. I loved it, and here are the top five reasons why:

1. Escapism, have you ever wanted to say, F*** it and pack it all in, and then just travel the world with by yourself? Just you and your motorcycle. That's what this book is all about. Sam did it!

2. Intrigue, how about being in jail in a foreign and unforgiving land, all by yourself, hoping for the goodwill of strangers? That is terrifying and happens in this book, too.

3. Personal discovery, x 3! As Sam discovers himself, you discover Sam, and in turn, you will discover something about yourself. At least, I did!

4. Adventure, this is an adventure book, after all. Traveling through Africa brings adventure through cultural differences, geographic discoveries, and the inevitable bureaucritic adventures. Sam brilliantly handles these adventures and expertly describes them for the reader.

5. Motorcycles, of course, this is also a motorcycle travel book that comes with wonderful experiences, mechanical challenges, and an absolutely shocking event that will make you gasp.

This book has it all, and if you don't buy it for yourself, ask Santa to bring it for you!
5 reviews
November 13, 2021
Into Africa by Sam Manicom
Sam Manicom travels from Europe to Africa.
An inexperienced motorcyclist, with the ambition to get through Africa in the 1990s with his BMW motorcycle.
Sam describes himself as an ordinary man who had the opportunity to make this journey and is very aware that not everyone has it.
It's something that strikes a chord in me.
How many travel stories have not been read where the author puts himself in the first place.
Where the roads, the meetings, the cities, the villages, just become a background of bright monochrome wallpapers that should emphasize the traveler's shimmering performance.
Sam Manicom does the opposite, he keeps his person in the background, but lets you see the details with him, the villages, the roads, the cities, and most importantly, the human encounters.
How he visits an African village off the beaten track and stays there for a week.
How will such a meeting be?
Human, warm and fun!
Laughter does not seem to be far away in Africa.
Sam ́s 35,000 km Africa trip is not an easy trip, a lot happens, and not everything is safe. It is an exciting book, with presence and details that make it difficult to put down ..
If you want to get a sense of 90s Africa from a road traveler's point of view, read "Into Africa"
1 review
March 8, 2021
I don't usually read books, for a starter.
But as I started in 'Into Africa' I was compelled to read further and further.
Sam is a top-level storyteller, and he can really write!

He mixes descriptions of his journey with reflections on what it does to him, how it changes him. And how he gained a truly experiences-based view of the people he met underway.
He transforms from the shopmanager on Jersey to an experienced traveller, with an open mind to what comes to him. Discovering the universal human quality and what binds us all together, regardless of background or culture.
As a former motor traveller and anthropologist myself, I highly recommend this book for people who like to broaden their view of Africa, of the world maybe.
Sam gives his genuine own view here, and takes you along with his journey, which is transformative for him too.

In more than one respect a valuable book, and it sparked my love of reading again.
Reading a book can really make a change to a reader :-)
Maybe I pick up travelling again in the future.... In the mean time Sam's books must do.
14 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2021
Along For The Ride

I first learned of this book after hearing a podcast called Adventure Rider Radio RAW . After hearing Sam (the author) talk about this book I knew I had to read it. I am an adventure bike rider and love to read and hear stories of other riders. I give this book 5 stars because of the way the author draws you into the adventure. You can experience the smells, sights, sounds, weather and local life of Africa through this this book. I appreciate that he writes about the trials as well as the awesome moments. This is the wag Africa is meant to be experienced. Great read!!
1 review1 follower
September 29, 2021
Going a great adventure and being able to tell a story of great adventure are two completely different things. I have bought a couple books written by people who have gone on great adventures but at some point stopped. They have been some of the most boring reads ever.
That is definitely not the case when it comes to Sam Manicom and his book ‘Into Africa’. He is a fantastic storyteller and managed to tell both, his personal journey story and African Continent story in an entertaining, thought provoking, full of discovery way. I could not recommend his book enough!
Profile Image for ArrowBreaker.
295 reviews
January 24, 2024
I hope to one day take a trip like this so I’ve sought out reading material from other authors who’ve taken trips like this (Ted Simon, Lois Pryce, Elspeth Beard, Ewan McGregor/Charley Boorman to name a few).

This book is an absolute gem and rises above them all! I love Sam’s writing style. He does a great job showing the reader his experiences, the good, the bad, and the ugly, all through Africa. I bought his next book Under Asian Skies and I’m really looking forward to continuing the journey with him (albeit 22 years later).

Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us, Sam!
Profile Image for Matt.
80 reviews
November 4, 2017
As a legend in the international motorcycling overland community I’ve been aware of Sam’s activities and writing for years. Finally got around to reading his first book after seeing him talk at Overland Event near Oxford earlier this year, and spending a few hour chatting with him. He’s as lovely and interesting a person face to face as he comes across in this book.

And he always has that hat, a smile, designer stubble, pouch pocketbook and Libby nearby. Fact. :)
2 reviews
June 5, 2021
Second time around

Having just read this book for the second time I found it struck some different notes for me. Maybe because I've had the chance to do some touring myself though in Europe. I wish I could write descriptions of events, people and places with the feeling Sam clearly has for them. It's a real skill being able to do that and the reader can connect with the adventures so much better. Loved it.
Profile Image for Tim Notier.
Author 10 books7 followers
December 9, 2017
This was a very inspiring and very well written book! I originally purchased it in paperback, but was only able to get 3/4 of the way through it before I left on my own motorcycle journey. I purchased it as an EBook as well so I could finish the wonderful tale.
So good, it was worth buying twice.
Buy the book, and then buy a motorcycle and travel the world with a smile.
6 reviews
January 9, 2024
Excellent read with vivid details of an adventurous journey. The spirit of Africa comes alive in his telling of the trials and tribulations he faced on his trip. The beautiful people he met and the encounters he had along the way make me want to return. Not sure I’m ready to ride a motorcycle across Africa, but it’s about so much more than that.
155 reviews
January 30, 2024
Interesting account of one man's motorcycle trip across the continent. He shares his best and worst moments, without sugar coating things. He even shares the small special moments that reminded me of when I shared laughter during my travels with others who don't share a language with me. This book is a great way to scratch your travel itch.
Profile Image for Heather.
981 reviews3 followers
November 8, 2017
This guy is crazy!!! He must be a cat with nine lives because he should be dead. His vivid story telling made me reaffirm my belief that I never need to go to Africa. Yep, not on the bucket list, ever!
Profile Image for Paul.
39 reviews
December 3, 2018
This was a wonderful read, Sam really transports you to Africa, the book was an absolute pleasure to read. A lovely writing style, he has a knack at keeping you engaged, I really had difficulty putting the book down! I am really looking forward to the next one in the series, Under Asian Skies.
Profile Image for Aaron Richardet.
8 reviews
March 8, 2020
Good read, I think the author was learning the art of writing through this book, it was a good book, but starting his next book and hope it’s even better
6 reviews
May 27, 2023
Cracking read with all the nitty gritty, down to earth factuality thrown in..have to think twice after reading this about riding through similar countries..
Profile Image for Gina (My Precious Blog).
475 reviews23 followers
November 10, 2019
#bookstagram
Finished: April 25, 2019

Scot started listening to audiobooks when Portland traffic turned ridiculous a couple years back. His commute is painfully long, especially in the evening. Audiobooks keep him somewhat sane as he's stuck in stop and go traffic for usually an hour drive. Five days a week, he listens. So, when he finally get home, who do think he wants to share his great books with? Yep, me (and our reading tastes are completely opposite). He begged me to listen to this one for a long time. I finally caved. Its about a man traveling through Africa, on a motorcycle. I'm not disappointed I gave it a listen. Couldn't believe all the crazy adventures this man had riding his bike. One of his craziest predicaments was landing himself in jail. I listened to this on audible.com and was easily absorbed in his story. The only problem is, now Scot wants me to do a ride like this with him? Uh, no!

Final Rating: ****
Profile Image for Nigel.
71 reviews
September 8, 2012
I don't why this took me so long to finish. It is interesting and descriptive of the various countries and people the author met. But it failed to hold my attention for even medium periods of time. I would read and enjoy 10 pages but then leave the book for a week or two. The author had his fair share of problems but still it wasn't enough to grip me. I recommend it to motorbike travellers but don't rush to read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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