Ulendo

Ulendo means journey in Chinyanja, a language spoken in Nyasaland (Malawi since 1964). The author made multiple trips to Nyasaland over a period of years, and this book collects some of the stories from those trips.

Archie Carr is a biologist, and his writing, while travel oriented is more focused on biology. It doesn't seem to matter what size - from midges to elephants - Carr is interested in them; interested in sharing his knowledge & research; nosing into others knowledge; and not shy of a bit of speculation.

Each chapter is another area of Malawi, or another animal or another trip. This is not overly academic and is fairly easy reading, but is in-depth. Focus is maintained, but there are diversions and side-stories to fill it out. Side-stories do involve nearby Mozambique and South Africa from time to time, with very short diversions to Kenya and Ghana... as well as Florida, as noted below.

Lions; elephants; snails; mosquitoes; monitor lizards; the Lake Nyasa kungu fly (Corethra) - a type of swarming midge; cichlid fishes in Lake Nyasa; the python experience(!); a plethora of birds.

The last two chapters Carr spent a lot of time talking about Florida, which detracted from the original narrative for me, confusing things. It would have rounded things off better for me had he stayed with the African theme.

For me the book was at its best in the more personal chapters, where Carr is describing his own travel experiences and discussing the animals he comes in contact with. When he narrative become wider, and he starts describing similarities (or differences) in a larger context it didn't keep my attention the same way. The last 50 -60 pages were a slog for me, and as such my rating lost a star.

It almost picks up another star for the cover, which is a great piece of artwork and graphic arrangement.

3 stars.