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Two Against the Sahara: On Camelback from Nouakchott to the Nile
Asher's articulate recounting of his trip of 256 days across the width of the southern Sahara. Color and b&w photos. A great adventure. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
301 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
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134 people want to read
About the author
Michael Asher
56 books63 followersMichael Asher is an author, historian, deep ecologist, and notable desert explorer who has covered more than 30,000 miles on foot and camel. He spent three years living with a traditional nomadic tribe in Sudan.
Michael Asher was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in 1953, and attended Stamford School. At 18 he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, and saw active service in Northern Ireland during The Troubles there in the 1970s.
He studied English Language & Linguistics at the University of Leeds. at the same time serving in B Squadron, 23rd SAS Regiment. He also studied at Carnegie College, Leeds, where he qualified as a teacher of physical education and English.
In 1978-9, he worked for the RUC Special Patrol Group anti-terrorist patrols, but left after less than a year. He took a job as a volunteer English teacher in the Sudan in 1979.
The author of twenty-one published books, and presenter/director of six TV documentaries, Asher has lived in Africa for much of his life, and speaks Arabic and Swahili. He is married to Arabist and photographer Mariantonietta Peru, with whom he has a son and a daughter, Burton and Jade. He currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya.
Michael Asher was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in 1953, and attended Stamford School. At 18 he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, and saw active service in Northern Ireland during The Troubles there in the 1970s.
He studied English Language & Linguistics at the University of Leeds. at the same time serving in B Squadron, 23rd SAS Regiment. He also studied at Carnegie College, Leeds, where he qualified as a teacher of physical education and English.
In 1978-9, he worked for the RUC Special Patrol Group anti-terrorist patrols, but left after less than a year. He took a job as a volunteer English teacher in the Sudan in 1979.
The author of twenty-one published books, and presenter/director of six TV documentaries, Asher has lived in Africa for much of his life, and speaks Arabic and Swahili. He is married to Arabist and photographer Mariantonietta Peru, with whom he has a son and a daughter, Burton and Jade. He currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 5, 2017
Documenting the nine month journey in 1986/87 of Michael Asher, and his wife Marinetta, who at the time of departure has been married for 5 days. The journey commenced in Mauritania, carrying on into Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan and finishing in Egypt. Changing camels a few times, and running through around ten guides before becoming frustrated and carrying out a few stretches alone.
They became the first Europeans to cross Africa at it's widest point, travelling through the Sahara. It is worth pointing out that in Sudan live a surprising number of Mauritanian Muslims who have made a similar journey, but carried on to Mecca, and returned to Sudan to settle - presumably because in weighing up the return trip across the Sahara they decided Sudan was a good place to stay.
A well written, captivating book. This took place after Geoffrey Moorhouse's expedition along a similar route (although he did not complete it) and before Paula Constant made her journey (which ended in Niger).
They became the first Europeans to cross Africa at it's widest point, travelling through the Sahara. It is worth pointing out that in Sudan live a surprising number of Mauritanian Muslims who have made a similar journey, but carried on to Mecca, and returned to Sudan to settle - presumably because in weighing up the return trip across the Sahara they decided Sudan was a good place to stay.
A well written, captivating book. This took place after Geoffrey Moorhouse's expedition along a similar route (although he did not complete it) and before Paula Constant made her journey (which ended in Niger).
August 14, 2012
Two Against the Sahara, by Michael Asher.
Due to having lived on the Sahara Desert as a child, I find reading accounts of folks trekking the Sahara very interesting.
Only married 5 days, Tom and his new wife, Mariantonietta, begin not only a new journey of marriage, but the journey of a lifetime, that few will ever experience, to cross the Sahara Desert from west to east. Passing through many obstacles, man-made and nature-made, crossing on camels, the drifting sands come and go, as do various guides and government regulations. Some of the tales told by Michael are frightening, some life threatening, some humorous, but put altogether they make a strong statement for the inner strength one finds when faced with insurmountable odds, and the joy one feels with accomplishment. One can taste the sand, feel the heat, savor the cool of the shade, this was a great journey.
Due to having lived on the Sahara Desert as a child, I find reading accounts of folks trekking the Sahara very interesting.
Only married 5 days, Tom and his new wife, Mariantonietta, begin not only a new journey of marriage, but the journey of a lifetime, that few will ever experience, to cross the Sahara Desert from west to east. Passing through many obstacles, man-made and nature-made, crossing on camels, the drifting sands come and go, as do various guides and government regulations. Some of the tales told by Michael are frightening, some life threatening, some humorous, but put altogether they make a strong statement for the inner strength one finds when faced with insurmountable odds, and the joy one feels with accomplishment. One can taste the sand, feel the heat, savor the cool of the shade, this was a great journey.
March 25, 2018
A 9 month camel trek across the Sahara by a newly married couple. 1986 and it's a long trek and there is plenty of nothing. So the author has to squeeze every event out to fill in his book. There is lots about trying to find guides, trying to find privacy for sex, thirst, heat, the wind, occasional storm and most happily of the friendliness of the people who live in this remote and harsh world.
May 18, 2020
From my pandemic pile, which was previously my "If I get snowed in" stack of books, comes this wonderful book about a newly-married couple traveling the Sahara desert on a route from west to east on CAMEL. This had so many different levels. The trek itself which was daunting and at times downright dangerous to the funny moments with the native guides they hired. Honestly, the guides were a story in itself and left me laughing at their ploys for attention and quirks of character.
I try for a balance between fiction and non-fiction and love true adventure stories which is the basis of this book. The author dreamt for years of completing this trek and found a willing and very able partner in Marinette, his new wife. They began this trek only 5 days after they wed. Not only did she have to adjust to the demands of their daily tasks, camel wrangling, cooking over an open fire in a single pot in a constant wind, being constantly watched by their male guides, but also to her new mate and the struggles of newly-wed intimacy. Her level head and indomitable endurance amazed me. I forgave her every one of her tirades. The other thing that endeared me was her height of 5' 2" as I am very short myself. I could so relate to her struggles with tasks that someone with just several more inches could have performed with ease. But she never shirked her duties and walked those many miles which required many more footsteps when your stride is half of others. Her photographs were wonderful and helped me to enjoy the book even more.
Michael Asher's writing is very beautiful. His descriptions of the desert show his love of the Sahara and his ability to transfer that to a phrase that enables you to see the beauty that he is describing.
This trek took place in 1986 after years of drought in the Sahara that left little vegetation or trees that provide shade and fruit. Missing a water well could spell death, and they had some troubles with finding those wells. Most of the indigenous people of the desert have been forced to relocate to survive. The tourist industry has shifted to the airplane dropping you off for a look-see and a token camel ride then whisking you off to the cities.
I try for a balance between fiction and non-fiction and love true adventure stories which is the basis of this book. The author dreamt for years of completing this trek and found a willing and very able partner in Marinette, his new wife. They began this trek only 5 days after they wed. Not only did she have to adjust to the demands of their daily tasks, camel wrangling, cooking over an open fire in a single pot in a constant wind, being constantly watched by their male guides, but also to her new mate and the struggles of newly-wed intimacy. Her level head and indomitable endurance amazed me. I forgave her every one of her tirades. The other thing that endeared me was her height of 5' 2" as I am very short myself. I could so relate to her struggles with tasks that someone with just several more inches could have performed with ease. But she never shirked her duties and walked those many miles which required many more footsteps when your stride is half of others. Her photographs were wonderful and helped me to enjoy the book even more.
Michael Asher's writing is very beautiful. His descriptions of the desert show his love of the Sahara and his ability to transfer that to a phrase that enables you to see the beauty that he is describing.
This trek took place in 1986 after years of drought in the Sahara that left little vegetation or trees that provide shade and fruit. Missing a water well could spell death, and they had some troubles with finding those wells. Most of the indigenous people of the desert have been forced to relocate to survive. The tourist industry has shifted to the airplane dropping you off for a look-see and a token camel ride then whisking you off to the cities.
February 12, 2021
Amazing
Hard to imagine the willingness to do such a difficult thing
This book takes you into another unforgettable and for most of us, unattainable world. One wonders how these two will ever live an ordinary life after this.
Hard to imagine the willingness to do such a difficult thing
This book takes you into another unforgettable and for most of us, unattainable world. One wonders how these two will ever live an ordinary life after this.
December 8, 2018
The authur and his wife of 5 days travel west to east across the Sahara desert in nine months. Fascinating story and gives me a feel for the desert and it's people.
December 17, 2012
I read this book over a decade ago, simply because I'm a name ferret. And sometimes the attempt to discover what a name really means will take you down an unexpected track.
I had read Firebird and was surprised but nonetheless delighted when, towards the end, it morphed from thriller to science fantasy. I had read Firebird for the simple reason I wanted to see if there was a relationship between the name Asher and a phoenix. After all, Asher as a Hebrew name means happy but, as a surname, it probably wasn't Jewish in origin. It had just enough possibilities and vague resonances to make Firebird worth checking out.
Ok, there was lots there in symbolism - and it was very self-consistent - but none of it was what I'd expected.
I then went on to Eye of Ra and that self-consistent symbolism deepened - but the odd thing was that it wasn't the eponymous Ra. Moving on to Rare Earth, I congratulated myself the moment I saw the cover: here, at last, was the symbol I'd felt was lurking in the background all along: Hammon or Amon.
But the more I dug at the name Asher the less I felt it should be associated with Hammon. So I ordered Impossible Journey in my quest to uncover the reason for this apparent anomaly (if it is such.)
It's the autobiographical story of the first crossing of the Sahara from west to east. Michael Asher is newly married and he takes his bride on the ultimate adventure: a trek across the Sahara. By camel. Even the locals thought he was mad: they use trucks these days. His marriage was strained to breaking point but it's hard to divorce out in the middle of nowhere when you're entirely dependent on each other to survive.
The three things I remember most about the book after a decade:
(1) The incredulity of the Bedouins each time he tried to locate camels for the next leg of the trip
(2) The sound of the ghouls, and
(3) something that doesn't come from the book: that, perhaps, just perhaps, there's a remote possibility that the name Asher is in some mysterious way connected to Ain Hamul, meaning of Hammon, a place once found in the territory of the tribe of Asher.
I had read Firebird and was surprised but nonetheless delighted when, towards the end, it morphed from thriller to science fantasy. I had read Firebird for the simple reason I wanted to see if there was a relationship between the name Asher and a phoenix. After all, Asher as a Hebrew name means happy but, as a surname, it probably wasn't Jewish in origin. It had just enough possibilities and vague resonances to make Firebird worth checking out.
Ok, there was lots there in symbolism - and it was very self-consistent - but none of it was what I'd expected.
I then went on to Eye of Ra and that self-consistent symbolism deepened - but the odd thing was that it wasn't the eponymous Ra. Moving on to Rare Earth, I congratulated myself the moment I saw the cover: here, at last, was the symbol I'd felt was lurking in the background all along: Hammon or Amon.
But the more I dug at the name Asher the less I felt it should be associated with Hammon. So I ordered Impossible Journey in my quest to uncover the reason for this apparent anomaly (if it is such.)
It's the autobiographical story of the first crossing of the Sahara from west to east. Michael Asher is newly married and he takes his bride on the ultimate adventure: a trek across the Sahara. By camel. Even the locals thought he was mad: they use trucks these days. His marriage was strained to breaking point but it's hard to divorce out in the middle of nowhere when you're entirely dependent on each other to survive.
The three things I remember most about the book after a decade:
(1) The incredulity of the Bedouins each time he tried to locate camels for the next leg of the trip
(2) The sound of the ghouls, and
(3) something that doesn't come from the book: that, perhaps, just perhaps, there's a remote possibility that the name Asher is in some mysterious way connected to Ain Hamul, meaning of Hammon, a place once found in the territory of the tribe of Asher.
July 6, 2015
Would have given four stars, except that the ebook edition doesn't have any pictures. Truly an epic trek, and the author's occasional literary flights are all the more effective for being embedded in a rather surly narrative (evocative of the camels he and his decidedly mercurial wife rode?) and casual references to blasting heat, burning cold, scummy but precious water, a camel ossuary found in a rocky defile and like local color. I skipped the passages about his developing marriage, and enjoyed the travelogue with the help of Google Maps.
Memorable lines:
"Nothing is impossible. Only, some things are difficult."
"They even fed their daughters a special diet of milk and peanuts so that they would grow up desirably colossal."
"We should be like gazelles," Mafoudh said. "They drink only on Fridays."
Memorable lines:
"Nothing is impossible. Only, some things are difficult."
"They even fed their daughters a special diet of milk and peanuts so that they would grow up desirably colossal."
"We should be like gazelles," Mafoudh said. "They drink only on Fridays."
April 27, 2012
Read long ago, but I recall this as a great story. I do see I marked it up a bunch, and have to say I love this excerpt from Asher as one of the all time great descriptions of the love between a couple, especially a couple facing great danger and adventure together:
---
The man told us, "From here to Wadi Howar you won't see anyone. No one at all. No one will know if you live or die out there."
Those words stayed with me all day as we moved across the featureless sand hills, following the compass. No one would know if we lived or died. No one. There was no one here but Marinetta and me, and we hardly counted as separate people any more.
---(pg 258)---
---
The man told us, "From here to Wadi Howar you won't see anyone. No one at all. No one will know if you live or die out there."
Those words stayed with me all day as we moved across the featureless sand hills, following the compass. No one would know if we lived or died. No one. There was no one here but Marinetta and me, and we hardly counted as separate people any more.
---(pg 258)---
January 17, 2013
Talk about a honeymoon to remember! Immediately following their marriage in London, Michael Asher and his wife Marianetta flew to Mauritania to set out on the first west-east crossing of the Sahara by camel.
It was an unbroken journey of nine months and 4500 miles, and the first recorded crossing of the Sahara from west to east by non-mechanical means. Newswire service Reuters referred to it as “the last great journey man had still to make.”
The trip also made for epic travel writing, by a writer who had worked and lived with nomads for years, and who knows a thing or two about camels. Be careful when you crack this one open—you won’t be able to put it down.
It was an unbroken journey of nine months and 4500 miles, and the first recorded crossing of the Sahara from west to east by non-mechanical means. Newswire service Reuters referred to it as “the last great journey man had still to make.”
The trip also made for epic travel writing, by a writer who had worked and lived with nomads for years, and who knows a thing or two about camels. Be careful when you crack this one open—you won’t be able to put it down.
April 27, 2023
I read their story years ago, when it appeared as a condensed version in Reader's Digest magazine.
Few weeks ago came across an old copy on Amazon, and since then this has been my companion in the days of lockdown.
What an amazingly written book..the journey is tedious and hard and long and tests each ounce of the Maik & Marinetta's perseverance. It's a testimony of human grit, of survival in a primitive desert, which is also laced with war and poverty.
Sahara came alive.
Few weeks ago came across an old copy on Amazon, and since then this has been my companion in the days of lockdown.
What an amazingly written book..the journey is tedious and hard and long and tests each ounce of the Maik & Marinetta's perseverance. It's a testimony of human grit, of survival in a primitive desert, which is also laced with war and poverty.
Sahara came alive.
April 3, 2016
The 1980s hardcover has very striking colour plates, photographs by Asher's wife Marionetta. The 1980s seems a much happier time in the Arab World; not sure Western travellers could happily make this journey today.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews