Africa by Thumb 1968

In February 1968, Anna and her friend Prue set out to hitchhike from Casablanca to Cairo, 4,500 kms. Without benefit of the Internet, mobile phones, credit cards, ATMs, Lonely Planet guides or digital cameras, they bought a Map of Africa showing the major towns and roads and managed to navigate their way, not only across North Africa but down into East Africa and back up to the Mediterranean, a total of over 24,000 kms, by road, train, and paddle steamer but mostly by thumb.

Taking 9 months these very naïve and foolhardy Australian girls survived and loved the adventure, knowing nothing about the countries they were visiting which had just shaken off colonial shackles and were rarely visited by tourists. The girls had to wear djellabas much of the time to avoid the pokes, prods and provocation of the local men who were completely bewildered by their presence, as was everyone else they met on the way.

They escaped dangerous confrontations on lonely and isolated roads, survived a nasty car accident in Ethiopia, were stranded in the Nubian desert in 50°C and chased by wild elephants in Uganda but despite being vulnerable women in a predominately men’s world, they were also overwhelmed by the kindness and respect shown them by complete strangers who protected and cared for them along the way.