The book blends three themes: - A journey in Africa with the Nile as its focus and including Tanzania, Uganda and Egypt.The author travelled alone over three months and initially followed the route of Burton and Speke along the old slavers' trail from Zanzibar, west to Lake Tanganyika and then rth to Lake Victoria. - The story of Burton and Speke as they searched for the source of the Nile in 1857; the background to their fractious relationship and its tragic conclusion. - Autobiographical clips: Sandhurst - Parachute Regiment - Oxford University - Regimental Service - Retraining as a doctor at Barts - General Practitioner.