In 1868 Queen Victoria’s government mounted an extraordinary bid to rescue a dozen European hostages in the Ethiopian highlands.

They built a Red Sea port, then a railway and  imported 44 Indian elephants,  commissioning 26,000 local people to serve the soldiers and carry their heavy guns into the heart of Africa. John has followed their route, comparing Eritrea and Ethiopia then and now. He found today’s people spirited and energetic, living in dramatic and extremely challenging lands.

John Pilkington is one of Britain’s most experienced explorers and public speakers.