The Wind Makes Dust: Four Centuries of Travel in Southern Africa

This engaging anthology gathers vivid travel accounts spanning nearly four centuries of exploration and movement through Southern Africa. Compiled by journalist and historian Ben Maclennan, The Wind Makes Dust presents voices from explorers, missionaries, naturalists, hunters, and wanderers who traversed the region from the early days of European arrival to the twentieth century.

Through letters, diaries, and journals, the collection captures both the hardships and the wonder of travel — from the first encounters between the Khoikhoi and European seafarers to the daring treks of pioneers, fossil hunters, and adventurers. Richly illustrated with maps, engravings, and archival imagery, the book offers a panoramic view of how the land and its people were experienced, recorded, and imagined over the centuries.

A captivating work for readers interested in Africana, history, and travel literature, The Wind Makes Dust stands as both a historical document and an evocative portrait of Southern Africa’s changing landscapes.