Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • Michael Palin: Sahara

  • By: Michael Palin
  • Narrated by: Michael Palin
  • Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (581 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Michael Palin: Sahara cover art

Michael Palin: Sahara

By: Michael Palin
Narrated by: Michael Palin
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £14.99

Buy Now for £14.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days cover art
Himalaya cover art
Brazil cover art
Into Iraq cover art
Lights, Camera, Jemuru cover art
Journeys to Impossible Places cover art
My Life in Ruins cover art
Endurance cover art
The Great Railway Bazaar cover art
Miles & Miles: A Lifetime of Travel in Asia and Latin America cover art
A Brief History of the Vikings cover art
Blake's 7 1.1 Fractures cover art
Holiday SOS cover art
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star cover art
Walking the Himalayas cover art
In Xanadu cover art

Summary

Michael Palin's epic voyages have seen him circumnavigate the globe, travel from the North to the South Pole, and circle the countries of the Pacific Ocean, but perhaps the greatest single challenge he has faced is his latest: a crossing of the vast and merciless Sahara Desert. As the journey unfolds, the Sahara reveals not only the emptiness of endless sand dunes, but a huge and diverse range of cultures and landscapes, and a long history of civilisation, trade, commerce, and conquest.

He walks with nomadic herders and rides with a camel caravan through Niger, scales the Hoggar Mountains and flies into the oilfields of Algeria, before investigating Colonel Gaddafi's Libya and the stunning classical remains of Tunisia, where Life of Brian was filmed and Palin crucified. This is Michael Palin, explorer-adventurer, at his hard-pressed best.

©2002 Michael Palin (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Michael Palin: Sahara

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    455
  • 4 Stars
    103
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    454
  • 4 Stars
    51
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    388
  • 4 Stars
    94
  • 3 Stars
    23
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Better than the documentary

I recommend all of Palin's travel documentaries and books - but of them all, Sahara is the one where I can confidently say that I prefer the book over the documentary. The documentary series was good but unfortunately too short. This book therefore provides substantially more detail and personal insight, and lets you appreciate the epic scale and challenge of this journey. Another thing I like about Sahara is that many of the places visited are still largely obscure and difficult to access (more so than most of Palin's journeys), giving more opportunity to learn about little-known places. Palin's narration is great, as always.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly presented! Fascinating! Love Sahara!

This awesome book brings the Sahara to people who would otherwise never have had the opportunity of experiencing this first hand account. I never realised how vast the Sahara was - as big as the United States. I had assumed that the Sahara Desert comprised only sand dunes and was fascinated to learn that this is only part of the story - especially in the sub-Sahara! I never knew that the Romans had explored the African continent and left behind a number of Amphitheatres - one of which has 30,000 seats. Some of the African peoples survive on one cup of water daily - yet some camels drink 50 gallons in 3 minutes (but this lasts them for many months)! This book journeys from Morocco, Algiers, Libya, Tunisia, and on and on. I loved it. Thank you to Michael Palin and team for enriching my world view & life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One Man's Journey Through Sahara

Michael Palin traverses the Sahara one of the most inhospitable places on earth.; his narration is excellent and an there are many amusing moments, beautiful sights and dangerous moments to relate along the way. Well worth a listen and most enjoyable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

MP is a great host

I don’t remember the order of Michael Palin’s travelogues, Sahara is my fourth. The material is relevant and interesting; history, politics, ethnography .... though now becoming dated almost 20 years since this journey.
MP is a great host but he seemed less enthusiastic and funny this time and it all felt a little prolonged. I shall still do another one day !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

probably more enjoyable than watching the TV version. an urbane and humane journey through a brutal and beautiful landscape. people, places and camels brought to life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • M
  • 03-03-20

Solid Palin style, very enjoyable travelogue

I confess a Palin bias - I really like his relaxed and easy-going style, both in what he writes and the way he reads it. I've listened to a number of his books on Audible and I'm a fan. Palin gives the impression he would be an excellent travel companion; observant and reflective, quietly conscious of the interesting & remarkable people & things you could come across travelling to out-of-the-way places, and drawing comparisons with our/his normal environs. In 'Sahara' he is more critical than other places I remember him visiting, giving the impression he won't be heading back in a hurry. Recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mesmerising. Have already listened twice!

MP has the most incredible way with words, painting a vivid picture of his travels and delivering them superbly. His genuine interest and enthusiasm for the history, politics and people on his travels has you captivated from the first word. I now have every book in the library and will listen again and again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Evocative, gritty

Beautiful delivery, evocative yet gritty.
Revealing countries and people of vivid contrasts, complexity and fascinating behaviours and rituals

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Book

Like all Palin’s adventures, the book is so well written with the right amount of facts, experiences, culture and laughs. A thrilling look at countries often forgotten by the west, but rich in so much. So well read and just so enjoyable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Master

As always a fantastic travelogue from Palin. His genuine interest shines through even in some scary and dangerous places. Wit,observation and a lovely turn of phrase on every page.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!