Books of Merit
My Heart is Africa
My Heart is Africa
A FLYING ADVENTURE
SCOTT GRIFFIN
Thomas Allen Publishers
Toronto
Copyright © 2006 by Scott Griffin
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems—without the prior written permission of the publisher, or in the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a licence from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Griffin, Scott, 1938–
My heart is Africa : a flying adventure / Scott Griffin.
ISBN–13: 978-0-88762-191-8
ISBN–10: 0-88762-191-0
1. Griffin, Scott, 1938—Travel—Africa. 2. Africa—Description and travel.
3. Humanitarian assistance—Africa. 4. Air pilots—Africa. I. Title.
TL540.G74A3 2006 629.13'096 C2005-907668-2
Quotes courtesy of Africa: A Biography of the Continent by John Reader. Published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf © 1997.
Editor: Janice Zawerbny
Cover image: Getty Images
Back cover photograph: George Whiteside
Photo section: Krystyne Griffin and Peter Shark
Published by Thomas Allen Publishers,
a division of Thomas Allen & Son Limited,
145 Front Street East, Suite 209,
Toronto, Ontario M5A 1E3 Canada
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the support of
The Ontario Arts Council for its publishing program.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which
last year invested $20.0 million in writing and publishing throughout Canada.
We acknowledge the Government of Ontario through the
Ontario Media Development Corporation’s Ontario Book Initiative.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book
Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) for our publishing activities.
10 09 08 07 06 5 6 7 8 9
Printed and bound in Canada
To Krystyne, wife, companion, and co-pilot
CONTENTS
Chapter 5
Angels of Mercy
Chapter 6
The Poisoned Spear
Chapter 7
Repairs and Reconciliation
Chapter 8
Life in Nairobi
Chapter 9
Weekend Safaris
PART THREE
Chapter 10
Captive in Tanzania
Chapter 11
Wings of Sunlight
Chapter 12
South Africa
Chapter 13
Diamonds and Blood
PART FOUR
Chapter 14
Waiting for Twilight
Chapter 15
Tangier
Epilogue
Glossary
A writer’s first book is an expedition through unmapped territory; greatly aided by the generosity of those who point out the inevitable pitfalls along the route and, in doing so, give of their time and interest.
I spent two months writing it in Mexico, overlooking the Pacific Ocean at “Cuachalala,” generously provided by Maria Cristina and Wojtek Stebelski. Ramsay Derry spent hours meticulously editing the early stages of the book, and Ruth Smith, my assistant, typed endless drafts. Jim Gifford of Toronto and Nicky Blundell Brown of Kenya offered useful advice. Patricia Kennedy and Janice Zawerbny, my editors, and Patrick Crean, my publisher, were patient and generous beyond measure. Others