The XAfrica series is a unique memoir of Africa, of fascinating wildlife, magnificent landscapes, and charming and surprising human stories. These are the elements that make Africa such a thrilling, addictive blend of wonder and anxiety. The author captures both wildlife and people in their varied settings, recording each with insight, charm and humour, and revelling in the interface between the human world and the natural. Volume 1, Letters from the Southern Rift, is a journey of exploration, a character-filled personal record that blends scientific curiosity with happy accident. The route through tropical southern Africa, leads from the author's home in South Africa and heads north-east, to be dominated by experiences gained during a three year stay in Malawi, "The Warm Heart of Africa", beside that immense sparkling lake that so spectacularly fills the southern trench of the great East African Rift Valley. These are bite-sized factual tales, each a snap-shot of an aspect of Africa, recorded first hand by an endlessly inquiring mind that has an eye for the ridiculous and the writing skills to make them truly memorable. That Sandy Dacombe Ferrar is in love with her subject shows in her vivid descriptions and charming pen and ink sketches, and love, like most human emotions, is contagious. Through each volume of this series, you will gradually discover Sandy herself and find a growing affection for this slightly sardonic, enthusiastic, nature-loving wordsmith.