To Timbuktu for a Haircut: A Journey Through West Africa

The idea came in Antonson's youth, triggered by a response from his father, who was being pestered by the author and his older brother to disclose where he was going: "I'm going to Timbuktu to get my hair cut!" And so began Antonson's quest: one day he, too, would go to Timbuktu to get a haircut! Flash forward years later, and Antonson—world traveler, president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver, and vice chair of the Pacific Asia Travel Association—finds himself on a voyage by train, car, boat, and camel, accompanied by memorable individuals, among them a guide named Zak and, occasionally, a cook named Nema, through Senegal and Mali. Originally published in 2008, this revised and updated edition is supplemented by a discussion of the new realities facing Timbuktu and Mali in general, as a result of the activities of Islamic extremists; the author also provides updates on the people he met on his trip. Maps, illustrations, and photos are included.