I'm a History and Philosophy international school teacher, political risk consultant and travel writer. I have lived, worked and travelled across 30 African countries, including residencies in Sudan, Angola, Madagascar, Tunisia and Mozambique. I am also an endurance athlete, with a focus on long distance running and kayaking. In 2016 my friend Alfy and I completed the first ever source to sea kayaking descent of the longest river in Angola, the Kwanza River, setting a Guinness World Record. In 2022 my friend Ben and I completed the first ever source to sea kayaking descent of the longest river in Madagascar, the Mangoky River. I have written books about both these expeditions!

Pourquoi je suis sur Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I was happy to host in one of the most expensive cities on the planet (Luanda)! Now I guess I'm happy to meet up or give out advice on places in Africa that I have lived and worked.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Met some really interesting characters through my brother hosting in Brighton, England. Hosted two different visitors in Luanda and met up with a few more. You get an interesting mix of people out in Angola! I was really lucky to be hosted by some great people while visiting Equatorial Guinea to write the Bradt Travel Guide. I couldn't have done it without this site!

Centres d'intérêt

The Arabic speaking world, the Lusophone world, African development, post-conflict zones, Islamist terrorism (studying it, not participating), learning new languages, teaching, MMA, useless old Land Rovers, tourism in difficult destinations!

• writing
• traveling
• surfing
• teaching
• history
• languages
• tourism
• africa
• mma
• surf
• portuguese

Morceaux de musique, films et livres

The Places In Between
Another Day of Life
Zanzibar Chest

Une aventure extraordinaire que j'ai vécue

In July 2016 a friend and I set a new Guinness World Record by kayaking and hiking the 1300km length of Angola's Kwanza River. Check out the documentary here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIfnrQJVDVo&t=

You can also buy a copy of my book on the 1,300km expedition, "Kayak The Kwanza" from Amazon (print or e-version). 25% of the profits are donated to The HALO Trust, to help make Angola landmine-free by the year 2025:

https://www.amazon.com/Kayak-Kwanza-Oscar-Scafidi/dp/1789650127/

Enseignez, apprenez, partagez

I am author of the Bradt Guides to Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Tunisia, so I like to think I'd be able to teach guests a few things about those countries.

I am also a UK-qualified History and International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge teacher, and also CELTA qualified to teach English as a Foreign Language (EFL / ESL). Happy to get involved with any education NGOs in the areas I visit.

Also always interested in meeting new contacts in the African development and security sectors.

I am also a great supporters of the Chagos Islanders who were made refugees by the British government. Learn more about the expulsion and dispossession of the Chagossians here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagossians

Pays que j'ai visités

Afghanistan, Belgium, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Croatia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, France, French Guiana, Gambia, Germany, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Trinidad and Tobago, United States

Pays dans lesquels j'ai vécu

Angola, Indonesia, Italy, Madagascar, Mozambique, Sudan, Tunisia, United Kingdom

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