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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
(formerly known as Zaire)
In the 1870s the Explorer Henry Morton Stanley made two epic journeys through Africa – on one he famously found Dr Livingstone and on the other he became the first man to cross central Africa, discovering the upper reaches of the mighty River Congo. Stanley has been criticised for opening up the continent and exposing it to the brutalities of the subsequent colonial regimes; but are his exploratory achievements underestimated and what's the Congo like now for those intrepid enough to travel its length?

Sandi Toksvig is joined by Tim Jeal author of Stanley,The Impossible Life of Africa’s Greatest Explorer and Michel Van Roten an organiser of Congo riverboat journeys.

CRICKET
With the start of the Cricket World Cup earlier this week, fans of the game have been taking the opportunity to travel to the West Indies on the strict understanding that it is not a holiday but a tour of duty to support their national teams. With cricketing nations spread out all over the world this duty can be a time consuming and expensive business to carry out.

Soumya Bhattacharya discusses the pleasures and frustrations of following his national team India in his book entitled You must like Cricket - Memoirs of an Indian Cricket fan.