A Taste of Africa: Goat Blood, Baboon, and Spaghetti in the Sahara

What does an explorer actually eat in Africa? In this episode, author and explorer James Michael Dorsey joins host Lisa Smith to talk food, survival, and culture across nine African countries — from drinking fresh goat blood with the Maasai, to eating baboon with the Hazda hunter-gatherers of Tanzania, to discovering that spaghetti is the staple food of Tuareg nomads deep in the Sahara Desert. Along the way, James shares the story of being used as baboon bait — and living to tell about it. This segment is excerpted from Big Blend Radio's "Taste of Africa" episode (Dec. 2025). James Michael Dorsey is an award-winning author, explorer, and conservationist who has traveled to over 60 countries documenting vanishing tribal and indigenous cultures. "Before They Vanish" is hosted by Dorsey and produced by Lisa Smith for Big Blend Radio. Learn more about James and his books at jamesmichaeldorseyauthor.com