African Odyssey: About the trip

Andrew Maykuth, The Inquirer's Johannesburg bureau chief, and photographer Michael Wirtz journeyed through East Africa, accompanying a food aid truck into rebel-held territory in Sudan. Their odyssey through Kenya and Uganda into Sudan is chronicled here in articles, photos and video.

In addition, Maykuth and Wirtz discussed their journey with readers in a special interactive feature on the Internet. Readers posted questions for them with this feature and through traditional e-mail. You can contact Maykuth or send questions or comments about the series via e-mail to africa@phillynews.com.

Click here to find out about the technology behind the trek.

Andrew Maykuth

Andrew Maykuth has been The Inquirer's Johannesburg bureau chief since 1996, covering events throughout Africa. He was The Philadelphia Inquirer's New York City bureau chief from 1989-93, and has also covered stories in New Jersey, Central America and South America.

He was born March 28, 1958, in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.

Before coming to The Inquirer in 1982, he worked at the Columbia Daily Tribune in Missouri.

Maykuth lives with his wife in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Michael Wirtz

Michael S. Wirtz has been a staff photographer with The Philadelphia Inquirer since 1987. He has worked on assignment in Sri Lanka, India, Haiti, Romania, South Africa, Afghanistan, and Honduras.

He was born November 18, 1953 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a degree in Journalism. In 1978 he was named Newspaper Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers' Association. He was a finalist for a Pultitzer Prize in Feature Photography in 1986 and won first place awards in Sigma Delta Chi (1991) and World Press (1998).

Before joining The Inquirer, he worked at The Chicago Tribune, The Dallas Times Herald, and The Dallas Morning News.

Wirtz lives with his wife and son in Wilmington, DE.

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