In 1999 Todd Lawson’s brother, Sean, died tragically of preventable cerebral malaria at the end of a motorcycle adventure through southern Africa. It left Todd with a hole in his heart ― and in his life. Wracked with guilt over their joint decision to forgo antimalarial drugs, and his own failure to grasp the gravity of the early signs of Sean’s ultimately fatal disease, Todd gets on with life but remains adrift until he meets Christina, a soulmate and like-minded traveller. Together they embark on an audacious motorcycle trip in honour of Sean’s vagabond spirit, embracing his preferred method of travel: two wheels, no technology, all adventure. Riding from their home in Whistler, BC, they sprinkle Sean’s ashes ― carried back to Canada from Africa inside the belly of a carved wooden elephant ― throughout every country in the Americas. Although the 19-month, 23-country odyssey delivers healing for Todd and unparalleled, off-the-beaten-path adventure for the couple, the biggest revelation of all is that they can’t stop there: they must return to Africa to experience the continent as the brothers had. This time, however, there will be a purpose: delivering mosquito nets to vulnerable families suffering the ravages of malaria in isolated villages where nets are otherwise unavailable. What begins as a way to truly honour the legacy of Sean becomes an arms-open exploration into the beauty of the natural world and the people living closest to it. Bitterly poignant, Inside the Belly of an Elephant takes readers on a full-throttle adventure of spontaneity that wheels from harrowing tragedy to uplifting narratives that illuminate the power we all possess to rise up from the dark depths of the human condition. “Wow! What a ride, and a deeply moving, unforgettable story of terrible tragedy, full of pathos and finally joy, love, and acceptance, written with great sincerity and sensitivity. Todd Lawson pulls you deep into his pain and ultimately his later joy. There’s lots of action and suspense too. Will they make it? Will they even survive? Insights into people and motivations along the three tumultuous journeys in the story are wonderfully described, and make you feel like you’re right there with Todd and Christina. You don’t need to be a motorcyclist to love this book. It’s an adventure for anyone that you won’t be able to put down.” —Grant Johnson , founder of HorizonsUnlimited.com “Two wheels move the soul in this immersive journey of healing into the depths of grief and beyond the highest peaks of joy, through the strange synchronicities and intangible magic of the road.” —Janelle Kaz , anti-wildlife-trafficking motorcycle journalist “ Inside the Belly of an Elephant is one of those books that will have you spiralling magnetically into every single page. With the frequently off-the-wall yet fascinating life of his brother Sean as the reason for this book, Todd Lawson takes you into a tale of extraordinary lives, of travel, disasters and silver linings, of challenge, courage and sheer incredible beauty. This multithreaded, often hilarious tale of the road has been woven with mastery. What happens next always involves a surprise peppered with a wonderful description, and often an insight you never knew you needed. The fluid storytelling constantly changes pace. You are either being swept along, eager to learn what happens next, or crashing to a halt at a story so sobering or eyebrow raising that it demands reflection. You are taken through the histories of families, of individuals and of countries: Canada, Poland, Thailand, South Africa, Peru, Argentina, Tanzania, Malawi and many more. You’ll discover a world full of possibilities, of awe, friendship, the kindness of strangers and the opportunities that happen when your mindset changes from thinking of all the reasons why you shouldn’t, to seeing the reasons why you should. I guarantee you’ll have lump-in-the-throat moments and yet in the next pages you’ll be smiling at the infectious humour there is so much of in this book. Todd Lawson draws you into adventures of life in such a way that you’ll be engaged, enthralled and inspired.” —Sam Manicom , author of Into Africa , Under Asian Skies , Distant Suns , and Tortillas to Totems “ Inside the Belly of an Elephant is a captivating and deeply moving tribute to Todd Lawson’s late brother, Sean. Through the lens of a bold motorcycle journey across the Americas, sprinkling Sean’s ashes along the way, Todd and his partner Christina find healing and adventure. But their journey doesn’t stop there. They return to Africa, Sean’s beloved continent, to deliver mosquito nets to vulnerable families in need. What follows is a poignant and uplifting exploration of humanity’s resilience and capacity for hope. When an older woman asks Todd about his reason for travelling, he is momentarily taken aback, but his book provides the answer. We travel to explore the world and to connect with different cultures, but most importa