ST 3386 (Full Review)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3386

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 13^th September 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A truly gentle puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and valuable feedback.

Africa, the answer to the clue in 10a, is the second-largest and second-most populous continent in the world. It is a land of remarkable geographical diversity, rich cultural traditions and immense natural resources. Stretching from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the southern tip of the continent, Africa is home to more than fifty countries, each with its own history, languages, customs and traditions. The continent possesses some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. The Sahara, the largest hot desert on Earth, covers much of northern Africa, while the savannahs of eastern and southern Africa support a remarkable variety of wildlife. The Nile, one of the world’s longest rivers, has played an important role in the development of human civilisation. Africa also has magnificent mountains, tropical rainforests, fertile grasslands and beautiful coastlines. Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, is one of its most famous natural landmarks. Africa is renowned for its extraordinary wildlife. Lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses, cheetahs and gorillas are among the animals associated with the continent. National parks and wildlife reserves attract visitors from all over the world and contribute significantly to tourism. However, many African species face threats from habitat loss, illegal hunting and the effects of climate change, making conservation increasingly important. Africa’s cultural heritage is equally impressive. The continent has thousands of languages and numerous ethnic communities with distinctive traditions in music, dance, art, literature and cuisine. African musical traditions have influenced many forms of modern music around the world. The continent has also produced celebrated writers, artists, scientists, political leaders and scholars. Despite its enormous potential, Africa faces several serious challenges, including poverty, unequal access to education and healthcare, political instability in some regions, unemployment and environmental degradation. At the same time, many African countries are experiencing economic growth, technological development, urbanisation and improvements in education. Africa is, therefore, a continent of both challenges and opportunities. Its vast resources, youthful population, cultural richness and natural beauty give it considerable potential for the future. Understanding Africa requires looking beyond stereotypes and recognising the complexity, diversity and achievements of its peoples. When I was just a little boy, the continent about which I read the most was Africa. I learnt about it as the ‘Dark Continent’, a term that was once widely used in books and geographical accounts, though it is now considered outdated and misleading. Even as a child, I had an earnest desire to explore the continent when I grew up, to meet its people and to learn about their lives, particularly those afflicted by poverty and hunger in many of its countries. That childhood dream, however, is yet to come true. The only consolation is that I did once visit Africa, though only on a recreational tour to Egypt. Egypt is geographically remarkable because, through the Sinai Peninsula, it has a direct land connection with the Asian continent, while the greater part of the country lies in Africa. During my visit, I travelled to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada and Alexandria. Each of these places offered something different, but what impressed me most was the grandeur of ancient Egyptian civilisation. Standing before the colossal monuments of ancient Egypt, I could not help wondering at the contribution of the brave and immensely skilled workers who built such lofty structures thousands of years ago. The pyramids, temples and other monumental constructions seem almost unbelievable when one considers the enormous blocks of stone that had to be quarried, transported and carefully placed without the help of modern machinery. There were no cranes, bulldozers or other sophisticated construction equipment to assist them. Yet, through human ingenuity, perseverance, organisation and sheer physical effort, they created monuments that have survived for thousands of years. My visit to Egypt therefore gave me only a glimpse of the vast and fascinating continent that I had dreamed of exploring since childhood. Now, at the age of sixty-six, I sometimes wonder whether I have left it too late to fulfil that childhood dream. Yet dreams do not necessarily have an expiry date. I may no longer be the little boy who imagined setting out one day to discover the whole of Africa, but the curiosity that filled his mind is still alive in me.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

7a           What is wearing coarser knitted jumper, say (9)
RACEHORSE: EH (what) as an interjection used as an interrogative utterance e.g. what?, especially to express surprise or doubt, to seek confirmation or to ask for repetition of a statement having on its outside or covered by (is wearing) an anagram (knitted) of COARSER that guides to the definition of an equine beast bred for racing, an example of which is one that jumps over fences or hurdles in a steeplechase

8a           Story-telling stretched out? (5)
LYING: Double definition; the second being an adjective meaning stretched out or extending the body to its full length in order to relax that takes to the first denoting a verb in the continuous form meaning speaking untruthfully with intent to mislead or deceive, an example of which is story-telling i.e. telling more or less trivial falsehoods

10a        Vast land mass in Colombia evacuated after a day (6)
AFRICA: The definition of the second largest continent, covering about one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth and hence a vast land mass is reached from the outermost letters following the emptying out of the inner letters (evacuated) of C[OLUMBI]A that is placed after or preceded by (after) a combination of A from the clue and FRI (day) as referring to Friday, the sixth day of the week in its abbreviated form

11a        Leotard I designed, made to measure (8)
TAILORED: An anagram (designed) of LEOTARD I guides to the definition of an adjective meaning made to measure or custom-fitted by a professional dressmaker or clothier

12a        Woozy choir quaffs English stout (6)
HEROIC: An anagram (woozy) of CHOIR drinks or takes inside (quaffs) E (English) as the abbreviation for English takes to the definition of an adjective meaning stout, brave or courageous

14a        Hand slightly damaged, that hurt to put it mildly! (3,3)
AND HOW: HAND from the clue undergoing a letter shift (slightly damaged) by moving its first letter to the last position followed by OW (that hurt) as used especially in response to sudden pain leads to the definition of an expression of emphatic agreement with phrases like ‘most certainly’ or ‘you bet’, an example of which is to put it mildly i.e. to deliberately understate or make a statement less strong than it could be, thereby prompting the emphatic agreement

16a        Dismiss retreat with victory, ultimately (4)
DENY: The definition of a verb meaning to dismiss, contradict, refuse or declare untrue is arrived at from DEN (retreat) as the retreat or shelter of a wild animal followed by (with) the ultimate or final letter (ultimately) of [VICTOR]Y

17a        Dump cheap drink (5)
PLONK: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to a cheap wine of inferior quality that leads to the first a verb meaning to dump something or place or put it noisily and rather clumsily

18a        Champ in shape after start of competition (4)
CHEW: The definition of a verb meaning to champ, munch, masticate or to bite upon or grind like a horse is obtained from HEW (shape) as to shape or make as with an axe coming after (after) the starting or initial letter (start) of C[OMPETITION]

19a        Curious, in the manner of sovereign (6)
ASKING: The definition of an adjective meaning curious, inquiring or requesting information is reached from a charade of AS (in the manner of) as a conjunction meaning in the manner, degree etc of or that and KING (sovereign) as a male sovereign, ruler or monarch of a kingdom

21a        Backing this country, stand by country (6)
KUWAIT: UK (this country) as the abbreviation of the United Kingdom that is an island nation in northwestern Europe comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland coming from the opposite side (backing) as a reversal in the across clue followed by WAIT (stand by) as a verb meaning to stand by, hold on or stay in one place and anticipate or expect something guides to the definition of a country of the Arabian Peninsula located in the northwestern corner of the Persian Gulf

24a        Old copper in standard valve (8)
STOPCOCK: A combination of O (old) as the abbreviation for old as OT in Old Testament and PC (copper) as the abbreviation for Police Constable, an example of which is a copper i.e. a slang term for a policeman placed inside (in) STOCK (standard) as an adjective denoting standard, routine or staple guides to the definition of a valve that regulates the flow of fluid through a pipe

26a        Kindle being seen when heard (6)
INCITE: The definition of a verb meaning to kindle, arouse, stir up or provoke to action is arrived at from a homophone heard by the audience (when heard) of IN SIGHT (being seen)

27a        Flash talent on the radio (5)
FLARE: The definition of a noun meaning a sudden flash or burst of bright light is reached from a homophone heard by the audience (on the radio) of FLAIR (talent) as a natural talent, aptitude or ability to do something well

28a        Yours truly sister saw overwhelmed (9)
INUNDATED: A charade of I (yours truly) as a pronoun used to refer to oneself as speaker or writer, an example of which is yours truly, that is an informal term for pronoun for I, myself or me, NUN (sister) as a sister i.e. a title given to a woman of a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church and used as a form of address and DATED (saw) as the past tense of the verb ‘to date’ meaning to see someone romantically guides to the definition of another verb in the past tense meaning overwhelmed as if with a flood

Down

1d           Yellow flower for cartoon duck (5)
DAFFY: Double nounal definition; the second referring to Daffy Duck, the iconic animated cartoon duck created by Tex Avery and Bob Clampett, working at Warner Bros that leads to the first denoting a colloquial term for daffodil that is a yellow flower that belongs to the genus Narcissus

   

2d           Diamonds on top of elegant dress for ball (8)
DELIVERY: D (diamonds) as the single letter for diamonds in a pack of cards placed upon in the down clue (on) the highest or uppermost letter (top) of E[LEGANT] followed by LIVERY (dress) as historically the distinctive dress or badge of a great man’s household leads to the definition of a ball bowled by the bowler to the batter in cricket

3d           Country farm on a corner’s fenced off (6)
MONACO: The definition of the most densely populated country in the world that is located along the French Riviera between the Mediterranean Sea and France is part of or hidden inside (fenced off) [FAR]M ON A CO[RNER’S]

4d           Listen, perceiving sounds, sensing threat first of all (4)
PSST: The definition of an exclamation used to attract someone’s attention or telling them to listen is arrived at from the initial or opening letters (first of all) of P[ERCEIVING] S[OUNDS,] S[ENSING] T[HREAT]

5d           Holy cow, something I should keep? (2,4)
MY WORD: Double definition; the second referring to something one should keep, where one’s word is a promise or commitment that one should keep that guides to the first denoting an exclamation surprise, astonishment or emphasis

6d           More than one horned animal with insect runs off (9)
ANTELOPES: The definition of a plural noun meaning various swift-running ruminant mammals of the family Bovidae, native to Africa and Eurasia and having unbranched horns is obtained from a charade of ANT (insect) as an eusocial insect of the family Formidicae and ELOPES (runs off) as a verb in the third person singular present tense meaning runs away secretly in order to get married

9d           Seize knave after good morning (6)
HIJACK: The definition of a verb meaning to seize, divert or appropriate a vehicle or the goods it carries while in transit is arrived at from JACK (knave) as a playing card showing the figure of a servant or soldier and ranking below a queen placed after or preceded by (after) HI (good morning) as an informal word for hello, as a casual greeting sometimes equivalent to good morning

13d        Strike device with hands (5)
CLOCK: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to a timekeeping device with hands and a face used to measure and indicate time that brings to the first an informal term for a verb meaning to strike or hit someone forcefully, especially in the face

15d        Resort reveals it is able to adapt (9)
VERSATILE: An anagram (resort) of REVEALS IT leads to the definition of an adjective meaning able to adapt easily to different functions or activities, especially of people

17d        Bird, one cooked after bacon (6)
PIGEON: The definition of any of various birds of the widely distributed family Columbidae, characteristically having plump bodies, small heads and short legs is reached from an anagram (cooked) of ONE coming after or preceded by (after) PIG (bacon) as referring to the animal that provides bacon

18d        Snag covered by Tom, perhaps in talk (8)
CHITCHAT: HITCH (snag) as a snag, problem or obstacle placed inside (covered by) CAT (Tom, perhaps) as a small domesticated carnivorous mammal kept as a pet, an example of which is a tom i.e. the male of various animals, especially the cat, taking to the definition of a light conversation or small talk

20d        Reveal rogue craft (6)
IMPART: The definition of a verb meaning to convey or reveal information is arrived at from a charade of IMP (rogue) as a mischievous child, an example of which is a rogue, rascal or scamp and ART (craft) as a skilled profession or trade, craft or branch of activity

22d        Equine sound from mouth of weary hybrid equine (6)
WHINNY: The definition of a subdued gentle neigh of a horse that is obviously an equine sound is got from the opening or starting letter (mouth) of W[EARY] followed by HINNY (hybrid equine) as the offspring of a stallion and a female ass or donkey

23d        Mixed up, in the drink (2,3)
AT SEA: Double adjectival phrasal definition; the second denoting ‘in the drink’, where ‘the drink’ is a nautical slang or colloquial term for the sea or ocean and thus ‘in the drink’ meaning in the sea or ocean, especially when referring to a vessel or person that has ended up in the water that guides to the first meaning mixed up, bewildered or in a state of confusion

25d        Charitable donation originally supporting family (4)
KIND: The definition of an adjective meaning charitable, generous or compassionate is reached from the original or first letter (originally) of D[ONATION] taking on its above in the down clue (supporting) KIN (family) as one’s relatives or family

There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 7a, 10a, 14a, 18a, 24a, 2d, 4d, 5d, 6d, 18d and 20d; 2d being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to Dada for the entertainment. Looking forward to being here again. Have a nice day.