Africa, Journey of the Soul

If it’s an adventure or party you are looking for, then South America or Europe come to mind. For fun in the sun and a little sea breeze, take your pick of islands off Malaysia and Indonesia or try the Mediterranean or Caribbean islands.

But if what you are looking for is time to reconnect with yourself or nature, then there is nowhere that you will find a place better than in Africa.

On the continent, which is home to the world’s most ancient race, the San, you will find your zen - your inner peace. Breathing in the scent of Africa is akin to meditation.

The slow pace of life where you live on organic food straight from its source is as much a journey over land as it is a journey of the soul. Your core is centered - body and spirit become one.

This is true, whether you are visiting one of South Africa’s nine world heritage sites like the iSimanaliso Wetland Park (Cape Vidal being my go-to place), Kruger National Park, or the Vredefort Dome, or Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza.

You will find that inner peace on Tanzania’s Serengeti or while traversing the expanse of Namibia's Salt Pan.

Africa has it all for nomads, environmentalists, and people wanting to escape the rat race of city life. Try walking the undulating dunes of Cape Vidal, lying on a white sand beach in Tanzania's Mnemba island, or scuba diving the coral reefs of Sham-el-Sheik Egypt.

Africa is a vast continent, but whether you visit Morocco and Egypt in the north, or Botswana and South Africa in the south, one thing is for sure, you will find warm, nurturing people amidst a sometimes unforgiving landscape.

Yes, unforgiving … The terrain can be rugged or parched in places, and the desserts are never-ending. But, rest assured, there are vistas of unparalleled beauty even in the most barren landscape.

Africa has a way of transforming loneliness to wonder in the blink of an eye. The cities are bustling with activity, and the rural landscape is rich in scenery.

People give way to herds of cows, goats, and sheep the further you travel from the cities. You will even encounter transportation on the back of a donkey or camel.

Wildlife is abundant inside game reserves or on the open savannah. You are likely to encounter game like kudu, wildebeest, and antelope on the big nature reserves, as you are while driving through a little village.

Giraffes, rhinos, elephants, and zebra are more likely to be found on reserves due to their decreasing numbers caused by poaching and loss of habitat.

However, Botswana’s abundant African elephant population is known to forage through villages (leaving destruction in their wake), allowing tourists to view them in all their glory in a “natural” environment.

“Bored” is not a word readily used when traveling in Africa. More likely words or phrases that come to mind are “food for the soul,” “colorful,” “rich in natural beauty,” and “awe-inspiring.”

Get lost in Africa’s beauty. Time in the sun has never been more refreshing, inspirational, or motivational than the time spent on safari or at leisure in Africa.

Take the time to discover yourself while tracing the footsteps of the most ancient race in the world. Or visit the Cradle of Humankind and find your true self in the process. In Africa, anything is possible.

I challenge you to take a leap of faith, visit the "dark continent," find its pulse and let the beating of the African drums touch your soul.