Sitting in a traffic jam on the way to Norfolk this weekend I was pondering why go to Africa?
To see animals in the wild is the obvious answer and yet once there and you have had the first initial thrill of seeing your first lion or herd of elephants there is more. On an African safari you will have time to appreciate the diversity of the planet and begin to take pleasure in the smaller things as well as those big open spaces. Hectic lives in Europe mean we often do not have time to relate to the environment and see landscapes without buildings and the trappings of the western world.
Empty, wild beaches too are such a pleasure both by the sea and along inland lakes such as Lake Malawi and Tanganyika. I have been to quite a few stretches of beach where you can walk without seeing anyone for an hour.
To see animals in the wild is the obvious answer and yet once there and you have had the first initial thrill of seeing your first lion or herd of elephants there is more. On an African safari you will have time to appreciate the diversity of the planet and begin to take pleasure in the smaller things as well as those big open spaces. Hectic lives in Europe mean we often do not have time to relate to the environment and see landscapes without buildings and the trappings of the western world.
Empty, wild beaches too are such a pleasure both by the sea and along inland lakes such as Lake Malawi and Tanganyika. I have been to quite a few stretches of beach where you can walk without seeing anyone for an hour.
Meeting friendly people without attitude is another reason. One would be forgiven for thinking that with all the problems we read about in Africa there would be gloomy people. Amazingly, Africans don’t do hopelessness. There is a wonderful indomitable spirit and it can rub off.
I presume it was the M11 that made you wonder about "why Africa?". I had a similar thought, but perhaps a little more misanthropic one as I was waiting in greyness and glumness to get out onto a roundabout this evening - what is it that motivates us to do anything? Somehow the shredded buildings, the people loafing around, the grim line of cars made me wonder.... But we do and surely that film is not gonna make us think "why Africa, but when Africa..." Great show, thank you.
ReplyDelete