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April 5, 2010
Africa: Where seeing is believing
“To see once is worth more than hearing a hundred times.” This is one of my favorite African proverbs—and while the sentiment could apply to pretty much any life experience, I feel it’s especially appropriate for travelers interested in exploring Africa.
I’ll admit that I may be biased (as I’ve mentioned in previous Journal entries, this vast, diverse continent is one of my all-time favorite destinations: as soon as I step off the plane, I feel like I’m home!), but I truly feel that Africa’s beauty must be seen to be believed.
And by beauty, I mean more than just majestic landscapes and exotic wildlife—although seeing the snowcapped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro turn golden in the setting sun or coming upon a dusty Serengeti plain teeming with migrating wildebeest, thousands of animals in every direction, are unforgettable experiences in their own right.
For me, the most beautiful thing about Africa is its people. Over the years, I’ve spent time with members of a Maasai tribe in Kenya … sung the “Star-Spangled Banner” for our tour guides around a campfire in Botswana … played hopscotch and painted pictures with schoolchildren in Tanzania. And while I can do my best to describe the intense joy and happiness I felt while connecting with these wonderful people, well … it’s really something you should experience for yourself.
But if, like most of us, you can’t hop on a plane to Africa tomorrow, reading about others’ experiences is the next best thing to being there—and in this edition of Harriet’s Corner, you’ll find plenty of inspiring stories from OAT travelers.
In future updates, we’ll spotlight Turkey, Iceland, Patagonia and Southeast Asia. If you’ve been to any of these places with OAT, I’d love to hear about your experiences! Email me at
harriet@oattravel.com
Harriet Lewis