THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL
AFRICA – THE PLACE FOR RECONNECTION
For many of us, travel falls into the category of vacations, getaways, a time to relax or get that much-needed break. For the more adventurous of us, it’s a chance to explore a new country or culture.
Travel, for some, is also the chance to indulge in things we often don’t do in our daily lives – eating a piece of malva pudding or having a tot of Amarula after dinner becomes acceptable the moment you touch down in Africa.
But there’s a deeper element to travel and tourism, a benefit that surpasses eating delicious foods and exploring new places. This was touched on by Barack Obama, in a wonderful interview with BBC Travel. Firstly, travel is a beautiful reminder of the diversity of our planet. Pembury is lucky to be in Africa – we are surrounded by a diversity of cultures, wildlife and ecosystems.
It’s a blessing for us to be in the heart of this spectacular place – the home of the rainbow nation, the Big Five, expansive dessert, warm oceans, lush forests and golden savannahs. It’s why we do what we do. A visit to Africa is an unforgettable experience that allows you to immerse yourself in a place that truly walks to the beat of its own drum. It is a place like no other and a reminder that despite the world growing smaller through technology, there are still places completely different, unique and breathtaking.
Obama also perfectly explained the second benefit of travel:
“travel also reminds us of what we share and what we have become – the ability for us to recognise ourselves in each other, so that if you’re wandering through some small village in Kenya and you see a mother and a child playing and laughing, that’s not different from the mother and child back in Virginia or in Hawaii.”
This is such a beautiful sentiment, and one worth remembering when you visit. Yes, Africa is likely to throw some unique challenges your way – delayed flights, cattle blocking the road, lack of Wi-Fi – but it will also show you how we as people are fundamentally the same.
We all have families and friends, we all love to laugh, we all want to be happy. The wonderful thing about Africa is that it goes above this and shows us our connection to nature. In Africa, you can witness the loving relationship between a mother and a baby elephant, African wild dogs caring for their sick and elderly, and giraffes hugging.
Travelling to Africa is a chance to explore a beautifully unique place but at the same time reconnect with humanity and nature. It’s a life-changing experience and a beautiful reminder about the importance of travel and preserving the wildlife we are blessed to share this planet with.
