Africa is a land like no other. It’s a continent of endless wonders, mind-boggling history, and rich culture. It’s the birthplace of humankind, the land of the Pharaohs, and home to nature’s greatest spectacles.
Backpacking in Africa isn’t for everyone — and that’s okay. But if you do it, it will teach you things you won’t learn anywhere else in the world. I didn’t know what to expect when I first landed in Tanzania — but 8 years later, 3 kids later, and (of course) not traveling constantly in between — I can still say that experience changed how I travel, how I see people, and how I move through the world.
If you’re wondering what really stays with you after months on dusty roads, cramped buses, and shared meals with strangers turned friends — here are ten things Africa taught me that no guidebook ever could.
1. You will see through media bias and generalizations
As we are becoming more aware of every day, the media is strewn with generalizations and biases. And perhaps no continent on earth has been as stereotyped as Africa. A backpacking trip around the continent will help you see past the media generalizations of extreme poverty and vast, dry lands.
Of course, there is poverty, and there are large stretches of desert land. But there are also bustling cities such as Lagos in Nigeria, Cairo in Egypt, and Nairobi in Kenya. There you will find world-class cuisines and thriving businesses. Equally, if you head to South Africa, Morocco, or Algeria, you can find enough snow to ski on.
2. You will appreciate things we take for granted
As you travel through Africa, you will meet people who don’t have electricity all-day, every-day. They might not have running water or, if they do, they may need to walk miles to get it. You could see children who have to work, instead of going to school.
Electricity, water, education. These are things we take for granted, but for many Africans they are not guaranteed. When you see the struggle some face to access these basic necessities, your appreciation for the ease with which we get them will grow and you will no longer take them for granted.
3. You experience a simpler way of life
As part of this journey of self-discovery, Africa is a country where the simpler way of life is often more rewarding than the hustle and bustle of making a quick dollar. Where major cities around the world are offering farm-to-table dining as the “latest trend” Africa offers it as a way of life.
Take, for example, The Hadza people, a tribe of hunter-gatherers in Tanzania who employ a way of life common to our ancestors almost 10,000 years ago. They have no supermarkets, no cell phones, or even farming, instead of drawing upon ancient hunting techniques to fill their bellies. It seems almost unimaginable that there are people who still live in such a manner, but in Africa, some still do.
4. You witness the great spectacles of nature
Africa is, perhaps more than any other continent, home to Mother Nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles. Prbably the most famous is The Great Migration in which millions of wildebeest and other migratory animals risk life and limb in search of better grazing lands.
There are, however, many other spectacles spread across Africa’s lands that are just as breath-taking to witness. Head to Lake Nakuru in Kenya, for example, and you will see a cloud of pink, created by 300,000 beautiful flamingoes. Alternatively, Kasanka National Park in Zambia sees 10 million fruit bats arrive to feed on the area’s fruit.
5. You will understand Africans better
Let us not forget that racism and xenophobia are as prevalent today as it has ever been. In recent years, we have seen a rise in the visibility of the far-right across the planet and a resurgence in openly proud xenophobes.
To combat this, we need to experience the cultures of people who may live different lives to us. By traveling to Africa, you will meet the real people — not a summation of what Africans are like through a documentary or news bulletin. You will see both differences and similarities between your own culture. Some things will feel alien to you, and some will be exactly like your home life. But most importantly, you will understand Africans and form your own opinions (which will undoubtedly be positive).
6. You learn more about the continent
For far too many people, Africa remains an unknown world. While travelers have a good grasp on the geography and culture of North America, Europe, and Asia, Africa continues to be a land of mysteries for many. Visiting the continent will provide you with real knowledge of the Africa of today.
Do you know, for example, which is Africa’s tallest building? Or do you know where Cameroon lies? Even if you just visit Africa’s most northern countries, such as Morocco, Tunisia, or Egypt, you will begin to understand its geography and politics.
7. You can uncover our earliest history
Nowhere else in the world can you dive so far back into human history as you can in Africa. Homo sapiens, of which you are one, first appeared in East Africa around 300,000 years ago, according to the latest scientific understanding.
From there, we spread across the planet at a truly astonishing rate; inventing everything from farming to war, internet to space travel. Only by traveling in Africa can you study the birth of human civilization at its source — a truly incredible experience.
8. You will discover your boundaries
Backpacking in Africa is not necessarily going to be easy all the time. You will come up against unforeseen challenges, which will test you in ways you may never have been tested — even if you’re an experienced backpacker. That’s a good thing.
True traveling was never meant to be easy. True traveling is about discovering your limits by pushing them. And despite the potentially tricky times, you will find Africa a heart-warming place and feel a part of you belongs there, as that’s where you discovered your true self.
9. You will overcome personal difficulties
As you make your way through the continent, you will witness subsistence farmers and hunter-gatherer tribes with a much slower pace of life. When you meet these people, you will most probably compare their simple way of life to your own and start to reflect.
Undoubtedly, this will lead to the realization that many of your day-to-day problems are not big issues at all, but things that can be sorted with relative ease. Africa will help you to see true issues to minor ones, and hopefully put some of your fears to rest.
10. You will learn to make the right choices
Finally, backpacking around Africa — rather than staying in a resort — will show you how the small choices you make can make a big difference. You will need to pick between eating at the big multi-national restaurants or the local eateries, or you will choose between the massive supermarkets and local groceries.
You will see the difference these choices make to the small shop owners through their reactions to you. Hopefully, it will be a lesson you can take with you throughout your life and your travels.
Visit Africa and see a different side of the world
When you visit Africa, you will learn things you cannot learn anywhere else in the world. You will have experiences no other continent can offer, and you will grow in ways that you never thought possible. Visit Africa to see a different side of the world, and a different side of yourself.
