THE BEAUTIFUL FACES YOU’LL MEET IN THE ‘S#*THOLE COUNTRIES’
By Jason Jourdan
Travel can be as mild as an all-inclusive in the sun or as wild as a
camping trip in of a foreign country where locals do not speak your
mother tongue. I bet for many people when they think of “Extreme
Travel”, there’s one word that pops up; “danger!” Over the past decade
I’ve encountered challenging situations across blazing deserts,
through tangled jungles and up icy mountains in Africa to start but
rarely, if ever, did I cross the line into danger. I’ve walked
alongside, drank with and was welcomed into the homes of countless
strangers of all walks of life and was always greeted with a cup of
tea, big friendly smiles, and introductions to family members.
When I mention countries such as “Nigeria”, “Congo” or “Sierra Leone”
people’s minds turned to violence, wars, guns, blood diamonds and
scams, but these are stereotypes that are, like many others, a
misleading judgement. These are ideal examples of extreme travel
destinations but for me they are not associated with danger and
“sh**hole countries” they are not.
Language barriers, lack of running water, patchy electricity, long
stretches without internet connections, overloaded transportation that
takes you off the grid, all of this is part of extreme travel and what
makes it so authentic. It takes you back to nature, restores your
trust and hope in people as you put your life in the hands of
strangers and helps you see the beauty in the simple things.
I personally have backpacked and overlanded through 37 African
countries in very extreme conditions. To sleep, we pulled over in our
self-built MAN truck in the wild African bush and camped with exotic
animals, found local hotels in small villages or stayed in locals’
homes via Couch Surfing. Left and right, doors opened for us and we
fell more and more in love with the people, food and the cultures we
encountered. Hospitality is a key ingredient in the lives of African
people and one of the many things that make Africa so special and
memorable. A little less than the ordinary safari trip to Africa, we
embraced the continent by indulging in local food, spending hours upon
hours bouncing down thousands of miles of deeply potholed paved and
dirt roads, spotting wildlife, and making friendships that would last
a lifetime and leave us feeling forever welcome.
Extreme travel often coincides with “less fortunate” countries which
we associate with poverty, corrupt politics and recent wars, but as
long as we make smart choices, we can avoid dangers and have some of
the most rewarding, eye-opening experiences. Amazingly, one of the
biggest lessons I learned while travelling in Africa was that the less
people have, the MORE they are willing to share. The sacrifices I saw
being made all around me, the deep sense of family and happiness left
me feeling inspired. Travelling there helped me appreciate the
technology and luxuries we take for granted daily at home but it also
made me yearn for that compassion, love, hospitality and friendship I
experienced DAILY in Africa.
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