This is the second article in a series about the power of travel.
I was talking to a colleague recently about my African tours and she noted that what makes these adventures different is that they actually change people—on the inside. “Participants are challenged in the best possible way… they grow,” she said. “They learn to trust themselves.”
I agreed. By their very nature, these adventures into the unknown across vast deserts and wild landscapes, mean you not only learn to trust yourself but also ‘strangers’ –the drivers, guides, and others you depend on to get you where you are going, safely.
To immerse yourself in foreign cultures, cities, and jungles (literally), can be challenging. That said, it is also an opportunity to let go of the need to control everything—and make space for grace.
New, transformative experiences open new pathways to even greater adventures. Travel not only broadens your mind, it can change your mind. You realize your preconceived perceptions of a place are not the same as being there.
And sometimes the best adventures are the ones that are unexpected.
For me, there are few places on the planet as soul-stirring and opportunities for the ‘unexpected’ as Africa… and that includes Rwanda.
The unexpected thrill of getting up close to the gorillas in their natural habitat. The magnificent, yet humbling sight of elephants gathering at a watering hole. The delightful experience of an African tracker with a Bob Marley backpack and great sense of humour guiding you up a mountain.
All wonderful, unexpected moments.
There are a few other things about Rwanda that might surprise people.
- In 2022, Rwanda was ranked as the safest country in Africa, according to statista.com.
- Women occupy over 60% of Rwanda’s parliamentary seats—the highest percentage of women in parliament in the world.
- Rwanda deliberately promotes exclusive, low footprint travel that protects the environment and benefits local communities.
In my travels to explore new worlds, in Africa and beyond, I’ve discovered one’s perceptions are simply a point of view—and the ‘reality’ of a destination exists at the heart of its culture, its streets, and its people.
Immersed in the unfamiliar, as one of my African tour participants said, pathways open to even greater adventures.
Perceptions change.
The world changes.
We change.
This is the power of travel.
With love and an adventurous spirit,
Barbara Edie