I’ve been traveling for almost a year now. From the cities of England to the art filled galleries of Paris, the souks of Morocco, the shores of Türkiye and everything else inbetween, it has been the journey of a lifetime. Each destination has presented me with its own kind of beauty and history. But despite the excitement of new cities and cultures, there’s one place I can never seem to shake: Africa.
Up next on my itinerary are Zambia and Zimbabwe, and I literally cannot wait. I’m counting down the days, not just for the adventures ahead, but because returning to Africa always feels like coming home.
They say home is where the heart is, which is maybe an overused phrase, but it’s overused for a reason. It always rings true. Africa just feels like home, and it has a way of sticking with you. Whether I’m staying with my family in Harare, on safari in Botswana, or even during my three months living in Morocco, the feeling is the same. A deep calm washes over me, and I know: I am exactly where I need to be at that moment
My uncle has always called it the Africa bug. It’s not so much of an illness, as it is an unshakeable feeling. He returns every few years, chasing the clarity and joy Africa gives him. “The air clears my mind,” he says, “and the energy, it just lifts me.” I didn’t quite understand it until I spent three months living in Zimbabwe. That was when I caught it, too.
Even still, years later, when I close my eyes I can smell the crisp morning air rising off a vlei. I can hear the lions grumbling at night in my dreams. I can feel the silence of the bush at dawn, the kind of quiet that fills you rather than empties you. In a world that moves faster by the day, Africa offers something rare: slow. Maybe that is why the motto of a safari in Tanzania is “pole pole,” slowly slowly in English.
One of the things that makes traveling here so different from anywhere else in the world is the people. The guides aren’t just guides. The more and more time you spend with them, they become your storytellers, your teachers, your friends. And by the end of your trip, they feel like family. They don’t just show you Africa, they share it with you, with a generosity and excitement that is hard to describe. You learn the land through their eyes, and in doing so, you find yourself becoming more connected to the place and to the people who call it home.
Even with all the beauty I’ve seen in Gothic cathedrals, ancient ruins, snowy mountain towns (and trust me they are beautiful) there’s something about Africa that stays with you in a different way. Europe’s wonders are human-shaped by generations of kings and craftsmen. But Africa? Africa’s history is written by mother nature herself. It’s etched in the migration paths of elephants, in the roar of the Zambezi, in the centuries-old baobabs that still stand tall.
This is the part of the world where the sky feels just a little bit bigger. Where a sunset isn’t just a view. Where every day brings the possibility of adventure, connection, and unexpected beauty.
If you’ve ever felt like the world is a little too loud, too busy, too crowded, Africa offers something that you’re in need of. It’s not just about seeing wildlife or staying in luxury lodges (although those are incredible too); it’s about rediscovering a sense of wonder that has been missing.
I’m beyond excited for Zambia and Zimbabwe. Writing this from Istanbul, I don’t want to leave, but I can’t wait to get there. The next step in my journey is sure to be one I won’t soon forget!
If you’ve ever considered visiting Africa, take this as your sign. Go. Let it show you something different. Not just about the world, but about yourself. I promise you: the Africa bug is real. And once you catch it, you’ll never want to be cured.
