The Universal Language of African Travel

The power of new experiences is undeniable. They can send sparks of inspiration flying in our brains. According to Psychology Today, engaging in new and diverse experiences ignites the neural pathways and lights up our pleasure sensors. Other benefits may include improved cognitive flexibility, emotional resilience, and joyfulness, thanks to the happiness hormone dopamine. In this blog, join me as we decipher the mystical code of explorers, the universal language of African travel, the role of body language, visual iconography and the importance of travel for posterity.

Interpreting the Unwritten Messages

One of the most crucial travel phases is dreaming about a trip. Anticipation unlocks the imagination, regardless of what passport(s) you hold. As we roam the globe, expanding our horizons, depending on our mindset, our understanding and tolerance of our shared human experience flourishes despite our distinctions.

Encountering different cultures, landscapes, and people can significantly enrich our lives and profoundly impact our well-being and personal growth. Africa is rich with natural wonder and the timeless sounds of the wilderness, available for all to behold and requires no translation. The continent's shape resembles a misshapen horse's head and is like a giant whispering wall swirling with messages in an unscripted dialect understood only by those attuned to her soulfulness.

Tune into the Frequency of Africa's Sonic Safari

The sounds of Africa's wilderness are myriad. Some are iconic, like the call of the African fish eagle. By contrast, others are more commonplace and easily recognisable, like the rustling of leaves in the wind or the gurgling brook.

Some may resonate, like the ocean's roar echoing that of fearsome lions; all these sounds communicate a profound sense of place and presence. These sounds are an intrinsic part of the traveller experience, connecting travellers to Africa's people and places in a tangible way.

Body Language – Read the Signs

Traditional African attire uniquely communicates culture and identity. The nomadic Himba people of Namibia are renowned for their ochre body paint, intricate braided hairstyles, and unique headdresses, symbolising beauty and status. In Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, the brightly coloured patterns of the chitenge sarong-like wrap. The multipurpose garment can be decorative and tell folkloric stories through vibrant designs while used as a modesty wrap or baby sling.

When looking at a map, our gaze travels northward toward the equator. In the days of the seafarers, Africa's trade routes expanded, bringing influences from Europe and beyond. 

Today, the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania are instantly recognisable by their red plaid blankets or shuka, which, over time, replaced their initial attire of animal skins. The vibrant red of the fabric communicates bravery, and blue denotes the sky and water. The green nods to their pastoral ranges. The white represents purity.

Tribe members also don ornate beadwork rich in symbolism. These traditional garments and accessories are visual narratives that communicate heritage and identity and are inherent to celebrations and ceremonial events.

The Meaning of Movement and Murals

The San people of the Kalahari in Botswana speak a fascinating "click" language. Dance and storytelling feature heavily in their rituals, of which rhythmic clapping is a crucial part that transcends language barriers. If you're invited to observe such a ceremony, allow yourself to connect with the essence of Africa's first people culture through their unique interpretive movement and music.

Further south, examples of the Cape's hunter-gatherer Khoisan people's rock art at Bushmanskloof abound. Wondrous to behold, they masterfully tell the stories of their lived experiences from beyond the grave through handprints, depictions of shamanic rituals, hunts, and animal drawings.

The Language of the Stars

Gazing up at the night sky over Southern Africa offers a celestial display that is both mesmerising and humbling. Dark sky reserves in the region, such as the NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia, are perfect for stargazing in some of the clearest night skies in the world.

Lodges in sub-Saharan Africa, like &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge and Wolwedans Dunes Lodge, feature activities focused on the night sky with telescopes and guided talks. These experiences connect us to the cosmos and highlight the importance of preserving dark skies from light pollution. By embracing sustainable practices, these reserves and lodges help to safeguard mankind's access to marvel at the infinite treasures of the night sky.

Wanderlust, The Mother Tongue of Travel

Travel may be a universal concept. However, holidaying is subjective. For those struck by wanderlust, the pervasive desire to explore as much a part of us as DNA. Ours is a global community that has been fluent in the language of rovers, wanderers, and explorers since the dawn of time.

If pressed on the topic, some of us may even admit to the main reason we work, which is to travel. Daily, we find ourselves wading through an alphabet soup of curiosity, muddling through the business of life until the siren song of our next trip calls from beyond the horizon, and our soul awakens.

I'm fortunate to have travelled a fair bit in my lifetime, gathering experiences and growing my consciousness. Some of my most impactful trips, rooted in nature, were characterised by adventure, where the elements tested my mettle, invoking a sense of connectedness.

I have so many more places to explore. A lifetime seems too short a period within which to experience them all, and I remain open to learning more about this beautiful, unscripted language that travel brings.

No matter how foreign a place seems, the universal lingo of friendship remains a smile. In Africa, smiles are warm, rising in the eyes of a friend or readily chasing across a stranger's face. Where will your smile take you next? 

Experience the Universal Language of African Travel

Join Rhino Africa by experiencing what makes it one of the most-dreamt-about destinations to travel to. Reach out to their Travel Experts who can tailor the trip that will pull at your heartstrings and leave you changed for the better.  

Header Image Credit: Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp