Many people still believe that visiting Africa will expose them to tribes, wild animals wandering the streets, dirt roads, and temporary dwellings. The following post will provide you a more accurate persopective on this really unique and gorgeous continent, busting all of the generally held myths.
We gathered 15 facts about this enigmatic location in order to familiarize you with its true splendors. There is a bonus at the conclusion of the piece that will make you believe that everything is possible in Africa.
There is no technical progress in Africa.
Africa, we've been taught, is made up of developing countries. This does not, however, imply that the continent is still in the Middle Ages. 90% of Africans own a cell phone, and there are programmers who develop their own apps and gadgets. Local developers, for example, have established a service for farmers that includes cow breeding advice and disaster information. Furthermore, Africa has a well-developed manufacturing sector, with certain countries producing major machines such as vehicles.
Africa is hot as a desert
When people hear the word Africa, they often conjure up pictures of a sweltering, arid desert. Despite popular belief, the continent contains a vast expanse of tropical rainforest, Mount Kilimanjaro, and other snowy peaks, as well as savanna. Within Africa, all climatic zones are represented, and the average annual temperature does not surpass 81°F, even in the equatorial region.
Africa is inhebited by wild animal
So many TV episodes, movies, and cartoons have shown us that Africa is home to dangerous animals that wander freely in nature and are capable of attacking humans. Most safaris, however, take place during the winter, when potentially harmful snakes and insects are dormant. The majority of wild animals currently reside in national parks. Human attacks are exceedingly rare, and nearly invariably result from individuals breaking park laws by intentionally trying to come into touch with the animals or hunting them.
The crime rate in Africa is high
Due to the high crime rates in Africa, it is widely assumed that travelers must be wary at all times. The truth is that tourism has advanced to the point where African countries are becoming stylish and popular tourist destinations for Westerners. Only in South Africa, up to 1.5 million tourists visit each year. This could be attributed to the fact that service levels are improving and tourism conditions are vastly improving, all while maintaining the unique opportunity to be close to nature and exotic creatures.Africa has no cultural heritage.
When we think of Africa, we generally image a savage society devoid of culture or even history. Africa is rightfully known as the "cradle of civilisation," since it contains several old structures and other cultural relics that are meticulously preserved. Kenya, for instance, boasts over 200 architectural landmarks. In addition, several African countries have interesting museums that are financed by the government.
Africa lives below the poverty line
When most people arrange a trip to Africa, they expect to witness poverty everywhere. While there are countries where people live in poverty, there are far fewer of them than many people believe. In general, African countries' economic levels are similar to those of other developing countries, while the middle class is still developing. In order to attract tourists, these countries are substantially investing in tourism by creating pleasant hotels and recreation facilities.
Epidemics of dangerous diseases are everywhere around Africa
We are accustomed to hearing about new outbreaks of dreadful diseases in Africa via the media, and we have come to believe that the continent is riddled with them. In fact, the Ebola epidemic did not spread throughout the entire continent, but limited to Sierra Leone and its environs. Malaria is the second ailment that comes to mind when people think about Africa. Malaria-carrying mosquitos can exist, but they aren't a threat if you follow a few easy safety precautions. Repellents, mosquito nets, and preventive medicines are among the precautions.
Africans live in huts
Not everyone in Africa lives in huts. This is a major fallacy, as large cities in Africa are built similarly to other megacities, with high-rise apartment buildings, skyscrapers, and business districts. African cities are particularly progressive due to their developed architecture and infrastructure. Some people, such as Bushmen, still live in huts, but they are few and far between.
The African language is spoken in Africa
There is no such thing as an African language. Furthermore, local groups' distinct languages are quickly vanishing. During the colonization period, Africans assimilated European languages such as English, French, German, and Portuguese. With the help of television and the internet, languages spread even faster. Hundreds of different languages are spoken on the continent; for linguists, Africa is a godsend - Namibia alone has 20 state languages.
Africa is torn by political conflicts
American movies often show us local wars or political strife in African countries. Indeed, in the span of 90 years, the continent was bursting with local conflicts and more than a dozen wars were simultaneously taking place. These wars were a legacy of the colonial era when the borders of countries were established on the basis of the interests of the colonialists and almost no account was taken of the real cultural and historical isolation of the country. Today, the territories of the countries are defined and wars beyond the borders have ended
There is lack of food in Africa
Many photographs and films display starving people in Africa and this causes us to think that this problem has swept the whole continent. Hunger in the countries of Africa does exist, but not in all of them. About a quarter of the world’s fertile soil is located here and not all of it is used for agriculture. In tourist areas, there are no problems with food, and in South Africa and Egypt, McDonald’s restaurants are pretty common.
Africa is ruled by tryants
Outside of Africa, there is a prevalent belief that African political governments were formed by military dictatorships and that tyrants rule the continent. In actuality, different political regimes coexist in Africa; Ghana and Senegal, for example, are regarded as models of democratic growth. Of doubt, Africa cannot be compared to Europe in terms of tolerance and openness, but it would also be a mistake to believe that the entire continent is governed by a totalitarian dictatorship.
There is no drinking water in Africa
The problem of the scarcity of clean drinking water in Africa exists and it is terrible, but it does not affect the entire continent. In tourist areas, it will not be a problem to buy a bottle of clean water and all the usual and popular drinks. For example, Coca-Cola can be found even in remote villages.
Africa was circumvented by modern youth trends
In this regard, Africa's backwardness is likewise excessively exaggerated. Social media will not surprise anyone because the younger generations use Facebook to communicate with friends on distant countries. Modern tourist paths have also been developed — Couchsurfing, for example, has not ignored Africa. Furthermore, Africans are more welcoming than Europeans and are more likely to respond positively. Although you may not be offered a luxurious room, you can nearly always expect a warm welcome.
White people are hated in Africa
When emancipated Africa pushed out the Europeans and reclaimed its sovereignty after the era of slavery and colonization, this myth arose. Even now, there is a separation between white and black people, but light-skinned people are common in the area, and it is not a source of hostility. Residents in developed tourism countries are used to tourists of different nationalities and treat them with respect. To prevent any potential complications, stick to tourist areas and avoid provoking the local populace, just like you would in Latin America or Mexico.
Source
Unexplored Africa: 17 Controversial Things We Used to Believe In
