1. Haggling is the most fun game there is!
In Asia, I always absolutely hated negotiating. You’d want to order a simple spring roll with your sweaty head, and bam—you’d get ripped off. In Africa, it’s not all that different in the sense that you’re often sweaty here too, and you still need to be smart to avoid overpaying. But the big difference between the souvenir market in Hoi An and the one in Nairobi lies in the approach: here, it’s a game without losers. Bargaining is much more playful, and often, the harder the laughter, the better the outcome for you.
2. Raving is a given here
The Netherlands is, of course, a festival country through and through. When I left, the festival season had just kicked off, and I was genuinely gutted to miss out on it all. Turns out, my fears were completely unfounded: Africa boasts an impressive array of festivals, with the added bonus that the chances of being drenched in your tent are significantly lower! A few highlights: Africa Burn (giving Burning Man a run for its money), Nyege Nyege (think of it as a mini Lowlands, but along the Nile), and Lake of Stars (the name alone promises great things). Moral of the story: you can rave till you drop in Africa too.
3. Don't stop believing
"I don’t believe in anything." I still remember saying it while sitting by the campfire with my driver, George. Oops, wrong comment. Here, it doesn’t matter what you believe in, as long as you believe. Because not believing, in absolutely nothing, is hard for many Kenyans to grasp. "It’s so beautiful to believe in something, Caty," George whispered to me. It almost made me emotional, and I realised he might actually be right.
4. Diversity requires preparation
This is the most important lesson I've learned in Africa: to navigate this continent smoothly, you need to be prepared. One moment you're under the scorching desert sun, the next you're walking through pouring rain in the jungle. Nowhere is as diverse and beautiful as here, but be prepared!
