Africa is a country that many people know little to nothing about. If you didn’t wince at us calling Africa a “country” then you may have proved our point. Here are five common misconceptions people have about the continent.
The Whole Continent Lives In Poverty
When people picture Africa, they often picture people living in mud huts in poverty-stricken areas. Although many people living in some African do suffer the very real effects of poverty, the continent is also home to some of the fastest-growing cities in the world.
It Is Backwards When It Comes To Technology
People often mistakenly believe that they will have no WiFi during their trip to the continent because the whole of Africa is backward when it comes to technology. In fact, 297 million people have internet access in their homes and in Tunisia, there are more mobile phone subscriptions than there are people.
Everyone Speaks “African”
This is the equivalent of asking someone from England or Belgium whether they speak “European”. Over 2,000 languages are spoken in Africa, with Swahili being the most commonly spoken.
It’s Always Hot
When people think of Africa, they think of scorching temperatures. Head South, however, and you’ll be greeted with enough to snow to support an actual ski resort.
It’s Too Dangerous To Travel
When people ask travelers why they have so many stamps on their passport but have not stepped foot in Africa, people often argue that it is “too dangerous”. Although some areas are more dangerous than others, you can easily learn which borders to avoid. Beyond that, staying safe is common sense and there is no more crime than there is in the safer parts of the U.S.
