One day in mid-1997 there was a knock on the door of my aunt and uncle’s house in Oxfordshire. Responding to a promotional flyer, a retired doctor had driven 20 miles to subscribe to our as-yet-unpublished magazine. It was an early indication of the ardor for Africa that has been shared by readers since. Mike (the doctor) and his wife came to see us regularly at various travel shows over the following years, where we also met many more of our readers, a lot of whom we remain in regular contact with.
A deep passion for the continent binds us. We all know what dawn in the bush smells like and what it means to miss the smell of the rain; we appreciate that deep sense of quiet contentment you feel in camp after nightfall, chatting in the firelight with your guide. Sharing this gives us our purpose, and we are proud that in Travel Africa you have found a place to indulge your fascination, to listen to Africa’s song when you are not there. We love hearing from you, learning about your travels and what Africa means to you. With this common interest, conversation flows easily. Like when you meet fellow travellers around a lodge dining table, it is fun to get to know everyone and hear your stories. You live in all corners of the globe, yet you are connected through Travel Africa. We love that.
It was born of this that the idea came to dedicate our 100th issue to you, our readers. All of the content in this issue has been supplied by you, or motivated by you (a huge asante sana to all who took time to engage in the process!). We have been so grateful for your support over the last 25 years, and it has been a lot of fun to give you the opportunity to add your voice to the conversation — rather like gathering you all around the campfire to share your stories. You’re an interesting bunch of people. We should get together more often.
CRAIG AND SHERRY RIX