Often crassly lumped together as a single entity (e.g., here), Africa is as diverse and beautiful as it is vast. And vast it is—don’t let that distorting Mercator projection fool you. Breathtaking natural beauty—from the immense grasslands of the Serengeti to the fertile Nile Delta to the bone-dry Namib Desert to the snow at the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro to the heavily humid Congo rainforest—marks this storied continent. Even as visitors come with dreams of gazing at lions or staring down the great apes, they are inspired to return by the spirit of the continent’s many residents encountered on their journey. Home to 54 nations and approximately 3,000 distinct languages, there is no unifying culture here; rather there is a wonderful amalgamation of music, dance, food, joy, and a general appreciation for the African continent. While much of the region remains untouched by tourists, there are a myriad of opportunities here for the intrepid traveler: the stone houses of Zanzibar, the idyllic beaches of the Seychelles, the ancient ruins of Egypt, the markets of Morocco, the ports of Ghana, the rich musical tradition of Mali. While the majority of the continent is still developing, the violence, civil unrest, disease, famine, and the host of other social problems that mark international television screens do not plague the entirety of Africa. More than just your next humanitarian mission, Africa is a continent full of wonder and delight that will have you returning again and again to experience more of its mysteries.