Hello, I’m Patty Kim. We’re headed now to West & Central Africa.

Now, this region probably doesn’t get as much as exposure as the rest of Africa, but for the intrepid traveler, that’s just one of its many charms.

You see, less tourism means more chances to meet local people and experience traditional ways of life.

With epic festivals, booming cities and nature parks you can call your own, this is one trip you’ll definitely never forget.

If you’re looking for variety and an original travel experience, then you’ve come to the right place - West and Central Africa.

Comprised of over 20 countries and an array of landscapes to suit whatever your mood - from lazy beaches to overland adventures, from jungle to desert.

The Sahara desert stretches across Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Chad before transitioning into a belt of dry grasslands called ‘The Sahel’… and into savanna and tropical forests stretching from Senegal in the west to the heart of Africa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Despite its many attractions, the region is for travelers with serious skills.

The tourist infrastructure here is not always as developed as in other parts of Africa, and political conflicts can bring a leisurely travel to a sudden halt.

Consult the US State Department website for traveler warnings before visiting the region – and plan your adventures accordingly.

The lush rainforests of the Republic of Congo offer a wondrous setting for wildlife lovers.

Some of the best opportunities for seeing animals are at Odzala National Park.

Here, a patchwork of wide clearings, called “bais”, dot the landscape.

Their abundant vegetation and mineral deposits attract a menagerie of animals, including forest elephants…sitatunga (marshbuck)…wild hogs, and rare lowland gorillas, to name just a few.

Working together, park officials and a variety of governmental and non-governmental organizations have developed new wildlife tourism opportunities in this special place – in the hopes that dollars raised will aid to wildlife conservation, here, and across the region.

For more wildlife watching, head west to the coast of Gabon to Loango Park.

Members of the local communities within the park act as eco-guides, scientists and wardens – and with good reason.

At its mangroves and shores, it’s not just people who come to the beach.

Here forest elephants wander across the sand.

Hippos play in the surf.

And whales come to mate off Gabon’s shores.

While there are loads of chances to see wildlife in this part of Africa, it’s the region’s cultural heritage that truly sets it apart from the rest of the continent.

In many places, modern life is still influenced by age-old traditions.

Southern Mali is Dogon Country.

At its center is a stretch of broad plateaus and stunning cliffs, known as the Bandiagara.

The cliffs shelter the villages of the Dogon.

An intensely spiritual people, the Dogon are also famous for their artistry.

They create elaborate masks and dances for their religious festivals.

One festival, the Dama, is particularly important.

It marks the passing of life into death… and establishes a connection between this world and the next.

In Ghana, ceremonies both old and new intermingle.

Funerals especially are anything but a drab affair.

Coffins sometimes come in fantastical designs.

As a procession makes it way, mourners pay tribute to the deceased’s life…and ask for blessings as the deceased joins other honored ancestors.

In Togo and Benin the traditional religion Vodun – or as its more commonly known in America – voodoo – is an integral part of the community’s spiritual health.

One tradition is the Epe Ekpe festival, held every September in the coastal town of Glidji, [GLEE-jee] Togo.

Followers purify themselves for the upcoming year, give thanks and ask for divine blessings.

On this day, the festival priest receives a lucky sign – this year will be a fortunate one for Vodun followers, and travelers lucky enough to witness the raucous celebrations.

To genuinely experience the region’s rich cultures this is the sort of place where you put down the guidebook and hit the road.

Or, you could always ditch the car and join a camel caravan.

Either way, thrilling travel opportunities will be right around the corner.