英语听力:自然百科 环球风情:非洲中西部
时间:2014-04-29 07:19:48
搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号:tingroom,领取免费英语资料大礼包。
(单词翻译)
We’re heading now to west and central Africa, well this region probably didn't get as much exposure as the rest of Africa, but for the intrepid1 traveler, that's just one of its many charms. You see, less tourists means more chances for you to meet local people and experience traditional ways of life. With epic2 festivals, booming cities and nature parks you can really call your own, this is one trip, you’ll definitely, never forget.
If you are looking for a variety and an original travel experience, and you've come to the right place: west and central Africa, comprised of over 20 countries and an array of landscapes to suit whatever you loop, from lazy beaches to overland adventures from jungle to desert.
The Sahara Desert stretches across Mauritania, Morley, Niger and Chad. Before transitioning into a belt of dry
grasslands3 called the Sahel. And into
savanna4 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 skill. The tourist
infrastructure5 here is not always as developed as in other parts of Africa, and political conflicts can bring a
leisurely6 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 rainforest of the Republican of Congo offers a
wondrous7 setting for wildlife lovers. Some of the best opportunities for seeing animals are Odzala National Park, here a
patchwork8 of wide clearings called bais dot the landscape.
There are abundant vegetation and mineral deposits attract a menagerie of animals including forest elephants, sitatunga, wild
hogs9 and rare lowland
gorillas10, to name just a few.
Working together, park officials and a variety of governmental and non-governmental organizations have developed a tourist infrastructure for this special place in the hopes that dollars raised will aid wildlife conservation here and across the region.
For more wildlife watching, head west to the coast of Gabon to the Loango Park. Members of the local communities within the park act as eco guides, scientists and
wardens11 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 surf the ocean 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
stunning12 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 called the Dama is particularly important. It marks the passage of life until death, and establishes the connection between this world and the next.
In Ghana, ceremony is both old and new intermingled. Funerals especially are anything but a drab affair.
Coffins13 come in fantastic designs. As a procession makes its way, mourners pay tribute to the deceased life and ask for
blessings14 as the deceased joins other honored ancestors.
In Togo and Benin, the traditional religion Voodoon, or as it's more commonly known in America, Voodoo, is an integral part of the community spiritual health.
One tradition is the Epe Ekpe festival held every September in the
coastal15 town of Glidji, Togo.
Followers16 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 Voodoo followers and travelers, lucky enough to witness their rocky celebrations.
To genuinely experience the region's rich cultures, this is the sort of place where you'll put down your guidebook and hit the road. New adventures can await you
literally17 right around the corner.
分享到: