Terry Lister is a man who loves life and appreciates the value of travel and of keeping an open perspective. In Immersed in West Africa: My Solo Journey Across Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea and Guinea Bissau, readers get a front row seat as Terry shares the highlights from a bold two month trip. Part vacation and part adventure, Terry explores several locations across West Africa. Some destinations, such as the infamous Gorée Island, are well known for their dark place in history. Others, including some lovely parks and monuments, are relatively unknown to outsiders. Truly, experiencing West Africa as the natives do seems to have been a factor all along the journey. The beautiful photographs help Terry’s adventure come to life for readers anywhere in the world.
The highlight of this intriguing part travel guide, part memoir is indeed Terry Lister himself! His journey is far from trouble-free. He experiences difficulties with transportation, accommodations, languages, border officials, and more. Despite the discomfort, Terry seeks to find the good. In one location he observed, “The poverty is heart-breaking but the spirit of the people is great.” Although the prose could use some refinement, the courage, honesty, and open-mindedness truly shine through. For those of us who crave a new destination or have ever felt like we have ‘Rock Fever,’ Immersed in West Africa: My Solo Journey Across Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea and Guinea Bissau may not be a polished gem, but is certainly a diamond in the rough.
