African Wisdom – Living Organically

The World’s most magical forest – and what we can learn from it

August 21, 2024March 6, 2023 by Alan Heeks

I’ve loved forests all my life, and have been in many fine ones on five continents. My vote for most magical is the forests of Bale Mountains National Park, in south-east Ethiopia. Why so special? Beautiful, vibrant, atmospheric, with life of all kinds, and very rare: many unique species, and there are few other habitats … Read more

Southern Morocco: a great place to learn about the roots of happiness

August 21, 2024December 31, 2020 by Alan Heeks

For many years, I’ve found that trips to so-called less developed countries give me priceless reminders of how to live more happily back home in 2018 Britain. This was certainly true of the group trip I co-led to Morocco in November 2018. I called this trip the Roots of Joy because I believe that human … Read more

When three worlds converge: tribal life in Ethiopia

March 28, 2023June 19, 2016 by Alan Heeks

One image sums up my time in the Omo Valley: the remote area in south-west Ethiopia where tribal cultures still flourish. I’m attending a wedding in a village several miles down a dusty path, barely usable by vehicles. The woman in front of me has the braided, red-dyed hair typical for women of the Hammar … Read more

A hand-made easel, a mango tree, and a goat: resilience training in rural Ethiopia

March 28, 2023March 15, 2016 by Alan Heeks

A hand-made easel, a mango tree, and a goat: resilience training in rural Ethiopia: I feel so honoured and touched that this flipchart easel has been hand-made locally for me: square section steel, painted grey, with a big panel of wood bolted to its front. Its two coat hooks just about fit with the brass eyelets on the pad – ironically, made in China.
Handmade easelWhy here? Why me?

Face-offs with cows, and flying chickens. Lessons in community from Ethiopian roads

March 28, 2023February 16, 2016 by Alan Heeks

Face-offs with cows, and flying chickens. Lessons in community from Ethiopian roads.

It happens so often, you suspect the animals must enjoy it: why else do they spread the full width of the tarmac, instead of using the broad gravel verges? The cows are the worst: they glower balefully as if they might charge, and only turn aside from our approaching vehicle at the very last minute. At least the goats lose their nerve sooner.

Too Old for This Kind of Thing?

March 28, 2023November 24, 2014 by Alan Heeks

Learning from Africa: Courage and gratitude help

The bus puts me down in the dark at an isolated gas station near Jinga, a town in Uganda. There’s just me and four local guys: boda-bodas, motorbike taxis. Can I trust one of them to get me and my suitcase to my destination? I choose Martin, who claims to know where Adrift Rafting are located. After a brief but heated haggle on price, we set off.

It’s a very bumpy dirt road, but I find myself enjoying the novelty, riding pillion on a warm tropical night, with exotic birds alternating with chattering villages. After several miles, we arrive at the wrong place.