Being employed in the airline industry and having flown around the world for some thirty years or so (after so many years of flying I guess one loses track of time and stops counting), there still isn’t anything that compares to Africa. It is unpredictable and you never know what to expect. But in the end you are always rewarded with a great sight, sound or even smell.

And so is your magazine. Take for instance the last ‘This is Africa’ column by Kate Humble about the Danakil Depression (‘Gateway to hell?’, Ed 48, Autumn 2009) – it is overwhelming and inspiring. That is Africa indeed.

Noël Taylor, Lelystad, The Netherlands.