Most people will never travel to West Africa, so Terry Lister brings it to you in Immersed in West Africa. The author visits five territories and gives the reader a rundown of what to expect. The rich history of West Africa is fascinating. Slavery played a major part in its dark past as many places were used to funnel the slaves that were sold and shipped to the Western world. The beautiful wildlife and nature sites inspired Terry to experience their exceptional splendor, though petting crocodiles wasn’t as appealing. The people live at a slower pace and accept change as a way of life. Their drive and work ethic are inspiring as many live in extreme poverty.
 
I found Immersed in West Africa fascinating. Terry Lister brings the Dark Continent to life with his vivid descriptions and wonderful photographs. I loved how Terry described the people and tidbits about this part of Africa. The author keeps his experiences real as he tells about his traveling events, the cost of crossing borders, and the language barrier he faced. I researched more about as Terry shed light on the places that interested him. Overall, it took me much longer to read this travel guide than I had expected. I hung on every word, studied the maps, and pored over the photos. I mourned the crumbling architecture, walking through the markets, and gliding across the rivers. Since the author has become a world traveler, I am looking forward to discovering new worlds and enticing places with him.

Immersed in West Africa: My Solo Journey Across Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau is a work of non-fiction in the travel writing, memoir, and slice of life sub-genres, and was penned by author Terry Lister. An author with a true sense of adventure, we join Terry on an extraordinary journey that covers the countries in its subtitle, through which he made his way as a bold solo traveler. Untangling some of the myths and falsehoods about West Africa along the way, our author explains the rich culture, diverse people, natural beauty, and all the ups and downs of an authentic and exciting travel experience.

Author Terry Lister writes with charm to deliver this delightful and exploratory book. Travel writing fans will be sure to love the high levels of authentic detail that Lister puts into his craft, and I loved the fact that the work was really about the country and its effect on the traveler, how intellect, wisdom, and personal growth can come about through traveling. Lister’s authorial voice borrows beautiful descriptive techniques from fiction writing to make every setting come alive for the audience, yet the narrative is casual and amusing as if you are being told these amazing stories by a friend. The narrative skill around the people whom Lister meets is also a triumph, bringing colorful characters to life with warmth and heart. Overall, I would certainly recommend Immersed in West Africa: My Solo Journey Across Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea and Guinea Bissau for any travel writing fan to be immersed in.

Immersed in West Africa, a travelogue by Terry Lister, recounts his solo journey in the West African countries. Starting from Senegal, he traverses Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and Guinea Conakry. In an unconventional approach to traveling, he includes many unusual attractions in his itinerary along with the popular tourist destinations. Not only does Lister describe the natural beauty of each place but also incorporates historical details. He makes notes of the people, their livelihood, eating habits, and rituals. He often includes hilarious incidents he encountered during the journey. Numerous photographs enhance the narrative, featuring major historical landmarks, French buildings, thatched cottages, cascading waterfalls, and sandy beaches.

Instead of bombarding the reader with high-flying descriptions, Lister adopts a simplistic language. This, along with the modest photographs, makes the accounts heartfelt. Never opting for political correctness, he recounts the events with absolute transparency. Lister praises where praise is due, commending the use of solar panels or boreholes, for example. Yet he never hesitates to point out the corruption prevalent at the borders. Immersed in West Africa touches our hearts with its unique charm. We laugh when the passenger cars inevitably break down or when the local people blatantly demand exorbitant sums. We marvel at the sights of the wondrous waterfalls or the majestic crocodiles at a sanctuary. We shiver at the uncomfortable history of slavery that still seems to linger in places. The book thus depicts an authentic picture of the West African countries, and most importantly, of the people there.

I thoroughly enjoyed readying this book on African culture and the people of Africa It is well written and put together. I highly recommend it to everyone. Happy reading.

I enjoyed the book . Adventurous is indeed the word because he was on his own and not part of a "safe" tour . How he could endure some of the things that happened to him was beyond me. As a younger person no problem but at that age I would want safety and guarantees. He put all of that on the side and kept on going. I would prefer to be home watching all of those adventures on the TV.

Terry has done it again! In his book "Immersed in West Africa", he gives you a taste of what to expect travelling through Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea & Guinea Bissau.
His honest and forthright depiction of the destinations is highly refreshing with a bit of humour thrown in.
The comments about "Terry being loaded" cracked me up! 5 stars