By Jennifer Wells
N’anga - a traditional healer and herbalist who, as necessary, may practice witchcraft
Muti - traditional herbal remedy, in some instances used to cast or reverse a spell
We’ve been cursed. An owl flew into our house two nights ago. No other explanation is offered. As witches in disguise, owls are not popular here. On […]

By Laurie McAndish King
The first time I tracked lions, it was from the relative safety and comfort of a large—although open—Land Rover, with a loaded rifle situated handily next to the driver. At that time our guide had assured us that as long as we didn’t wear brightly colored clothes, make noise, or stand up, […]

By Simon Hodgson
Go East, Young Man
There are no crocodiles in my creek. For minutes I stare in silence at the brackish water before me, hoping, dreading, to see air bubbles. Nothing. Nothing but three men in the Borneo jungle.
The forest is both loud and quiet as we walk towards the lake. I can hear my […]

by Helen Sowers
Finally I was on my own, backpacking in the Sierra. It hadn’t been easy. When I proposed a solo hike, my husband had been adamantly opposed, citing all sorts of dangers. I persisted. I had always wanted to test my abilities alone. Finally I said, “Well, I won’t […]

by Nancy O’Connell
An unearthly pitched shriek pierced the night. Our soup spoons stopped in midair. The cry of distress was close, a few yards away. Thousands of miles from America and all that was familiar, we’d just begun our dinner. Now we fell silent. What was happening?
Just beyond our patio wall […]

by Peter Mandel
The Rio Negro, I am told, is a river like any other.
This is Brazil, the jungle, so it keeps tropical fish. It’s an air force base for brightly colored birds. And like the Amazon, which it empties into, it supports our boat.
But the Negro that I know a little now isn’t […]