The news from Africa is often bleak, but that's only part of the story.

It has wonderful opportunities.

Spectacular scenery, spectacular wildlife, a huge variety of enjoyment in traveling there.

Today on Travel with Rick Steve's, Africa Scholar Martin Meredith provides us a background

on how a colonial legacy contributes to the challenges African nations are facing today.

Francis Tappon is in the middle of visiting every country in Africa,

and in many places he's been one of the few Westerners he or the locals have seen.

It's just full smiles and just full of joy.

And an international melting pot is a fixture on Sasha Martin's dinner table.

She'll tell us how the foods from every country on earth can instill an international

curiosity in your family.

The most simple thing you can do, which I recommend everybody to do, is to hang a world map

in your dining room or wherever you eat your meals.

From Africa to your kitchen spice rack, it's Travel with Rick Steeves.

Hi, I'm Rick Steeves.

We're following up on some compelling resolutions made by a couple of travel with Rick Steve's listeners in the hour ahead.

In a moment, you'll hear how their interest in people from faraway places has actually changed their lives.

One takes us far from the comforts of home on a Trans-Africa hike, while the other brings the

world into your home through the comfort foods of every nation on earth.

We'll also learn how the colonial legacy of Africa continues to complicate political and economic

realities for everyday Africans today.

Let's start with a call-out to Francis Tappan.

...