The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: September fourth, getting into Africa.

At 12 million square miles, the African continent covers 20 percent of the earth's surface that isn't ocean. Often mis-perceived as a single, vaguely dangerous place of war, famine and disease, Africa is in fact infinitely varied, with over 50 countries and hundreds of different cultures. No other continent encompasses a wider range of terrain or variety of flora and fauna. The infinity of possibilities it offers certainly contributes to its image of mystery and impenetrability.

To counter that perception the September issue of the magazine, National Geographic Traveler, a supporter of our program, conducts its readers on half a dozen journeys that explore Africa's essence.

They take a safari into the vast grasslands of Krueger National Park in South Africa, a New Jersey-sized swath of nature, where lions and elephants roam and large predators rule the night. They tumble down the mighty Zambezi River by white water raft from Victoria Falls to the dam at Kariba. The canoe trip from there to the Mozambique border is a ten day glide through one of earth's greatest wildlife shows. Or plunge into the forest of Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where half the world's mountain gorillas reside. To the north, the vast Sahara beckons desert adventures, accompanied by blue turbaned Tuaregs. Finally, for a little world class R&R, they enjoy a delicious interlude at Mnemba, the luxurious resort on a private island a mile and a half off the coast of Zanzibar. Its 10 stylish secluded bungalows are best described as Robinson Crusoe meets Calvin Klein.

With great photographs and tight prose, readers get a compelling look inside Africa.

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