Editorial by the President.

Mauritania, Pakistan, Kenya

How can we get a true picture of the actual situation in these countries?

You’ve all been surprised by the discrepancy between reality and the image portrayed by the media. You’re in a foreign country and your family is worrying about you because of alarmist reports, but you’ve seen little or no evidence to back this up. Generally, the situation is not as bad is it appears on TV or in the press.

Risk is part of life and inherent in our travels. We can be the victim of an aggressive act anywhere in the world: in the centre of New York, London, Paris, in the desert, on a busy street or in a public building.

Our security is dependant on our discretion and our vigilance. Our vehicles already stand out, so let’s not make it worse. Avoid large crowds, but try to mingle with the locals, with nothing in your clothing or behaviour which could cause offence or which could generate envy in our hosts by displaying a degree of wealth which can be an insult to those around us and whose standard of living is sometimes dramatically low.

As travellers we are usually welcomed. Let’s treat those whose paths we cross with modesty and kindness. It’s our best form of protection. It’s the best way to profit from our richly rewarding journeys.

Jean-Pierre Pillot All these precautions are necessary, but are not infallible. Remember that you alone are responsible for your decisions and your fate. The Club can’t make this decision for you. You can ask for advice, but there’s no certainly or guarantee of the outcome.

Some parts of the world are more sensitive from time to time. There’s so much to see that we should not let that weaken the force which drives us to explore all four corners of the earth.

Happy travelling!