In October of 2019, Jessica Nabongo became the first Black woman on record to visit all 195 UN-recognized countries in the world. Now, she is detailing her global journeys in her first book, a memoir and travelogue titled The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World. The book is slated for a June 14 release.
Nabongo is a Detroit native, born to immigrants from Uganda. She experienced her first taste of international travel at the age of six, when she visited London and Uganda with her family. The trip was enough to ignite the spirit of wanderlust within her.
Throughout her book, Nabongo tells interesting stories and experiences from her travels, and shares with readers her top 100 destinations, travel tips, and musings. Having begun sharing her adventures via her blog The Catch Me if You Can in 2009, she is no stranger to storytelling. A skilled wordsmith and photographer, Nabongo uses numerous photos taken herself to illustrate her book.
Among the memorable experiences Nabongo recounts in her book are “learning to make traditional takoyaki (octopus balls) from locals in Japan, dog sledding in Norway and swimming with humpback whales in Tonga, a late night adventure with strangers to cross a border in Guinea-Bissau, and sunbathing on the sandy shores of Los Roques in Venezuela,” according to the book’s synopsis.
The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World is sure to spark a serious case of the travel bug that may make you want to immediately hop on a flight. Novice tourists and experienced jetsetters alike can enjoy page after page of beautiful lands, unique cultures, bucket list experiences, and travel inspiration. The book is currently available for pre-order from various retailers.
