Ben Lerwill, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

Pakistan : l’appel des montagnes

1 week ago | nationalgeographic.fr | Ben Lerwill |Naveed Hussain

Les prières du vendredi sont terminées et les rues de Rawalpindi sont chaudes, bruyantes et bondées. Les cyclomoteurs rugissent en se frayant un chemin parmi la foule. Dans la masse, des détails attirent le regard. Des barbes teintes au henné et des hijabs colorés. Un affûteur de couteau noyant les pavés sous les étincelles. Et quatre passagers accompagnés d’une chèvre tassés dans un pousse-pousse. Dans une allée, des garçons jouent au cricket sous un enchevêtrement de lignes électriques.
NATURE'S TINY CHAMPIONS

2 weeks ago | kirkusreviews.com | Ben Lerwill

A fresh take on the notion that size matters. Cogently noting that the vast majority of the world’s animal species are tiny enough to fit into a reader’s hand, Lerwill introduces over 40 examples both rare and ubiquitous. Dubbing each a “super-small superhero,” the author profiles 20 compact creatures in his main gallery and adds brief cameos for 21 more at the end.
From coral reefs to ancient ruins-5 ways to explore Tanzania’s islands

2 weeks ago | nationalgeographic.com | Ben Lerwill

With almost 900 miles of tropical Indian Ocean shoreline, Tanzania is as much a coastal destination as it is a safari hotspot. The warm islands sitting off the coast of this East African nation are steeped in heritage, lined with sandy beaches and fringed by coral reefs. Often known as the Swahili Coast, the region is a fascinating swirl of Bantu traditions and Islamic influences.
Pakistan's mountains are calling-here's why you should go

3 weeks ago | nationalgeographic.com | Ben Lerwill

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Friday prayers have ended, and the streets of Rawalpindi are hot, noisy and rammed. Mopeds growl as they edge through the crowd. In the throng, details catch the eye: henna-dyed beards and candy-striped hijabs; a knife-sharpener showering sparks over the pavement; four passengers and a goat in an auto-rickshaw. Down an alley, boys are playing cricket under a tangle of overhead wires. The heat is thick. Brakes squeak, brows sweat.
6 South African natural wonders you must see

2 months ago | nationalgeographic.com | Ben Lerwill

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Many come to South Africa to experience the wonder of its Big Five wildlife on a traditional safari – but the country has many more natural phenomena to witness, from the clearest night skies over the Kalahari Desert to the spectacle of the annual sardine run up the east coast. 1. The Sardine Run You don’t need wildebeest for a great migration.
‘In the distance I see tiny glowing silhouettes sprinkled like salt’: birdwatching on Devon’s Exe estuary

Nov 27, 2024 | theguardian.com | Ben Lerwill

The Christmas market doesn’t know what’s hit it. At 8.30 on a mid-November morning Exeter is a whirl of white, a city half-blinded by tumbling flakes. Four market workers, caught out by this overly authentic addition to the festive decor, are busy shovelling the ground in front of the bao stalls and craft gin chalets. Above them, the cathedral’s medieval towers stand tall and cold in the heaven-filling flurry. Winter has arrived in Devon with bells on. The Guardian’s journalism is independent.
How to experience traditional South Korean culture

Nov 7, 2024 | nationalgeographic.com | Ben Lerwill

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller(UK). In the 1960s, only a few years after the destruction of the Korean War, South Korea began putting an official classification on its most cherished crafts, customs and celebrations. Known as National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the designation has since been applied to almost 150 practices, from hemp-weaving to masked dances.
7 unforgettable train journeys across South America

Nov 4, 2024 | wanderlustmagazine.com | Ben Lerwill

Rail From Andean highs to coastal lowlands, South America’s railroads cross some of the most dramatic scenery on Earth… Ben Lerwill 05 November 2024 Link copied! Tren a las Nubes (Shutterstock) The train was a boxy grey express that had seen better days, but it pulled out of Oruro on time. I boarded late and breathless, having lost track of the hour in town.
Why you should try Busan's street food

Oct 24, 2024 | nationalgeographic.com | Ben Lerwill

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Some restaurants aren’t cut out for stardom. Busan made its grand debut in the Michelin Guide in February 2024, but Bongjane Silbijip was nowhere to be seen on the list. It’s perhaps no surprise. Its spring onion pancakes are fried on a spitting, sizzling streetside hotplate, while the walls of its seating area are covered in pen-drawn scrawls and peeling beer posters.
8 things to see and do in Busan, South Korea

Oct 24, 2024 | nationalgeographic.com | Ben Lerwill

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Busan, South Korea’s city by the sea, is a place where arty neighbourhoods and soaring skyscapers meet the gentle swells of the southeast coast. Whether you want to ride the waves with a surf school, take your pick between its street kitchens or join the cheering crowds at a baseball game, this is a city to suit every taste — here are eight of the best ways to experience it. 1.