Safari Notes

"I am the Congo, the Congo has made me. I am making the Congo." "History will one day have its say, but it will not be the history that Brussels, Paris, Washington, or the United Nations will teach, but that which they will teach in the countries emancipatied from colonialism and its puppets. Africa will write its own history, and it will be, to the north and to the south of the Sahara, a history of glory and dignity." Patrice Émery Lumumba (2 July 1925 – 17 January 1961) was an African anti-colonial leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo after he helped to win its independence from Belgium in June 1960. Only ten weeks later, Lumumba's government was deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis. He was subsequently imprisoned and assassinated under controversial circumstances in January 1961. Patrice Lumumba continues to serve as a significant inspirational figure in the Congo as well as throughout Africa. Mo...

They became extinct on mainland Australia hundreds of years ago. Now the can be found only in Tasmania. They are rather rather small - an adult is as the size of a small dog; but their sounds, so fierce, are intimidating and chilling. Hunted, trapped and poisoned; and with diseases sweeping and killing them regularly, this fearsome creature's existence is now in danger. They may become extinct in the wild.   More on the Tasmanian Devil: Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania , Devilsatcradle , Tassiedevil , Enchantedlearning , Tasmanian Devil Park , Australian Fauna , Brittanica , The Age , Thewebsiteforeverything , Monstuart , Nature Blog , Endangered Animals , WWF , National Geographic , Books , Scholar

Capital of Egypt, largest city in the Middle East and in Africa, Cairo knew settlements as long ago as 6,000 years. The roots of the modern city, however, date from A.D. 969, when Muslim invaders from Tunisia secured and enlarged the site. Major growth came in the 19th century with the opening of the Suez Canal, extending Cairo's dominant status as a hub of trade with Europe, Asia, and Africa. Although Cairo translates as "the victorious," Cairenes call it Misr, meaning "Egypt." Agriculture is the country's economic mainstay. Revenue flows from mining, industry, trade, finance, and tourism, which, despite concerns over political unrest, has substantially rebounded. In recent decades Cairo has seen extreme growth, and housing can be scarce. More than 350,000 people are born there yearly, and nearly 50 percent of the population is 19 years old or younger. But Cairo remains a great city for its size, traditions, learning, and culture. >>>>Read more:...

While, each day, millions of people go without food or enough to eat; while millions of people are starving world wide - cod fish, worth thousands of kilos are being thrown back to the sea . That is - after the fish have been caught by fishermen in the North Sea, and most of the fish have already died or are dying. This is not only 'immoral', but an "absolute waste" to throw good quality fish back into the sea . And insane and 'obscene'. Cod fish, a fish that has been relentlessly fished for centuries, is an endangered species. Every means and all measures have to be taken to conserve cod; but for it to be fished, and then millions of tons thrown back in to the sea, while most are already dead, because of a fishing quota system created by the European Union - is pure insanity. Can't the European Union come up with a better, wiser and saner system than what it has now in place ? Incidentally, a few weeks ago, I read - ' Cod: A Biography of the Fish Tha...

Even Black rhinos are not spared from the mess that has become of Zimbabwe! It has just been reported that three adult rhinos who were a part of a breeding programme in Zimbabwe, have been mercilessly killed. It becomes even more tragic and sad knowing that, the rhinos that were killed, one of which was pregnant, had been recently de-horned so as to avoid their being killed. But for no apparent reason, except - to destroy - the rhinos were butchered. For a country that promised so much 27 years ago, what a mess: When Zimbabwe became an independent country in 1980, it was a focal point for international optimism about Africa's future. Today, Zimbabwe is a basket case of a country. Over the past decade, the refusal of President Robert Mugabe and his ruling party to tolerate challenges to their power has led them to systematically dismantle the most effective workings of Zimbabwe's economic and political systems, replacing these with structures of corruption, blatant patronage an...

Common Name : Black rhino, hook-lipped rhinoceros;Rhinocéros noir(Fr);Rinoceronte negro(Sp) Scientific Name :Diceros bicornis Habitat : Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands Location : Eastern, central, western and southern Africa Status : IUCN : Critically Endangered (CR A2abc) to Probably Extinct CITES : Appendix I Population : Approximately 3,725 individuals From: WWF More on the Black Rhino: IRF , BlackRhinoceros , SCZ , Botany UWC , IFAW , National Geographic , Bagheera , Animal Diversity , AnimalInfo , WildLifeAfrica , Save The Rhino , WWF ,  AWF

All the signs pointed towards Antigua. The island had warm, steady winds, a complex coastline of safe harbors, and a protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral reef. It would make a perfect place to hide a fleet. And so in 1784 the legendary Admiral Horatio Nelson sailed to Antigua and established Great Britain's most important Caribbean base. Little did he know that over 200 years later the same unique characteristics that attracted the Royal Navy would transform Antigua and Barbuda in one of the Caribbean's premier tourist destinations. The signs are still there, they just point to different things. The Trade Winds that once blew British men-of-war safely into English Harbour now fuel one of the world's foremost maritime events, Sailing Week . The expansive, winding coastline that made Antigua difficult for outsiders to navigate is where today's trekkers encounter a tremendous wealth of secluded, powdery soft beaches . The coral reefs, once the bane of marauding enem...

Jatropha: the wonder plant that can grow in the poorest of soil; is easy to manage; grows fast and produces seeds for up to 50 years. Its greatest wonder is that, it can produce oil for combustible fuel. Fuel that is environmentally clean. Medically it is used for treating diseases like cancer, piles, snakebite, paralysis, dropsy etc. Still: questions are now emerging as to whether widespread jatropha cultivation is really feasible or whether it will simply displace badly needed food crops in the developing world . More on the Jatropha: Jatropha World , Wikipedia , ecoworld , info.nedfi , Biodiesel Today , jatrophacurcas.net , REUK , Reuters , BP , Jatropha.de , Books , Scholar Image: Google

I came across this on the World Bank website . I found all the facts provided interesting, but some were more so; and I found many of the facts given, I didn't know of. A few of the ones I found most interesting: Crude oil comprises more than half of total Africa’s exports. In 2005 the richest 10% of African countries had 18.5 times the GDP per capita of the poorest 10%, from 10.5 times in 1975. South Africa’s and Nigeria’s GDP comprise 54% of total SSA’s GDP. It takes 14 days to start a business in the Central African Republic, and 233 days in Guinea Bissau. (IDA10). South Africa uses the most electric power per person (4,884.8kW/h); Ethiopia uses the least (32.7 kW/h). Burundi has the highest proportion of women in its labor force (90.5% 2005); Sudan has the lowest (22.5%). In Swaziland more than one in every three 15-49 year olds has contracted HIV (33.4%); the rate is six in every thousand in Mauritania. Mauritius has the highest life expectancy (73 years); Botswana has the low...

All cities in India are loud, but nothing matches the 24/7 decibel level of Mumbai, the former Bombay, where the traffic never stops and the horns always honk. Noise, however, is not a problem in Dharavi, the teeming slum of one million souls, where as many as 18,000 people crowd into a single acre (0.4 hectares). By nightfall, deep inside the maze of lanes too narrow even for the putt-putt of auto rickshaws, the slum is as still as a verdant glade. Once you get accustomed to sharing 300 square feet (28 square meters) of floor with 15 humans and an uncounted number of mice, a strange sense of relaxation sets in—ah, at last a moment to think straight. Dharavi is routinely called "the largest slum in Asia," a dubious attribution sometimes conflated into "the largest slum in the world." This is not true. Mexico City's Neza-Chalco-Itza barrio has four times as many people. In Asia, Karachi's Orangi Township has surpassed Dharavi. Even in Mumbai, where about half...

Few animals are as graceful, and as strikingly beautiful and spectacular to look at, as the African Sable. Of which, there are four recognized species:  the Zambian ( Hippotragus niger kirkii ), Common or Southern ( Hippotragus niger nige r), Eastern ( Hippotragus niger roosevelti ), and the Giant or Angolan ( Hippotragus niger variani ). All are endangered, some are on the IUCN red list of the critically endangered animals . If poaching for these antelopes continues at this fast rate, they may one day be extinct in the wild. More on the Sables: Wild-about-you , AWF , sav-venues , Suite101, bluewaterbiggame , wildwatch.com , africawildlifeguide , Wildlife Africa , Thinkquest , Africanconservation , National Geographic , Flickr Photos Wildcaster's photostream

About one and a half years ago, I wrote on this site about my great admiration and liking for Mozambique and how much had been achieved since it won independence: ' ......compared to what it was just a few years ago, Mozambique has very much improved. Best of all: it has peace now. Families can live in peace and children can go to school; people can carry on with normal life.' Unlike many, if not most, African countries, Mozambique has done comparatively very well. In spite of its bloody past - a long and bloody guerrilla war for independence, followed by another bloody and costly civil war - Mozambique has managed to over come all this. Mozambican leaders, most of all - Joaquim Chissano , its former President, are mainly responsible for: Mozambique's peace, a stable democracy and the economic progress that the country has now. Chissano has shown what real leadership is, both - when he was Mozambique's head of state and then not choosing to run (unlike most African lea...

Some fine and useful sites, offering Eco and environmental tips and sustainable solutions for a healthy planet: 1. Global Eastwards 2. The Environment Site 3. Ecology Fund 4. Tree Hugger 5. Greenpeace Image: PureStyle Living

"A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at." "A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer." "As you think, so shall you become." "If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done." "Real living is living for others." More on Bruce Lee: All About Bruce Lee , TIME 100 , ocf.berkeley , The Divine Wind , The Bruce Lee Club , Wikipedia , Books Image: Bruce-lee.com

Of late, it has been very encouraging to see that - the World's major news channels have become very interested and vocal about the danger our Planet faces. For the last few weeks, CNN has been airing these very interesting, informative and at the same time, heart wrenching and grim reports: 'Planet in Peril '; the BBC too, has its own ' Climate Change ' - reporting on the same, but with a complete different perspective. Even the recently launched Al Jazeera English channel, has it own version: Assignment Earth . All these programmes, show how very irresponsible, reckless and destructive Mankind has been in relation to our Planet. I watched the whole of CNN's, two-part reports. And couldn't help being very saddened, and at times shocked at the senselessness of our doings. As much as I respect and admire the Chinese and not only the economic 'miracle' they have achieved these last few years, but Chinese history as a whole - I am deeply disturbed and s...

The Golden Poison Dart Frog (Phyllobates Terribilis). It is considered as one of the most toxic animals on Earth. It is a threatened, endangered species and lives in small patches of forests in Colombia. More on the Frog: National Geographic , Animal Diversity , IUCN Red List , Tropical Rainforest Animals , Science Ray , AMNH ,  National Zoological Park , Wonderquest , AMNH , Facts , Wikipedia Image: National Geographic News