Safari Notes

Join the World Wildlife Fund to stop oil sands from Canada blowing into Europe: The European Union (EU) is about to make a decision that could define if we move towards a better, cleaner world or a short-sighted, dirty energy future. We need the politicians who are deciding on this legislation to hear our voice and make the right choice! Take action by signing the Petition !

What a year? Within just the last few weeks, the face of Africa has been dramatically changing so fast, it is as if we are hallucinating. First: Tunisia, the events there and the rapid developments, at that time, seemed utterly incredible. Then came Egypt: what happened and the eventual result, were the most mind boggling events of this century and will continue to stun and be discussed for years to come. And now: Libya. Where is it heading to? Map of Libya - click to enlarge Whatever happens in and of Libya, Africa will very much be affected. Not only because of its immense oil reserves and wealth; but, because too, Muammar Al Qaddafi, the man at the center of all what has been and is happening in Libya, has for a long time been playing a leading and major role in Africa. Very unfortunately and deplorably, in Libya, the uprising there, is turning into a very bloody and deadly process. Many have died or are badly injured, including children ; and the violence and slaughter is stil...

Do you like carnivals? What is a carnival? A carnival can mean many things . Most of us know of the spectacular, yearly, Brazilian carnivals. We very rarely hear of African carnivals. Well, a few days from now, 4th to the 6th of March, the very beautiful island nation of the Seychelles is holding the Carnaval International de Victoria and the islands will turn into a place for celebration and entertainment. And, it is attracting many from other parts of Africa . The 1972 Carnival was a great success, with Seychellois from all the islands assembling in Victoria for the celebrations alongside the visitors to the country. The 2011 Carnival will take place on a bigger scale and with an international flavor as Carnival Floats will this time be welcomed to Seychelles from the four corners of the world. Experience Seychelles Many other countries from around the world have been invited; and many, will attend. Seychelles, is renowned for its stunning beauty and very welcoming people. It is als...

For years now, environmentalists have been calling for more efforts to protect the argun palm; which is a rare desert tree prized by the ancient Egyptians that is on the verge of extinction. It is now being reported that less than fifty of the trees remain in Egypt and a few hundred in Sudan. Due to its association with ancient Egyptians, the seeds health benefits and how - before, when they were many, the palms helped in keeping the desert green, many people have been very fascinated by the argun palm also known as the medemia argun. More on the palm tree: IUCN Red List , Kew , Free Republic , IPS ,  Wired New York , Rare Palm Seeds , Right Health , Alert Net , Plant A Palm , Palm Society , Facts , Images

Sudan's Oil Fields Map In about 6 months, South Sudan will become a country. Many say that the new country is very lucky starting off with so much oil, especially with oil prices as high as they are now. It is not oil that should be the country's main attention; South Sudan, will be much better off, if it uses its oil earnings wisely and focuses on developing its other very promising sectors: tourism and agriculture. Read this very interesting and insightful article on South Sudan's wonderful wildlife. Excerpts: ....with new nationhood comes tough decisions and new pressures. Multinational companies seeking to exploit the nation's vast natural resources are expected to arrive in South Sudan, tempting them with promises of development and economic growth, promises that have proven uneven at best across Africa. Dubbed the resource curse, many poor nations have seen their rich, natural resources plundered for the world market, but instead of reaping the financial r...

While, it was most pleasing and uplifting that a few days ago, Uganda Wildlife Authority and Posta Uganda used the World Post Day to launch a series of stamps dedicated to the mountain gorillas in the country - mainly found in Bwindi and Mahinga; in the last few weeks, there have been some very disturbing and disheartening news on Ugandan wildlife. Hundreds of gray African parrots have been seized while being smuggled out of the country; while in Luweero, tens of baboons were mercilessly slaughtered.  A team of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials and the Police have seized 140 African Gray parrots from Wakiso district. This brings the number of parrots seized to 272 in just a fortnight. New Vision An Uganda Wildlife Authority official says more than 270 African grey parrots have been seized from smugglers in the past month, which suggests there is a syndicate illegally exporting Ugandan wildlife. The Canadian Press .....a week after Luweero District authorities launche...

With reports now stating that the oil wealth, that the island nation had for long hoped for as a stepping stone - to prosperity, will not be a reality for now. The tiny African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe in West Africa is unlikely to realise soon its long held dream that crude oil hidden beneath the waves offshore will lift its people out of poverty and into wealth.This is because big explorers that once jostled for drilling rights in the country of 163,000 people, nestled at the heart of a promising oil region, have backed off after a slew of dry wells, raising questions over how soon the dream will come true . With its stunning beauty , its many agricultural and fish products and its small population of less than 200,000 people - the Island country does not really need oil to develop and lift its people out of poverty. If it focuses and properly manages its tourist potential, which has excellent attractions; if it improves and modernizes its agricultural and fishing sy...

South Sudan has been setting itself up for its independence. Now, a new capital is being  planned; it could be Juba or another site. In 2004, Rumbek was being talked of as the most likely new capital of South Sudan, should it get independence. Of Rumbek, the BBC reported : with no multi-storey buildings or paved roads and a population of under 100,000 - the ramshackle town of Rumbek has been chosen by Sudan's former southern rebels as the unlikely administrative capital of the south . Click on map to enlarge Click on map to enlarge Now, it is being reported that two new locations are being proposed : an area (not named) that straddles four Southern states and the other is Ramicel ( or Ramshiel or Ramshel or Ramkiel or Ramcel or Ramicel or Ramshel in Lakes State - Arabic: البحيرات‎: Al Buhayra t) - Rumbek is easily found on many maps but I could not find Ramshel on any map. The two competing locations have been proposed for study before the government could choose ...

This is very unnerving: lions are disappearing fast, and if nothing is done immediately to reverse this,  experts predict that - lions could be wiped out from the wild in ten years. It is hard to imagine this let alone accept it. For a number of years now, we are being warned on the precarious numbers of this most majestic of animals: Lions may soon become extinct in large parts of Africa. According to a commission set up under the auspices of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), there is not a single population of lions in West or Central Africa that is large enough to be viable. New Scientist ~ November, 2001 According to wildlife experts, there are now only 23,000 lions left in Africa. That compares with over 200,000 in the 1980's, and if the populations continue to fall, experts predict lions will soon become extinct.......a wildlife biologist from the University of California, said the only way to save lions and other predators is to learn how humans and the animals can live...

With food becoming more and more expensive; with the world's poor and hungry in their hundreds of millions, and daily increasing in numbers; with thousands of children dying every day due to hunger  - nothing can be as humane and noble as feeding some of our less fortunate human kind. Except if: those being fed are children. That's precisely what a Scottish based organization: Mary's Meals is doing. It is feeding half-a-million children every school day, in several continents and countries ; in: Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Albania, Ukraine and more. What is even more pleasing and heartening about the project, is that: the children are fed when they are in school. In Malawi, where the whole project began nine years ago, as an experiment aimed at helping a handful of African orphans - the organization is feeding almost 400,000 children every school day; in Kenya, it feeds 17,000 children every school day; 17,000 of the poorest, mainly from slums. Kenya’s slums are among the wors...

It has a national flag which looks very much like the Kenyan one; it now has a national anthem ; and it even has an official website . But a name change? That's what some are proposing for the newest country on Earth: South Sudan , the Republic of Kush , the Nile Republic , Azania , Equatoria , New Sudan , Wunjubacel , and even Juwama - an acronym for Juba, Wau and Malakal. All these have been suggested. Excerpts from what is being said about changing South Sudan's name: .....as Sudan referendum dominated some of the world key burning issues for the last three weeks, few voters and writers overjoyed by throwing suggestions of new names if the Sudan is going to fall apart into two nations. Among the proposed names for consideration are The Nile Republic, The Republic of Kush, and South Sudan..... BorGlobe The Daily Citizen published by veteran South Sudan leader Joseph Lagu says that the new nation should be called the Nile Republic. The Standard The new country, however, st...