Safari Notes

Kenya Renewable Energy Of developing regions, Africa has had the highest percentage rise in investments in renewable energy; in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya is leading the way. With electric power being unreliable and power bills rising, many Kenyans - of whom 25% use electricity - are turning to solar panels; both in urban and rural areas. Solar power is clean, very convenient and in the long run, cheaper to use. Many hotels, furnished apartments for rental and households around Nairobi, are opting for solar panels to heat up water; in rural areas, where most use the uneconomical and the very unhealthy kerosene lanterns, many are now turning to solar power; one Kenyan company - Solantern - is very much assisting in that. Kenya is already a leader of renewable energy with three quarters of the country's energy coming from hydro-power and a further 11percent coming from geothermal sources . When the Lake Turkana Wind Power plant is completed, it will be the largest of its kind i

On a scale not seen on the continent in nearly 60 years, famine is once again stalking Africa. Caused mainly by the severest droughts in years; and also by the effects of climate change , floods, mismanagement of land and food supplies, political instability, and regional conflicts. Nearly 11 million people are now affected and starving, mainly in Somalia; and also in: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and even in Uganda - the land of plenty . BLOATED bellies with stick arms and legs; huge eyes staring out of skeletal heads; gaunt mothers trying to suckle babies on withered breasts. The world thought it might never see such scenes again. Famine in Africa, absent for many years, appeared to have gone the way of diseases for which we now have cures or vaccines. Yet, after the worst drought in 60 years, more than 10m people in the Horn of Africa need emergency food aid. Livestock have been annihilated. Hundreds of thousands of people are streaming into refugee camps in search of help. Malnutri

Snow Leopard Great, wonderful news this week: first - a good number of the very elusive, endangered snow leopard has been discovered, thriving, in, of all places: Afghanistan. The Wildlife Conservation Society has discovered a surprisingly healthy population of rare snow leopards living in the mountainous reaches of northeastern Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, according to a new study. The discovery gives hope to the world’s most elusive big cat, which calls home to some of the world’s tallest mountains. Between 4,500 and 7,500 snow leopards remain in the wild scattered across a dozen countries in Central Asia . Read more here . The discovery was made using camera traps high up in the remote Afghan north-east mountains. As with most wild animals, the leopard's greatest danger is from man: mainly poachers. Long-legged Borneo Rainbow Toad Then, another more elating, wonderful news : a toad that was thought to be extinct and was last seen 87 years ago - and never photographe

Juba - click on map to enlarge The capital might be changed, but, today, Juba, is the capital city of the world's newest nation: South Sudan. The city, like the country, has to start from scratch: its infrastructure (systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, housing and transportation), institutions and all the basics a city should have, are almost non-existent. With so many people - Sudanese and non-Sudanese - migrating to or entering the city from within South Sudan, from the North and from other countries, it is very hard to know the present real population of Juba. It could be half-a-million or one million or more; most of who are poor. Those planning, administering and managing Juba, on the White Nile, have a most daunting task. At the same time, with South Sudan awash in oil and the city being built from almost nothing , they can build the city into whatever they want it to be. Properly planned and managed, Juba can be a clean, organized and sustainable metropolis.

One of my, few, most favorite African countries is Rwanda: not only because I have always deeply sympathized with the country due to the genocide ; not only because Kigali is the cleanest city in East Africa and one of the cleanest in Africa ; not only because Rwanda is one of the least corrupt countries in Africa ; not only because I am an avid admirer and supporter of President Paul Kagame ; I have another reason to be very concerned with Rwanda: gorillas . These great apes, who share 99% of their genes with us humans, are rapidly declining in numbers; and are listed as critically endangered; but, there is a place that these very rare creatures are very well protected and are multiplying in numbers . In Rwanda: A latest census put the number of Gorillas to 480 from 380 indicating a 26.3 percent increase in last seven years . All along this week, Rwandans, lead by their president, are celebrating this incredible success in caring for these mountain gorillas. This Saturday, June th

With South Sudan almost certain to gain independence next month: Sudan's political coordinates will be updated. Sudan will be split and Sudan, as we know it, will no longer look or be the same. The largest country in Africa, has only had brief intervals without wars since its independence. And now its borders, inherited from colonialism, will be changed. North Sudan will still be very large: it will be the 3rd largest country in Africa, after the D.R. of Congo and Algeria; and the 17th largest country in the world. Already, demarcating the new border is causing immense friction between the North and the South; and the splitting of Sudan, is causing intense worries in many parts of ethnically and culturally, very diverse Africa. What will discourage other people in other countries of Africa, not to seek or even fight for independence? After south Sudan splits - what will dissuade people within it not to want, or struggle for, further separation? North  Sudan map - click on map

Slavery still exists. In many forms.What is slavery? It is the involuntary subjection to another or others. Slavery emphasizes the idea of complete ownership and control by a master: to be sold into slavery. Bondage indicates a state of subjugation or captivity often involving burdensome and degrading labor: in bondage to a cruel master. Servitude is compulsory service, often such as is required by a legal penalty: penal servitud e. In many parts of Africa, slavery is still practiced; in some African countries, slavery is openly practiced. Across the continent: children are sold, exploited and used as domestic or sexual slaves; women are trafficked across countries and continents and sold. Human wickedness has no boundaries: recently, in Nigeria - a 'baby producing factory' was discovered: Police in Nigeria freed 32 teen girls from an alleged "baby factory" used to feed the region's exploding sex trade and human trafficking markets, authorities said....... N