Safari Notes

Come January next year, no one can blame the Southern Sudanese if they opt for independence. After being marginalized for so long; after, for years, fleeing from place to place in search of safety; and after so much blood and suffering, they can not be blamed for choosing secession. But, doesn't and won't that set a wrong and dangerous precedent for Africa? Won't that encourage others in other African countries, who 'feel' or 'consider' themselves marginalized or oppressed to want or demand and struggle for secession? What is to stop southern Ethiopians or northern Ugandans or north-eastern Kenyans to think of taking the same path as the Southern Sudanese? And should southern Sudan go for independence, what is to stop another or other parts or other tribes of the same Southern Sudan, like the Shuluk or the Nuer demanding for separation, should they feel marginalized or oppressed? There are hundreds of thousands of Southern Sudanese now living in the Nort...

For most Kenyans living outside the country with foreign citizenship, the just signed New Constitution is a great gift and relief; apart from being entitled to proper housing, free medication, and the right to food - Kenyans who have acquired citizenship in foreign countries would now qualify for dual citizenship! " The Bill of Rights in Chapter Four of the new Constitution and Chapter Three on Citizenship, became effective instantly after President Kibaki promulgated the new Constitution ." The New Constitution means: A person who is a citizen does not lose citizenship by reason only of acquiring the citizenship of another country. A person who as a result of acquiring the citizenship of another country ceased to be a Kenyan citizen is entitled, on application, to regain Kenyan citizenship. " Dual citizenship is good because it will enable Kenyans in the diaspora to enjoy the benefits of their country of residence while at the same time make their contribution in t...

Nectophrynoides asperginis the Kihansi spray toad was originally discovered and described in 1998 . The Kihansi spray toad is now extinct in the wild. The Kihansi spray toad lived in the spray wetland of the Kihansi Falls in the Kihansi Gorge in the Udzungwa Mountains of eastern Tanzania The serious decline and extinction of this species appears related to the construction of a hydroelectric dam in 2000 upstream on the Kihansi River, which cut off 90% of the original water flow to the gorge, thereby hugely reducing the volume of spray, particularly in the dry season. Read more >>>> More on the Kihansi Toad: IUCN , AmphibiaWeb , Wikipedia , Mongobay , Science Daily , WCS , Guardian ,

Ever heard of São Tomé or Príncipe? It is Africa's smallest nation, after Seychelles; and it's probably Africa's  least known country. Both are islands. Both are pristine and very rarely do foreigners visit it; and very rarely do its people travel out. More on Sao Tome and Principe: Nation Master ,  Country Profile , Nations On Lin e, MBendi ,  WWF ,  BBC , IPS , Lonely Planet , InfoPlease , National Geographic , African Studies Center , World66 , Culture ,  WikiTravel , World Atlas , Google Maps , Africa.com , World Travel Guide ,  HRW , Atlas , Maps , Books , Videos , News , UN , Wikipedia , Timeline

Very few people know of or have ever heard of Kenya's pristine Matthews Mountain Range, also known as the Lenkiyio Hills. It is over 2,700m above sea level; is densely covered with forest; is one of the wildest parts of Kenya and has many, never known before species of plants and animals. But now, it is getting attention; an expedition - organized by the Northern Rangelands Trust and Namunyak Conservancy , is underway. It is funded by The Nature Conservancy and taking part too, in the expedition - are scientists from the National Museums of Kenya and the TNC: View Larger Map The Matthews Range of mountains rises from the arid brown plains of northern Kenya like a green tropical island; its peaks looming above the dusty haze blanketing the otherwise featureless landscape. The flat lands that surround it stretch for almost 100km in any direction, leaving the Matthews blissfully isolated. It has been this way for at least 10 millennia, the dry sea lapping against its shores -...

BP's chief executive, Tony Hayward , has said the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster should not mean the end of deep-water exploration. He told the BBC : " I don't believe it should [result in a ban], in the same way as Apollo 13 did not stop the space programme nor have serious airline accidents from time to time stopped people flying. " His thinking is just like that of the many oil executives and dealers: they only think in terms of figures and profits.  Above photo from: Rocky Mountains Review For Mr. Hayward to compare the Apollo 13 and past air disasters to the current massive and very damaging  oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico, is an insult and a complete lack of responsibility. The Apollo 13 disaster and past air plane crushes were in no way as destructive, perilous, costly and with such damaging long term effect, as the present oil spill is. BP's oil spill is destroying lives and livelihood; does Mr. Hayward know how many dolphins, turtles and other forms of ...

Dinder - Sudan Situated in the East of the country, very close to the Ethiopian border, about 400 km. (205 mi.) south-east of Khartoum - Sudan's capital city, is Dinder National Park (DNP) - some times called Dinda ( In Arabic: محميه الدندر ) . Covering about 6,475 sq. km. (2,500 sq. mi.) - some estimates say the park covers a much larger area; which would make it one of the largest in Africa. Established in 1935, it is the most important wildlife reserve in Northern Sudan. It is one of the two parks in the country  designated as Biosphere Reserves . The other is Radom National Park (RNP) in southern Darfur. The park, in Dinder District, Sennar State, like all game parks and reserves in Sudan, is confronted with several threatening problems such as trespassing livestock, poaching, increased human settlements and encroachment in the surrounding areas. Like all game parks and reserves in Sudan, you can hardly find any detailed information on the park. Photos of it, too, are v...