Safari Notes

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...

Boma Jonglei - Google Map In-spite of all of the deadly fighting; in-spite of the instability that has lasted for decades; located not far from the Gambela and the Omo National Park in Ethiopia; and not far from Kenya's Lake Turkana National Parks and Uganda's Kidepo Valley National Park , is the most intact savannah ecosystem in East Africa: the Boma National Park. Described as East Africa's largest savanna eco-system. It is about 20,000 to 25,000 sq. km. (about 2,280,000 hectares or 5,631,600 acres) or more, of woodland savanna and grassland in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria states. Like the Masai Mara-Serengeti, the park has one of the world's greatest and most spectacular animal migration that was described by The New York Times as rivaling that of the Serengeti . The Boma National Park, sometimes called - the Boma Jonglei National Park, is home to a variety of animals: elephants, giraffe and buffalo. It has numerous types of antelopes like: white-eared kob,...

Kigali Future City Rwanda is planning BIG. As much as I hate urban jungles of concrete, slab and glasses - I have to salute and congratulate the Rwandan leadership for having uplifted their people from one of the greatest tragedies ever , to where/what Rwanda is now. And now, the country's leadership is having grand plans for its main city: Kigali. New Kigali Future City  The visionary Rwandan leadership wants to recreate Kigali and make it a center for investments and business. Rwanda is small and seemingly poor; but so was Singapore when its leaders embarked on a grandiose plan to make their city-state what it is today. Rwanda/Kigali is very well placed geographically - right in the center of Africa - to achieve what Singapore has. All great cities, all great projects for that matter, were founded through the vision of a few people or leaders or just one leader. To recreate Kigali into a dynamic, modern business hub and center, Kigali will need the infrastructure;...

How many people ever heard of, let alone know of, Lesotho? Very few indeed. Out of Africa, even fewer. Did you know that Lesotho is completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa? The Kingdom of Lesotho or the Mountain Kingdom as it is fondly called by its officials; and due to its rolling high mountains and valleys, its stunning beauty and mountain scenery, it is also know as the ' Kingdom in the Sky '. For complete report go: here For many who know of Lesotho, they know it for having one of the highest HIV-Aids infection in the world. But now, thankfully and hearteningly, there is very good news about the Kingdom: it is now reportedly one of the very few places on Earth where women have full rights and are much better off than women in most other places. A report just released by the World Economic Forum, ranks the Mountain Kingdom - 8th - for bridging the gap between the sexes and for continuing to demonstrate  the greatest equality between men and women . L...

As Sao Tome and Principe 's oil benefit hopes, have diminished of late, the Island nation is having great success with one of its other main and most loved products: cocoa. Since the late 1980s , the Island has been trying hard in improving its cocoa production and reaping benefits from it; due to falling cocoa prices, many cocoa farmers had abandoned their plantations in the 80s or had decided to farm other crops instead. As prices, internationally, plummeted in 1998 - many more gave up on growing it. Early this Century, a French organic chocolate producer did an assessment on the Island's cocoa sector; they concluded that : the rich genetic origin of Sao Tome cocoa varieties could produce superior aromatic cocoa beans that would fetch higher and more stable prices than ordinary cocoa. The study also found that traditional farming methods could be adapted easily to organic production. By combining organic production and fair trade principles, cocoa farmers could greatly boos...