Africa
Madagascar’s Nosy Be was recently identified as a hotspot for whale sharks, which could boost the island’s ecotourism to rival the likes of global whale shark hotspots in Tanzania and Mozambique. One woman – the lead author of the study that identified Nosy Be as a feeding hotspot-- has now introduced a code of conduct to protect the sharks, enhance tourists’ experience and ensure any income to the island generated as a result is sustainable.
During the early years of the 20th century, the small town of Kolmanskop, which originally was just a train station, became the richest town in Namibia during a diamond boom. However, after mining over 1 ton of diamonds during World War I alone, the resources soon became depleted, and the mining stopped. What is left of this significant historical landmark today is a ghost town of incredible beauty.
Gliding silently through the winding channels of the Okavango Delta, I felt a bit nervous. Our mokoro canoe, a type of dugout canoe skillfully guided by a local poler, sliced through the murky waters as we navigated past water lilies. But the large pod of hippos standing at the shore not too far away dampened the soothing atmosphere. The remaining serenity was suddenly broken by a loud splash and grunt – a reminder that we were sharing these waters with some of Africa's most formidable creatures.
I knew very little about the black rhino when I first arrived in Africa. In fact, I knew next to nothing about African wildlife in general and even less about the impact of hunting in Zimbabwe. After three years guiding on the continent, black rhino poaching is now a problem with which I am very familiar.
Music has long been a passionate harbinger of change and social activism. From Woody Guthrie’s “This machine kills fascists” message emblazoned on his beat-up acoustic guitar to Bob Dylan’s powerful political messages in “The Times They Are A Changin’,” to the Woodstock era’s desperate and eloquent pleas for peace during the Vietnam War, and up to Bruce Springsteen’s Vote For Change tours in the 21st century, the musical community has consistently used its platform to advocate for a better world. Perhaps no single musician has had a bigger influence on a larger audience than the brilliant Senegalese musician/percussionist/activist Youssou N’Dour.
As the only primate that only can be found outside of Africa, the orangutan lures people from all over the world to see its uniqueness of being strikingly similar to human beings.
Before your wildlife safari or self-drive adventure, take a day or two to discover Windhoek’s history, particularly the township of Katutura, where the city’s black population was forcefully moved under Apartheid.
Most recently, I traveled to Ghana over the holidays with friends and family. I tried many foods like fufu, bofrot, and my personal favorite, Jollof! I sat in the notorious Accra traffic for too many hours to count, and I spent Christmas on the beach. But the most important thing I did was visit two slave castles: Cape Coast and Elmina.
Let’s be honest, most people head for the same places when they visit Africa for the first time like the Masai Mara, Kruger, and Serengeti National Parks. However, some of the most fascinating experiences on the continent are far off the beaten track and this is certainly true of Namibia in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ask any average Westerner, and they likely won’t be able to point out Burundi on the map. Although this tiny country is virtually ignored when it comes to East African tourism, that’s no reason why it shouldn’t be on your travel bucket list.
It’s evening in the small African nation of Burundi, and the waning sun throws shadows over the city of Bujumbura. In the old Land Rover, we bump and jostle our way through the crowded dirt roads of the capital. Before we left the mission station where my husband’s family lives, we picked up a few Burundian friends who were going the same direction. I struggle to make casual conversation in Swahili, the unfamiliar syllables falling heavily from my tongue. The boy next to me is patient, and he smiles broadly at each clumsy attempt to communicate. Something I have learned during my short time in Burundi is that the people are rarely judgmental. They appreciate your interest in their culture, although they don’t mind laughing good-naturedly at your fumbles. Children of Burundi We pull up to our destination: a modest two-room home built of mudbricks. Small children stare [...]
South Africa is not the safest country in which I’ve travelled. It’s not the least corrupt. Or the most open-minded. But it is my favourite.
