... were closely linked with a common aviation history. Vickers aircraft types, for example, dominated the skies of Canada and Central Africa for many years and the generic de Havilland types were operated extensively throughout both lands. Another thing that is not generally known is the people themselves are closely linked in other ways. When parents and grandparents of today's citizens of Canada were settling in the rugged Pacific Northwest in the late 19th century, there were others of the same European stock colonizing Central Africa. To give a clearer historical perspective; when David Livingstone, that great missionary explorer, was searching for the source ... government of the Union of South Africa (sponsors of the quest) so that the two only slightly injured pilots might continue their journey and stake their claim to being the first aviators to fly from the United Kingdom to the Cape. Unfortunately the two aircraft engineers had to be left behind, along with a pile of scrap metal, lying at the end of the Bulawayo race course... the remains of their Silver Queen. "The art of flying across Africa is to know how to crash", is how The Times of London summed up early aviation in Central Africa. That's not too far from ...
Tags: central africa | first aeroplane | first air crash |

... out and push, before trying again. Seriously! And some old pilots were known to ask their back-seat passengers to lean forward during the take-off run to help get the tail wheel off the ground. Those were the days. There was a large 'flutter' of de Havilland Moths in central Africa between the World Wars - - Cirrus Moths, Gipsy Moths, Puss Moths, Leopard Moths, Fox, Hornet and Tiger Moths, each an improvement on the one before. First was the Cirrus Moth with a tough, simple little 65 horse power engine and lightweight, wooden frame. This little machine revolutionized everyday, private flying all ... on a high plateau on a hot, hot day in the middle of the boondocks in a de Havilland Puss Moth, with a full load of passengers, you have a problem. Back in the 1930's RANA (Rhodesian and Nyasaland Airways) operated little Puss Moths (DH-80's) all over central Africa; one pilot, three pax. Take-off performance graphs were a thing of the future and the runways were... shall we say, less than adequate. Seat of the pants flying and eyeball calculations were the only way, back then. You stood on the brakes at the start of the take off ...
Tags: Puss Moths | air density | be careful | central Africa |

... to visit. While the roads are in good condition in most of South Africa, 4x4 hire is essential if you do want to cross the border, especially into the likes of Mozambique or Namibia if you are planning on exploring the desert. Mozambique is an amazing country with so much to offer and its warm tropical climate is a huge draw card for tourists and facilitates some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling in the world. Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, is a seven hour drive from central Johannesburg and although in distance the shortest part of that trip occurs once ... , the capital of Mozambique, is a seven hour drive from central Johannesburg and although in distance the shortest part of that trip occurs once you cross the border you can be sure that it will be some of the slowest driving of the trip. Maputo is a major city and is obviously well serviced but trying to get to some of the more remote coastal towns and beach resorts will require a 4x4, the roads are almost non-existent in places. If planning on taking your car rental from South Africa into Namibia, which is always a highly recommended trip, you will ...
Tags: cross border travel in africa | travel africa |

... up its diamond industry after illegal trading of conflict-funding "blood diamonds" fuelled a decade-long civil war which ended in 2002. Iron Ore Rising iron ore prices driven by surging demand for steel in China have encouraged mining companies to search for new deposits in under-explored regions in Central and West Africa. BHP Billiton has recently signed a US 3 billion dollar deal with Liberia for a major project to develop iron ore mines. The company is the latest in a series of exploration companies that have concluded agreements to mine for iron ore in West ... into some type of partnership with the Government. One of the well-known mining commentators at the Paydirt Gold Conference held in Perth, Australia in late 2010, Rick Yeates, explained why he thought the future of gold mining is on the up and up. "The element of risk in West Africa today is relatively low," said Rick. He explained that the historical problems of instability are those that people remember, without really understanding that many of these issues have been resolved and that the countries have evolved. Australia was slow to recognize changes, while the Canadian and British investors were more ...
Tags: West Africa | Mineral Resources | Gold Mining | Diamonds Mining | Iron Ore Mining | Africa Mining |

... the Victoria Cross. A few were members of the famous Caterpillar Club and one was a guest at Stalag Luft 1, until his escape. What can you say about these men? It was a truly humbling experience to have known them and flown with them. These war-hardened men joined Central African Airways (1946 - 1967) which became one of the world's best-known and most efficient smaller airlines. CAA operated de Havilland Doves, Vickers Vikings, Douglas Dakotas and the indomitable Vickers Viscounts. Their good hands were usually gloved; it was the custom in those days for the captain to wear ...
Tags: mender and bender | good hands | Central African Airways |

... was, Gevisser seems to wonder whether this was purely out of Mbeki's shortcoming as a person or part of an intricate web of attempting to extricate a country from the abyss of a violent conflict in less than two decades after its birth with meagre resources. The central argument of the book: South Africa's rebirth is fraught with complex challenges that will take enormous time, resources and energy to traverse and overcome. It lays bare Mbeki's preoccupation with levels of anger among the black sections of the population as the government's service delivery machinery kept chugging along at ... . Indeed, in 2008, Mbeki's party lost faith in him and decided to recall him as president. He resigned six months before the end of his term of office. He remains the member of the ANC and is active in his pet project of African Renaissance and peace building in Africa. To this end, the Dream Deferred is a sociological study of a society in transition and how key political figures through act or omission may derail or fast-track the political and economic development of a newly independent state. The book is a collector's item and a must read ...
Tags: dream deferred | | thabo mbeki | | south africa |

... Canadians; the de Havilland Beaver. In the 1950's and 1960's these sturdy, ubiquitous, little 'half ton trucks' of the bush were hard at work all over Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi). The Beavers played a very important role in the social development of central and southern Africa and linked together remote, often inaccessible areas and provided basic services to the local populous. They transported all kinds of things like medicines, mail, car spares, fresh food, family cats, stretcher cases to hospital and, on one occasion, a new-born babe which decided to arrive during flight! There ... great beauty. The first one arrived at Salisbury's old Kentucky airport (now Harare airport, Zimbabwe) in 1956. More Viscounts were to follow in later years, a total of 14 in all. But VP-YNA, christened 'Malvern' and decked out in silver, dark blue and white, became the flagship of Central African Airways, the forerunner of Air Rhodesia. In her long and distinguished life she carried hundreds of thousands of passengers, her engines were changed 139 times, and she made more than 25 000 landings. And on her retirement in 1985, in the colours of Air Zimbabwe, she had flown 40 ...
Tags: central africa | southern rhodesia | strange tingle |

... 400 000 visitors per year and can get crowded, especially over holiday periods, so this expansion plan is most welcome! 4. Known for - Lake Mankwe, which tends to be the central focus point and the bird hides that allow wildlife photographers to get close to birds and mammals. 5. Roads - There are about 200 kilometers of roads in the park, both ... still has its wall intact. In addition, the Pilanesberg is about twice the size of the Ngorongoro crater. 2. Location and History - The game reserve is located in South Africa's North West Province (Sun City is located on the outer edge of the Pilanesberg). The reserve was established in 1979 after Operation Genesis had game-fenced the reserve and ...
Tags: pilanesberg game reserve | self drive safari | big five animals | Africa s super seven | nature photography |

... . They would smile and give a greeting, some would even talk and share a treat before continuing along on their merry way. Never did I feel threatened! This day was glorious as only Central African days can be - day, after day, after day. I had decided to go for a walk minus Duke the dog, had taken the .410 shotgun. I headed down the drive in my shorts and ... had been there for millennia. I had wandered quite a way when I decided it was time to go home. It was getting late and I had to be home before dark. In Africa, sunset is a fleeting thing and the bush gets very dark and if not interesting, down right scary. I was approaching home from the back side of the property where there were lots ...
Tags: leopard | old souls | granite fort | 410 shotgun | Africa | cottage |

... a daily basis in the work that they do. This charity has realised the importance of such creatures and their protection within our ever shrinking world of animal species. The interesting thing is that there isn't just one type of Gorilla - there are four. They live in west and central Africa so you might expect that you'd see them on all types of African safaris - right? Wrong. These magnificent beings are some of the most endangered on the earth - particularly true of the mountain gorillas that number a mere 700. Eastern Lowland Gorillas in turn are only estimated at 3 ... here. But they aren't the only stars. Further in is the Bwindi Impenetrable forest - a UNESCO world heritage site - reason alone to visit and home to more exotic and unique butterflies, birds and trees. It has to be one of the most remote and atmospheric places in all of Africa, and a must on any animal lovers or adventurer's list of must-visit destinations.
Tags: gorilla safaris | lowland gorillas |

... everyday Egyptian life. Ramses IV (No.2) Ramses III was the last of the great pharaohs. The quality of the craftsmanship in the tomb of his successor is noticeably poorer than those that came before. Ramses VI (No.9) This tomb has very dense decoration, representing sacred texts and imagery, central to which is the voyage of the sun god Ra through the underworld and his victorious reemergence in the morning. Traveler's Tips: Make sure you begin by dropping into the Visitors' Centre, which has an excellent scale model of the valley. Do not get too ambitious: half a dozen ...
Tags: Egypt | Africa | | ancient egyptian history | Egyptian King | Tutankhamun |

... held in Zanzibar, 18 year-old Arop won the gold medal with a distance of 68.05m. Arop dethroned the long-time champion John Mayaka of Kenya who had also won the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1974 held in Edinburgh with an Africa record throw of 77.56m. At the forthcoming East and Central African Championships, Arop would again become the javelin champion (71.04m) in 1977 in Mogadishu in Somalia, in 1981 (74.94m) in Mombasa in Kenya, in 1982 (73.02m) in Cairo in Egypt, in 1985 in Cairo, in 1989 (69.94m) in Arusha in Tanzania ... is a dearth of internationally competitive field athletes, javelin thrower Justin Arop rose to the occasion and for many years represented Uganda at the All-Africa Games, the Commonwealth of Nations' Games, and the Olympic Games. In the process he broke the African record. Arop's national record still stands, and he remains Uganda's greatest individual field athlete. Arop's remarkable athletic talent was evident when he was a teenager. In 1976, at the East and Central African Championships that were held in Zanzibar, 18 year-old Arop won the gold medal with a distance of 68.05m. Arop dethroned the ...
Tags: justin arop | javelin | uganda | africa | shot putt | olympics |

... supports hippo population as well as crocodiles and monitor lizards. Woodlands near the river also support giraffes, buffalo, zebras and elephants 5. Ubangi The Ubangi River, 2,270 km or 1,410 miles in length, is right smack in the middle of Africa - discuss becoming the center of the center. This river will just give you a thought about how big the Congo River definitely is because this river is one of its tributaries. The origin is Bangui, which is the capital of the CAR (Central African Republic) and it forms a boundary between CAR and also the Democratic Republic of Congo. ... its sources are locations with a small amount of silt. Another unusual thing about this river will be the Inner Niger Delta, which is as if the river attempted to release even before it reached country the gulf, creating large streams and floodplains in a supposedly semi-arid location in Central Mali. 4. Zambezi If you don't know Zambezi, you in all likelihood heard of Victoria Falls, that immense stretch of waterfalls which produces spray that shoot upward from sheer force during wet season, seemingly defying gravity. The Zambezi River, spanning 3,540 km or 2,200 miles, is its ...
Tags: five longest |

... memory. It is the way of restorative justice." Desmund Tutu sates: " We contend that there is another kind of justice; restorative justice. Here the central concern is not retribution or punishment...The central concern is the healing of breaches, the redressing of imbalances, the restoration of broken relationships, a seeking to rehabilitate both the victim and the ... the offense. They place you at risk of becoming what you hate. In seeking to repay offense with offense, offense quietly becomes your identity, lifestyle and character. Had South Africa traded one offense for another, it would still be imprisoned to grave injustice, a system of racism and hatred. Evil would have simply taken on a ...
Tags: restorative justice | south africa | authentic wellness | nelson mandela | reconciliation commission |

... the Big five, can be spotted in Botswana. The diverse landscape of the country also offers visitors the chance to see giraffes, zebras, ostriches, meerkats and many other creatures in their natural setting: from the world's largest inland delta, the Okavango, to the awesome arid vastness of the Central Kalahari. East Africa Safari holidays in Kenya and Tanzania offer visitors the mighty Serengeti - the site of the largest mammal migration in the world, and a truly awesome natural wonder. Every autumn, over a million animals take part in the Great Migration, heading south towards the plains in search of rain. When ... landscape of the country means that you will be able to enjoy a safari that takes you across bush-veld and desert. Namibia is home to the world's second largest canyon and provides stunning scenery wherever you choose to visit. With modern cities and the lowest population density in Africa, Namibia offers a truly wild experience. In the north, the skeleton coast offers one of the most remote and barren locations in the world. Travelling inland due east, visitors will come to the Etosha Plain which offers fantastic game viewing. The concentration of animals around water holes makes this a ...
Tags: Safari Holidays |

... the usual plains game, lion, leopard, buffalo, and fortunately, I am proud to now say: elephant! I was forty-three when I took this trip to Africa on my first elephant hunt. Both of my daughters grew up hunting with me. They are 19 and 21 now, and are used to tagging along to the deer stand at our leases or on our personal ranch in North Central Texas. Fortunately, they were able to experience Africa with me two times before this particular hunt. After Holly and I left DFW airport, our next stop was Amsterdam, Holland. We flew from there to Kilimanjaro ... we met a man there nicknamed "Picasso." He was very talented. He took charcoal from his fire and drew murals on the sides of his hut of airplanes and different things. There were different subjects and themes portrayed on each side of his hut. This was my third trip to Africa, and this was the poorest village I had ever seen or been in. The people had absolutely nothing. On this day one of the small groups of elephant we had managed to stalk earlier came in very close to where we were having lunch. Holly, Steve, and I were able ...
Tags: safari | hunting | elephant | africa |

... has now appreciated to 1 USD = 460.04 XOF, or 1 CPF franc = 0.002174 US Dollar. This is a 9.57% increase within a short span of 3 months. Note that the West African CFA franc (XOF) carries the same currency value as the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which is used commonly in some central Africa nations. Most Forex traders would be questioning why the XOF does not depreciate despite the situation in Ivory Coast unfolding. Similar to the Euro, the XOF is a actually a currency shared by a grouping of countries, which also include Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau ... central Africa nations. Most Forex traders would be questioning why the XOF does not depreciate despite the situation in Ivory Coast unfolding. Similar to the Euro, the XOF is a actually a currency shared by a grouping of countries, which also include Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Sénégal and Togo. Thus, while there may be impact on XOF by political uncertainties in Ivory Coast, it could be negated if the financial foundation of currency vis-a-vis the remaining 7 countries remain strong. In addition to that, the XOF is logically tied in value to the XAF (used by 6 central ...
Tags: cfa franc | laurent gbagbo | currency value | c te d ivoire | political turmoil | xof |

... figure of the nation ias it returned to the international community. Cape Town holidays are the perfect chance for visitors to take a trip to the island and learn more about the troubled history of South Africa. Current president, Jacob Zuma, is also a former inmate, as was former president Kgalema Motlanthe and Govan Mbeki, the father of former president Thabo Mbeki. The island's central role in the history of the country led to it being awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999. Cape Town holidays provide easy access to the island, which tourists are encouraged to explore. At various times ... also a former inmate, as was former president Kgalema Motlanthe and Govan Mbeki, the father of former president Thabo Mbeki. The island's central role in the history of the country led to it being awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999. Cape Town holidays provide easy access to the island, which tourists are encouraged to explore. At various times in its history the island was also used a quarantine station for animals being imported into South Africa, and a leper colony. The island formed part of the Cape Town defences during the Second World War and was fortified and armed. The ...
Tags: Cape Town Holidays |

... a large variety of birds. It is one of the most species-rich spots to visit on South Africa bird watching tours. In Tembe Elephant Reserve alone, about 340 species of birds can be found, including some rare one such as the Rudd's apalis, Natal nightjar and the Woodward's barbet Others you may be lucky enough to see include the palmnut vulture, African broadbill, Neergaard's sunbird, Delegorgue's pigeon, Livingstone and Knysna turacos, and the southern banded snake eagle. Mpumalanga The central grasslands - an area of high grasses, marsh and wetlands - are a popular destination for organised bird watching ... to the coastal areas, the grassy wetlands, and even the interior regions and cities with their high density of birds per square kilometre, allow bird watchers of varying ages and levels of expertise countless hours filled with sightings. Here are just a few of the important birding areas of South Africa: Western Cape Many say that Cape Town offers the best sea-birding and pelagic bird watching tours in the area. Certainly, many varieties of gulls, frigate birds, tropic birds, boobies, petrels, cormorants, albatrosses, and terns abound. For those who manage to schedule their bird watching tours during the Sardine Run ...
Tags: Bird watching tours |

... bright green in colour, elliptical to ovate and arranged alternately on the branches. They are pinnately compound and less than 5 cm in length. The branches arise from a single central trunk which is often pruned in order to make the tree attain a dense look. At night the leaflets close up. The flowers are inconspicuously elongated and red or ... alkaloids and phlobatamins which are active against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria at temperature range of 4-30°C in tamarinds. They are widely used throughout Asia and Africa in a number of health remedies. In Northern Nigeria, fresh stem bark and leaves are used for making a decoction along with potash for curing stomach disorders, body pain ...
Tags: Tamarind | tropical africa | scientifically known |