Category Archives: Tourism

The Land of Beauty – Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is well known for the beauty of the land where it has “Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean border is neither the widest nor the deepest waterfall in the world – but many claim it to be the largest in sheer volume of water. More than a mile (1.6 km) wide, cascades of water plummet 350 feet (108 m) to crash on rocks below. The roaring falls kick up such a heavy spray that you can’t even see the base of the falls during the wet season.”

Victoria Falls is only one of many stunningly beautiful sights in Zimbabwe. Located in southeast Africa, Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) lures travelers from all over the world to experience its national parks, wildlife, beauty, and culture.

Whether you want to travel with a wildlife safari or try your hand at white-water rafting down the thundering Zambezi River, Zimbabwe has a lot to offer—including a thriving community of Latter-day Saints.

here are more than 23,000 members of the Church living in Zimbabwe. Membership has grown swiftly in the last 35 years. Prior to 1980 for example, there were just over 1,000 members.

The prophetic declaration issued by President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) on June 8, 1978, that “all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color” (Official Declaration 2) had a positive impact on the growth of the Church in Zimbabwe.

Many Latter-day Saints have helped strengthen the Church in Zimbabwe. Here is a brief look at some of those pioneers.

Missionaries were sent to Southern Rhodesia for a limited time in the early 1930s. Yet by 1935 all missionaries were pulled from Southern Rhodesia (then part of the South African Mission) and the area was closed because of the shortage of missionaries and the distance from the mission home in Cape Town, South Africa.

In September of 1950, eight missionaries were sent to reopen Southern Rhodesia. Five months later, the first convert baptism in the area took place.

Born in England in 1926, Hubert Henry Hodgkiss moved to Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, in 1949. He initially learned about the Church from a friend who was investigating the gospel. Hugh had doubts about the restored gospel and set out to prove to his friend that the Church was not true. Instead, after searching the gospel closely, Hugh developed a testimony of its truthfulness and decided to be baptized. “I was wrong,” he told his friend. “I am joining the Church.”

Hugh was baptized February 1, 1951, marking the first convert baptism in Southern Rhodesia. He enjoyed being around people and made friends everywhere he went. His friendly nature allowed him to make great contributions to the growth of the Church in the area.

In 1959 Hugh became president of the Salisbury Branch. His counselors were also local members. This was the first time this branch presidency consisted of local members. Before this, full-time missionaries had always filled the responsibilities of the branch presidency.

Ernest Sibanda met two Mormon missionaries on bicycles—Elder Black and Elder Kaelin—in December 1978. They left a Book of Mormon with him. Before their visit, Ernest had already spent many years studying religion. In fact, he had been a teacher for his church for nine years and a pastor for three years.

The night Ernest received his copy of the Book of Mormon he stayed up until 2:00 in the morning reading enthusiastically. He couldn’t wait to meet the missionaries the following day. Ernest told them that he had learned more from Joseph Smith about Jesus Christ than all the ministers he had ever met. Ernest was baptized shortly thereafter, followed by his wife and children a few weeks later.

Of his baptism day, he wrote, “I felt very free. I felt released from every evil. I found there was love in me for my family. I found there was love within me for the Church.”

Ernest Sibanda proved to be a great strength to the Church. He served as Sunday School president, branch clerk, and second counselor in a branch presidency. He also fulfilled an assignment from the South Africa mission president to translate hymns from English to Shona.

Reference:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/03/zimbabwe-land-of-beauty-people-of-faith?lang=eng

To answer the following question

How does this impact your original thinking (stereotype, bias, neutrality) of the country?

I honestly thought that Africa was a very poor country but after taking this class you will be aware of the reasons behind this. Also because of my several researches about Zimbabwe I came to know that Africa is a very beautiful country but no only that the people are trust worthy as well. What I find interesting through our class discussions is that we are so ignorant about Africa and only view Africa in a stereotypical perspective.

Uganda, land of adventure !

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Looking for a green sanctuary to explore? Uganda is your destination. Nested in East Africa and Named “Top Tourist Destination for 2013”, Uganda shares boarders with Kenya, Sudan and Tanzania amongst others, establishing itself as a natural and cultural hub. The natural pleasures of Uganda are simply legendary.

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Also known as the “Pearl of Africa” for centuries, numerous explorers visited this beauty including Winston Churchill, who gushes about Uganda is his 1908 novel novel, “my African journey.” He states, ” For magnificence, for variety of form and color, for prosusion of brilliant life – bird, insect, reptile, beast – for vast scale- Uganda is truly “the Pearl of Africa.”

Over a century later, the country has most certainly flourished.

One of Uganda’s main features is it abundance in water resources, counting over twenty-five lakes and eighteen rivers . Indeed one fifth of it’s total area is open to water or swampland covering 44000sq/km. If you’re looking for amazing waterfalls, vast rivers and lakes or even water-based activities, Uganda has it covered…

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The nation is home to the largest lake in Africa, and the second largest fresh-water lake in the World. All 68800 sq km of Lake Victoria is a stunning sight to see., as she drains trough the Victoria Nile where most fishermen try their luck at the remarkable 100 kg Nile Perch.

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  • The Nile River

Cruising, yachting and fishing are the most common actives at Lake Victoria. If kayaking is more of your scene, rivers such as the Nile – the longest river in the world – would certainly be your number one stop. Flowing through the southern part of Uganda, it’s a unique water channel travelling beyond 6600 km. Other rivers include the spectacular Semilikiand energetic Murchison.

Amongst it’s picturesque and natural waterworks, the Murchison waterfall is very distinctive. It is of a 40 km drop from which the Nile explodes violently and has a reputation of being one of the worlds scariest journeys for rafters. If you’re willing to venture to the crown, you’ll never forget the sound of the Nile crashing through at an outstanding rate.

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  • Murchison Waterfall

Populating the high mountains and low valleys is wide range of animals. Indeed it’s fauna is unique to the continent and the world. In fact, Uganda is a birder’s paradise. Over half of all birds found in Africa are actually found in it’s lands. It’s avifauna includes over 1061 various species of birds. Actually, 60 out of 233 species are hawks, kites and eagles.

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Below the skies, Chimpanzees and gorillas are the most visible in Uganda than anywhere else in the world., making it a primate loving visitor’s sanctuary. Their preservations are a great source for international held research and tourism. The Ngamba Island Chimapanzee Sanctuary is a retreat for rescued primates that would not be able to integrate themselves natural habitats.

In the midsts of all these organic features, Ugandans is one of the most welcoming in Africa. Their sense of family, love and pride can be felt throughout the entire country where friendliness and loyalty are cherished values. although conservative, they’re known to be the life of the party in East Africa. With a great majority of their population being under 30, Ugandans have a strong endurance when it comes to having a good time. Once the sun sets, the wolves come out to play.

 For those who are interested in having a memorable getaway with a blend of culture, music and food, try bar hoping in Kabalagala, a Las Vegas-like strip in Kampala. There, you would find a wide range of casinos, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and karaoke places ready to operate until sunrise.

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During the day, the National Theatre has several facets of entertainment covered; whether it’s ballet, musicals or even latin shows, there’s a wide range of options for a wide range of tourists.

Foodies are also welcomed to enjoy it’s plentiful organic products. Bananas, pineapples are amongst the most abundant locally and internationally ! Ugandans indulge in fresh juices and smoothies, leading healthy habits and diets.

Uganda is unlike any other country. The “Pearl of Africa” is one of the continent’s successes, powerfully eloping from devastation towards a rapid road to development and security prosperity. The ultimate eco-destination, rising star of the safari culture , Uganda is most certainly a worthwhile travel experience.

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Visit Chad!

  1. This large landlocked African nation that straddles the Saharan desert to the north of the country and the Sudanese Savanna to the south. Chad is the 5th largest country in Africa and is split between north and south by the Sahelian region, which is A large steppe region that stretches across Chad and serves as the border between the north Saharan region and the south Soudanian region. This makes the geography of Chad a very diverse mix of Saharan desert and Sudanese savanna. Chad is one of 48 landlocked countries and, due to its large size, is bordered by several African nations: To the North it borders Libya, to the West, Chad borders Sudan (though not South Sudan), and in the South it borders the Central African Republic and Cameroon which also borders Chad in the East along with Nigeria and Niger, which it shares the Lake Chad with. Lake Chad is the 2nd largest lake in Africa and home to over 80 species of fish and is the continent’s most important wetlands area, serving the vast wildlife that make itself home in Chad. Chad is known for its varied wildlife, especially that live in the southern Sudanese savanna region. Such animals that live in this region include large African elephants, hippopotamuses and rhinoceros as well as giraffes, antelopes and buffalo. You may also encounter other animal species such as lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and leopards. Chad is also home to a plethora of snake species as well as over 500 species of bird. The varied wildlife of Chad mirrors its culture and people, as the country is home to various people that speak many different languages from one another. Music is an important part of Chad culture, which is characterized by using multiple unique instruments that give an equally unique sound. Chad is a large, diverse nation that has a rich culture as well as interesting and varied wildlife that inhabit the 3 distinct and unique geographical regions, from the Sahara region to the north, to the steppe Sahelian region, and finally to the Sudanese savanna region in the south that should be visited and experienced by anyone who would like to see the varied geography, wildlife, and culture that Chad can provide.

    Bibliography : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad

‘Invest’ in a trip to Nigeria

Experience Nigeria? Some may say ‘why even think about it.’ Truth is many people don’t know a good reason to visit Nigeria, until today. Nigeria located in the western part of Africa, Africa often referred to as the ‘motherland’. Being in central-west Africa there are many lush neighboring countries such as the Republic of Benin, Chad, Cameroon and Niger that help contribute to growth in Nigeria. These areas and including Nigeria are flush with natural resources, vegetation, with vast ethnic groups with many different languages all in an area with a unique climate.

If you, an entrepreneur with a large amount of money wanted to get into natural gas and oil industry, Nigeria may be the perfect place for you. There are many such natural energy sources like coalmines and vast petroleum fields waiting to be bought/mined. Not only are there natural energy sources there are vast amounts of valuable minerals such as iron ore, tin, lead, zinc and gold all very profitable. With the mining of precious minerals the money can be produced and be produced quickly. The country also borders the Atlantic Ocean allowing large cargo ships to bring in and out equipment. Having a port is very important in an industrial business.

Although Nigeria is affected by some violence throughout the country there are Modern cities in the country that keep it civilized. There’s a lot of benefits from visiting/industrializing Nigeria because of the vast opportunity to develop something or just to experience a new culture.images

(Previously posted on wrong page)

All Aboard, Welcome To Ghana

All aboard! Ghana, Ghana, Ghana, Have you been there? Do you know what it’s like? Ghana is a country located on the west coast of Africa along the Gulf of Guinea. The country itself has a total land area of 239,460. Ghana flag colors is red, yellow(gold), and green with a black five pointed star in the center of the yellow stripe. Below you’ll see a picture of the flag itself. Several streams and rivers surrounds Ghana and are only accessible by a canoe. Canoe is a lightweight boat used as transportation on water. It contains paddles that individuals rotate, in order for the boat to move. See look, visiting Ghana sounds like fun already! So while visiting, make sure you try canoeing.

Ghana Flag

Ghana’s climate is typically tropical. Or should I say hot and dry or hot and humid. I’m pretty sure this is you guy’s type of weather anyway. Unlike having to wait for summer, Ghana is hot all year around. Also, with the high mountains, lakes, desserts, you can explore and have fun. Such as hiking, climbing and much more. Oh wait did I mention beaches as well? Wouldn’t be a good vacation without a tan! Ghana also has two rainy seasons as well, May-June in the south and August-September in the north.  Therefore it does cool down just a little bit.

Ghana Beach

Living conditions for individuals in Ghana is different compared to others. The majority of them live in huts made up of mud, roofed with either straw or zinc. However, living conditions varies and often changes throughout the different cities and parts of Ghana. As far as their economy activities, agriculture, hunting, and forestry is what they consists of. About eighty percent of the Ghana’s population engages in agriculture, producing “millet, guinea-corn, maize, groundnut, beans, sorghum and dry season tomatoes and onions”.

Just four years ago, a close friend of mines visited Ghana. Although she was nervous because she never been there, when she came back her stories showed she had a wonderful time. My close friend Gianni said, “It was interesting to learn about their culture, values, traditions, and just their everyday life in general”.  She stayed with a family, whom lived in a big house, sort of like a mansion. Eating in Ghana was not the same as eating in New York, but she said “being exposed to different meals was quite interesting, especially because they were good”. According to her, it’s a time in her life that she would not take back for anything. P.S here’s a bracelet she brought back for me. From the moment she gave it to me, I fell in love with it! Everybody always comment on it, and says it’s nice too.

Bracelet from Ghana

See look there you have it. I gave you a brief background of Ghana and what it’s like. I also shared a close friend of mines experience there in Ghana as well. She had fun and loved it, so I’m pretty sure you will enjoy it too. Just go and check it out. But when you do just make sure you come back and share your experience as we’ll.  Remember take lots of pictures. Pictures hold memories that only you will remember, but moments you could then share to others! Look forward to hearing from you.

The Artwork of Angola

Angola can only be described as a land of Divinity, in light of all of its complexities. It is a melting pot of differing landscapes that allows its visitors to experience many worlds in a single country.  In Angola, there lies rainforest in the north, montainous forests in the highlands, and grasslands across plateau areas in the south. This landscape that makes up the country of Angola is twice the size of France and Great Britain, allotting an expansive landscape for the artwork that is Angola.

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The country is located in the western region of Southern Africa and is made up of a part of the largest river in West Africa, the Zaire or Congo, which measures at 4,000 kilometers. The country is also comprised of a part of the largest river in East Africa, the Zambeze, which measures at 2,680 kilometers. Bording countries include: the Democratic Republic of Congo in the north, Zambia in the East, Namibia in the South, and by the Atlantic Ocean in the West.

As numerous bodies of water surround the country, Angola is also home to many exotic animal species. Animals include: elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, lions, leopards and hyenas. Ultimately, it is an ideal destination for travelers seeking to experience the diverse wildlife that Africa has to offer. The country is also known for an abundance of dolphins, including the rare “humpback dolphin”.

The weather in Angola is determined by two seasons, which are the rainy season and the dry season (also known ascacimbo). The rainy season, which is normally accompanied by elevated temperatures creating a tropical environment, usually occurs from August to May. Rainfall and annual variation of temperatures are two climatic characteristics common to Angola. These characteristics are created by the country’s geographical makeup. It is placed in both the intertropical, and subtropical zones of Africa, and also lies in close proximity to the sea. Additionally, the cold current of Benguela affects the country’s weather conditions.

Weather conditions in Angola are not in the least bit troublesome, however, as the country is highly conducive to agriculture. The most fertile soils are by surrounding waters, where there are extensive pastures and tropical forests. These tropical forests include rare species of trees including: ebony, sandalwood, rosewood, eucalyptus, and pines. In agriculture, the country is known for having adequate success in growing cotton, coffee, sisal, peanut, sweet potato, beans, sugar, rubber, corn, greens, fruits, etc. The country is also known for maintaining cattle, goats, sheep and pigs, and is known for being the single-most popular country in regards to the fishing industry. The Angolan coastline is one of the richest in fish on the continent and until recently, was the number one producer of fish for consumption.

For an overall, diverse cultural and enlightening experience, Angola is an ideal destination. Its expansive and diverse landscape provides a veritable plethora of animals, foliage, foods, and much more. One trip to Angola may even substitute several trips to many other countries that may not be quite as diversified.

Botswana Your Next Destination

Beauty and adventure awaits you in Botswana, your next destination. Home to one of the world’s largest inland deltas, and diverse wildlife, Botswana offers some of the world’s finest geological features. From its prominent flat lands that lead to rolling high plains, to its vast dessert, and exciting savannas; Botswana has the adventure you seek.

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Botswana is a landlocked country located in the center of Southern Africa covering 582,000 sq. km2 . It is about 900 meters above sea level and relatively flat aside from its hills and deep valleys located at the eastern part of Botswana. About 70 % of Botswana is occupied by the magnificent Kalahari Desert. One of the longest rivers the Okavango that runs through South Africa, flows into the north-western part of the country, forming the world renowned Okavango Delta. The Okavango delta is a must see sight that can be taken in by the mokoro a traditional dugout canoe through a thrilling and captivating watery maze. As you drift by in the mokoro canoe you will marvel at the hypnotic view of reed beds, exotic birds, reptiles and amphibians. botswana3For the more adventurous folks, there is the option to travel through the papyrus swamps with a motorboat which is a louder and more interactive alternative. With this option tourist have the option to interact with bigger animals such as elephants, hippos and buffalo. The dryer safaris offer game such as lions, hyenas, leopard’s cheetahs and wilddog. Tourist also have opportunities to play interact with the loveable meerkats and make new friends.

 

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Aside from its beautiful water and land safari’s, Botswana’s Kalahari desert and  Makgadikgadi Pan, a large salt pan that lies in the north a must see sights. The Kalaharia desert is a semi-arid desert that occupies a large part of Botswana spanning about 900,000 sq. kilometers. This desert is part desert and plateau which supports some animal and plant life. The small amounts of rainfall received are what help support these life forms. One site that will truly not disappoint is the  Makgadikgadi salt pan, north of Botswana. It is one of the largest flats in the world. The Makgadikgadi Pan covers 10,000 sq. km of the Kalahari. Enormous and various sized salt cover the land surrounded by grassland and scenic palm-tree islands.

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If you are looking for a beautiful engaging and exciting place for your next destination Botswana is the place for you. You will not be disappointed with the picturesque landscape of Botswana. Enjoy amazing hypnotizing and exciting safaris, savannas and grasslands. Enjoy our diverse fauna and the beauty of Mother Nature at Botswana your next destination. Take the steep and make your way down to the Beautiful Botswana.

http://www.africatravelresource.com/africa/botswana/guide/

http://www.globalgrasshopper.com/travel/10-beautiful-places-visit-botswana/

 

 

 

 

 

Naijiria ni fun wa gbogbo (Nigeria is for us all)

When you hear of Africa what do you think? let me guess; naked people everywhere, lions, elephants and monkeys roaming the streets. This is probably what a majority of people think of Africa. Allow me to introduce you to a side of this beautiful continent you’ve never seen, Welcome to NIGERIA!

Nigeria

The capital of Nigeria is Abuja. The official language in Nigeria is English, but there are three main languages of this country. They are Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. There are many different cultures, beliefs and history among the people of Nigeria.

If you are interested in history, there are many historical sites in Nigeria such as the Freedom Park which is located in Lagos Island, Lagos. The Park is a memorial which was designed to honor and preserve the heritage and history of Old Board Street prison which was used by the British colonial masters to punish and imprison individuals that opposed colonial rule such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Nigeria has a rich music history! Global artists like Fela Kuti paved the way for music in Nigeria to flourish, which now has a multitude of music superstars known all over the world! Some of the modern musicians in Nigeria include artists such as D’Banji who signed with Kanye West’s label “Good Music.” Other artists include P-Square with hits like “Onyinye” ft American superstar Rick Ross! There is a traditional melody fused with modern westernized hip-hop, so you can get “JIGGY WITH IT!”

Do you like to eat? There are also various types of food from different ethnic groups. To name a few, there is fried rice which is a delicious dish comprised of rice, cow liver, carrots and seasonings which is served with salad, chicken, beef or fish. There is also pounded yam with vegetable soup which is boiled yam placed in a traditional mixing tool. Jollof rice which is rice mixed with various types of spices, tomato onions and seafood. There is also fufu with okra, and pate which is dry corn. All which are served with an ice cold traditional beverage like Vita Malt.

If you are interested in wildlife, there are many National Parks in Nigeria such as Kamuku National Park which is the most popular park in Nigeria settled on 1121 square km. Various wildlife from antelopes, elephants and, hyenas roam the area. Besides wildlife, there are nature reserves, such as Matsirga Waterfalls which is located in Madakiya. This one area has four waterfalls falling at 30 meters. The waterfall not only provides a scenic view, but it also creates a relaxing and serenity feel with its often rainbow-colored mist. This is just one of many nature reserves.

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The weather in Nigeria is tropical usually around 88 degrees Fahrenheit which means you and your family will have ample time to enjoy beautiful beaches and eat coconuts and mangoes on the sand. The most popular beach visited by tourists is the Coconut beach, which is located in Badagry town in the western side of Lagos. As the name states, the beach is FULL of coconut trees, which provides shade and a relaxing environment. Other options include the Central Beach, Tarwa Bay and Calabar Beach.

COME TO NIGERIA!

Hey let’s take a Vacation to South Africa!

To a nation that has a great history and tradition we explore one continent if not the world’s most beautiful countries South Africa. I would like to inform you about South Africa’s geology, topography, rivers, lakes, and mountains. The land mass of South Africa is very old and particularly rich in mineral resources.

The Mountain socle in South Africa was already part of the supercontinent Gondwanaland which, 300 to 100 million years ago broke into many parts that built whole new continents, Africa being one of the nations included. Through the following, millions of years lasting geological shifts, tectonic arching, breaking and the formation of crevasses, the resulting outbreak of volcanoes, depressions, the deposition of gravel and wind and water erosion the geological profile of the land has formed. Since South Africa is located in the west, south, and east surrounded by single mountain ranges is known as the Great Escarpment. In front of the escarpment, there is a partially very narrow coastal strip, which is called the Lowveld. At the Indian Ocean, these coastal plains have high precipitations and are fertile. The western part, however, is, due to the cold Benguela current of the Atlantic, a coastal desert, reaching up to Namibia and Angola. When one crosses the escarpment they come across to central high plateau called the Highveld. The reason why the surrounding mountain chain forms a catchment area for the clouds from the sea, the precipitation on the Highveld is low which can result in arid, semi-desert conditions.

South Africa’s topography has a mean altitude of about 1,200 m (3,900 ft), and at least 40% of the surface is at a higher elevation. Parts of Johannesburg are more than 1,800 m (6,000 ft) above sea level. There are three major zones: the marginal regions, which range in width from 80 to 240 km (50–150 mi) in the east to 60–80 km (35–50 mi) in the west, and including the eastern plateau slopes, Cape folded belt, and western plateau slopes; a vast saucershaped interior plateau, separated from the marginal zone by the Great Escarpment; and the Kalahari Basin, only the southern part of which projects into north-central South Africa.

In South Africa there are only two major rivers in South Africa the Limpopo, a stretch of which is shared with Zimbabwe; and the Orange with its tributary, the Vaal, which runs with a variable flow across the central landscape from east to west, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at the Namibian border. There are several small rivers run into the sea along the coastline, but none of them are navigable and none provide useful natural harbors. The coastline itself, being fairly smooth, provides only one good natural harbor, at Saldanha Bay north of Cape Town. A lack of fresh water in this country prevented major development here.

South Africa is home to the world’s largest natural lakes and human constructed lakes. Southern Africa’s natural lakes have very diverse origins. Those along the East African Rift Valley  also known as Lakes Malawi, Albert, Tanganyika and Turkana are deep tectonic lakes; some lakes were formed by volcanic action, such as Lake Kivu in Rwanda/Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are also shallow floodplain lakes such as those in the Okavango Swamps. There are deflation basins or pans such as those found in the Kalahari and Panlands of South Africa. Africa’s lakes support important fisheries that sustain millions of livelihoods and contribute to food security.

While exploring the rest of the country you come across South Africa’s Mountain Ranges. These mountain ranges of South Africa are some of the oldest and most beautiful in the world. They include Cape Town’s Table Mountain and KwaZulu-Natal’s uKhahlamba-Drakensberg ranges, plus other wonders like the ancient Magaliesberg and the majestic Cederberg range. The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg is South Africa’s highest mountain range which goes up to 3,000m and spans more than 150km.

As we come to end to our South African tour. This glorious country has so much rich pride to not to be wasted. Come to a country which welcomes newcomers to explore special features we have unlike many countries before us. I learned so much traits about this country that i didn’t know before and if i was anyone who loves adventure South Africa is a place to discover.

South Africa People

 

 

 

Explore Sierra Leone

Planning a family vacation anytime soon? Already narrowed your options down to the beaches of Florida or Disney World? You should probably reopen your potential options and listen to the opportunities you can experience here in our lovely little Sierra Leone situated on Africa’s western coastline.  Our country offers very diverse attractions ranging from beaches to our famous chimpanzee sanctuary just outside of our capital city, Freetown.

Upon your flights arrival to the Freetown International Airport you can simply head several miles west to our beautiful coast lines and experience the wonderful beaches.  You could choose to stay at our eco-community at John Obey Beach, about 20 miles south of Freetown.  John Obey is a small eco-tourism community situated on about 6 acres of beach and lagoon-front land adjacent to the John Obey fishing village on the Freetown peninsula. Their mission is to build a model sustainable community, provide an unforgettable West African beach holiday and help change the perception of Sierra Leone into one that reflects the reality – a beautiful, safe and captivating country.  If this option is too separated from the rest of civilization then one can simply stay in Freetown and enjoy our Aberdeen and Lumley beach area.  Here is the main beach area of Freetown. The beach stretches about 4km between the Aberdeen and Lumley sections of the city, a ways outside of downtown.  Guest houses are a plenty in both areas, Aberdeen on the East end of the beach, Lumley on the West.  There are many beach-side bars and restaurants along the entire beach with several small places to reside at for your trip.

If you want to adventure to other attractions Sierra Leone has to offer you can visit our Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve. The forest is part of the Upper Guinean Moist Forest and is the only place in West Africa where its mountains descend directly into the sea. This results in a diverse and rich biodiversity. The forest hosts approximately 85% of the national biodiversity, with several endangered species of mammals and birds.  Also located on the reserve is the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The sanctuary was established in 1995 with initial seed funding from European Union to enforce the wildlife laws and re-home and rehabilitate captured, abandoned and orphaned chimpanzees. They continue to grow in size and currently have over 100 chimpanzees under our care. Thanks to the tireless work of the staff and with the aid of local communities they have essentially eradicated the chimpanzee pet trade in Freetown.  Today a large population of chimps live in the semi wild environment of the rain forest sanctuary and, having given up his career as an accountant, founder Bala Amarasekeran still runs things with the invaluable help of several staff and volunteers. Having survived the rigours of civil war throughout the last decade, during which, though attacked twice, neither staff nor chimps came to harm, the BBC described the sanctuary as “one of the most successful projects of Sierra Leone”.

Eastern Sierra Leone consists of plateaus and the stunning Loma mountain range. This area is globally famous for the vast abundance of diamonds, gold, bauxite, titanium, iron and chromite. Here vast valleys are cut into the mountains by rivers creating these large mineral deposits. Sierra Leone’s highest peak, Mount Bintumani is located in this region and if you are one that enjoys hiking and beautiful scenery, it is definitely worth your time to make the trip to this area.

Why not change that vacation to our lovely little country? You’re time will not be wasted and you surely won’t be disappointed in your experiences here!