1. Africa Update
Southern Right Whales in South Africa: Every year,
Southern Right whales make their way to the sheltered waters of Hermanus
and Walker Bay, two hours from Cape Town. It is estimated that only
4000-6000 Southern Right whales remain. Hermanus is rated as one of the
best whale-watching spots in the world - read
more about Hermanus.
Damming
of Kunene River threatens ancestral land of pastoralist Himba:
The government of Namibia is planning a large hydroelectric dam on the
Kunene River in northern Namibia. The Epupa dam would not only flood 180
square kilometers of Himba land and socially relevant Himba burial
sites, but also the Epupa Falls beautiful riverine environment - an
increasingly popular tourist destination. ecoAfrica's chairman just
returned from a trip to this beautiful area -
read more about Epupa Falls.
Children's
bush school offering safari of a life time: The Southern
Cross School near the Kruger National Park in South Africa, in
conjunction with numerous luxury lodges and Rovos Rail, is offering
interested travellers the chance to win a 20-day luxury "African Majik"
Safari exploring the top reserves and lodges in Southern Africa. This
unique safari is valued at a staggering R 300 000. The school is the
first of its kind - based in a wildlife area, its curriculum emphasis is
on nature conservation and ecotourism, while striving for the highest
academic standards. Tickets for the raffle cost but R250.00 and funds
from this raffle go towards expanding the school, so that the
infrastructure for high school pupils may be set in place - please see
Southern Cross Schools for further
information.
Miners metamorphose
- into tourguides
The small town of Uis in Namibia was a little
mining hub, so when the mine closed, the town lost its main source of
income and the workers their jobs. A group of miners got together in an
effort to develop tourism to the area. In addition to mines, Uis has the
fiery and towering Brandberg - the "Fire Mountain" - which is not only
the highest mountain in Namibia, but is also an archaeological canvas of
some of the most staggering rock art in Southern Africa. These
industrious locals, now known as the Daureb Mountain Guides, have
breathed fresh life into Uis and attract travellers from far and wide -
read more about the guides.
Camp
reports: This week seems to have been mating week in the
graced
by scattered flocks of flamingoes and a solitary, sulking Marabou which
spends endless hours contemplating the curse of his good looks. At one
of the remaining watering holes we saw a group of about 10 000 zebra –
an astonishing sight anywhere, anytime. No doubt the presence of the
latter has encouraged the increased visibility of lion in the area,
guests have been lucky enough to see a number of kills with lion still
on them. The dominant female suricate has produced pups and we look
forward to them emerging from the den in a week or so. The brown hyaena
cubs are now often visible at the den, playing with each other or
studiously engaged in “ Clan Skills Part 1” with the subadult still at
the den. School holidays in the States have meant many families
visiting Jack’s, and Philimon and his team have been churning out the
cookies - the chocolate hamburgers have been a big hit, and the crows
still love the morning tea biscuits!
