ULTIMATE AFRICA SAFARIS
Ultimate Africa travel and wildlife news archive January 2001 Circus Chimpanzee Reunited with Sibling at Chimfunshi, January 7 2001 An 11 year old chimpanzee that spent his entire life performing for a circus based in New Zealand has been reunited with his younger sibling at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia. After his two-day journey, Sonny was placed in an enclosure alongside his 4-year-old brother, Buddy, at Chimfunshi and the two reportedly immediately warmed to each other. Buddy was relocated to Chimfunshi in December 1999. Sonny's relocation was made possible by the New Zealand-based organization, Save Animals From Exploitation. The group had apparently fought several years to secure the release of Sonny, Buddy and their mother Lola. Lola died in captivity as a result of kidney failure after being denied veterinary care. Used as a breeding chimp, she was confined to a small cage and all of her offspring were either forced into performing or sold to other circuses. Sonny will eventually be released into one of Chimfunshi's large enclosures. With enclosures covering more than 400 hectares, Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage is the world's largest sanctuary for injured, orphaned and unwanted chimpanzees. Oldest Zimbabwean Environmental Group Changes Name, January 7 2001 Established 73 years ago as the "Wildlife Protection Society of Southern Rhodesia", and then as the "Wildlife Society of Zimbabwe", the organization recently celebrated its entry into the new millennium with another name change to "Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe" (WEZ). Nairobi "More Dangerous" for UN, January 14 2001 In another indication of increasing levels of crime in Kenya, the United Nations has given the capital, Nairobi, its worst classification yet for the security of UN staff there. UN spokesman Tore Brevik said the move was taken to reflect a deterioration of security in Nairobi, as well as the number of crimes committed against UN employees. The official said the new rating was transitional and could be re-examined in the next 12 months. Cities where UN employees work receive a hardship rating between A to E, with E being the most difficult. Nairobi is now on a par with Mozambique's capital, Maputo, and one level more difficult than the Iraqi capital, Baghdad and Dili in East Timor but not as dangerous as the Colombian capital, Bogota, or Jerusalem. Whilst this will be considered bad news for Kenya's tourism and business industries, it is likely to be welcomed by the nearly 900 international staff who work for the UN in Nairobi. The downgrading means they will receive an extra 7% of their salary as a "hardship allowance" and their home leave will also be doubled. The United Nations also employs 2,000 local staff in Kenya. 50 Kenyan Tourists Stranded on Safari, January 14 2001 More than 50 tourists on safari in the Tsavo East National Park were stranded for more than eight hours after a section of a road was washed away by heavy rains. Tour drivers said the tourists had threatened to walk to their camp, 30kilometers away, but were restrained. "The tourists were very annoyed and at one point wanted to walk in the park to their camp. I pleaded with them, warning them of the danger they were exposing themselves to because of wild animals," said Mr. Hassan Ali, a driver with Tusker Safaris. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) patrol vehicles were also stuck at various points in the park and all efforts to seek assistance from the organization were futile. Flamingoes Return to Kenya's Lake Nakuru, January 14 2001 Flamingoes are again breeding in Lake Nakuru, one of Kenya's Rift Valley-based lakes, after an absence of 65 years. The birds have been visiting Lake Nakuru since 1936 to eat and mate, but then flew to other Rift Valley-based lakes to breed. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel had over the last two months recorded an increasing number of flamingo eggs on the lake's shores, an indication that the birds were once again adopting the lake as their breeding sites. KWS has subsequently issued new guidelines for visitors to Lake Nakuru National Park to keep off the lake's shores in order not to disturb the birds. American Tourist Trampled to Death by Tanzanian Elephant, January 14 2001 An American woman was trampled to death by an elephant in a Tanzanian national park after exiting her safari vehicle to take photos, according to officials. Natalie Waldinger, 24, of Huntington, N.Y., died Sunday in Ruaha National Park in central Tanzania, during a break in her tour as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer teacher. Waldinger was traveling with another woman, who scrambled to safety and was badly shaken, but uninjured, said Lota Melamari, chief of the Tanzania National Parks Authority. The second woman was identified as Waldinger's friend, 25-year-old Lisa A. Wilson, a student at Harvard Law School. Wilson had lived in Grand Blanc Township, Mich., and was visiting her college roommate for a month. The pair was traveling with a driver who was not an official guide. The two women left their car to photograph the wild animal. The elephant became enraged and charged them. "It is a tragic incident, and we extend condolences to members of her family," Tourism Minister Zakia Meghji said. "People seem to forget that animals in our national parks are wild and are not in a zoo. Contact with tourists ... has not tamed these animals at all and their behavior remains unpredictable." The deadly attack is the first of its kind in the Ruaha park, which boasts a large number of elephants, wildlife officials said. "We have sent a team to investigate why the incident happened and how similar tragedies could be prevented in the future," Melamari said. Plea to Save Zimbabwean Wildlife Park, January 14 2001 Wildlife & Environment Zimbabwe (WEZ) has lodged an urgent appeal for financial assistance in an effort to save Mukuvisi Woodlands, a wildlife reserve and environmental education center 274 hectares in size. This area of natural vlei and woodland is situated approximately five kilometers from Harare's central business district. It is of considerable interest to the conservation of the nation's biological diversity, has been stocked with selected large mammals, including elephant, and is an especially valuable amenity for people from high-density suburbs who seldom have access to other such amenities in the country. In the past, the Mukuvisi Woodland Association (MWA) received generous financial support from both local and international donors for the development of the nature reserve and its important environmental education program. It was envisaged that, in time, the center would become self-sustaining. The Center has run into severe financial difficulties for two main reasons: 1) Due to the loss of several key players, management has been unable to keep pace with the recent high rate of national inflation coupled with the decline in tourism and the resultant drop in derived revenue and 2) MWA continued to try to maintain the costly donor-sponsored education program after donor funding had ceased and, in the process, depleted its financial reserves. As part of an overall restructuring exercise, the Council of MWA has asked the Mashonaland Branch of Wildlife & Environment Zimbabwe to manage the wild area and the adjacent public facilities, including the education center. This will require a two-pronged approach: 1) present amenities need to be refurbished and public attractions in the Woodland need to be diversified and increased and 2) the area will have to be managed in accordance with a well-conceived business plan. WEZ is convinced that the Mukuvisi Woodland Nature Reserve and Environment Center is of such value to the citizens of Harare that it can be made financially viable, provided the management structure and culture are re-engineered to this end. This will cost money and the organization is thus seeking assistance to cover the operating shortfall, estimated at US $18,000, for the financial year 2001, during the critical management transition and rationalization process. There is also a need for a 55 h.p. tractor and farm trailer which will cost an additional US$20,000. You could contribute towards the future of this valuable resource by making a donation to: Wildlife and Environmental Trust Fund of Zimbabwe – Mukuvisi Project For further details, please visit them on the internet at http://www.zimwild.co.zw or contact Dr Graham Child, Chairman Mashonaland Branch, Wildlife & Environment Zimbabwe at zimwild@internet.co.zw Over 600 Poachers Nabbed in Zambia, January 14 2001 Zambia Wildlife Authorities have arrested more than 600 poachers countrywide in the last three months, thus effectively bringing the once rampant poaching under control in its various wildlife parks. The crack down resulted in recovering a large amount of wildlife meat, assorted weapons and vehicles worth millions of kwacha (one U.S. dollar equals about 4,500 kwacha). Among the 600 arrested, at least 300 poachers had been convicted and another 100 had been imprisoned. Forty self-confessed poachers were fined and set free. The trophy includes 60 military weapons and 400 rounds of ammunition. Zambia, with a land area of 750,000 square kilometers, has set up 18 national parks covering 59,420 square kilometers or roughly 13% of the country. Zambian Lodge/Canoeing Closes for Part of Year, January 14 2001 Please be advised that due to poor occupancy figures Kayila Lodge and on Safari Par Excellence’s Lower Zambezi canoe safaris their operations will be closed from February 1, 2001 to March 31, 2001. Congo Expands Park for Lowland Gorillas, January 21 2001 The Republic of Congo has announced the expansion of Odzala National Park to 1.3 million hectares, more than four times its original size. This will secure the habitat of the world's highest concentration of western lowland gorillas. The country's Minister of Forestry, Henri Djombo, is quoted as saying "the expansion of Odzala means that a large area of productive forests previously set aside for timber exploitation is now protected. The park will be a pioneer in conservation in central Africa and one of the main tourism resources in our country." The Odzala National Park was created in 1935 and declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977. It contains exceptionally high levels of species diversity, with 444 of the Congo's 626 identified bird species, one of the largest populations of forest elephants and forest buffaloes, as well as the only lions surviving in central Africa. However, regional conflicts and poverty left the park insufficiently funded and largely unprotected. Although isolated and remote from human settlements, commercial logging in the region introduced roads that provided access to the deep forest. The result is that bushmeat hunting, as well as poaching for the ivory trade, have become serious threats. The Congolese Government is therefore co-operating with a European Commission-funded program called Conservation and Rational Use of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa, known as ECOFAC. ECOFAC has been managing the park since 1992 and is active in five other countries in the region. In January 2000, Conservation International (CI) partnered with Agreco, a European consulting group, which gives technical assistance to ECOFAC. In association with Agreco, within the framework of the ECOFAC program, CI is providing technical support for the creation of a trust fund, for park management, and for public awareness. Namibia's Seal Pups Starving, January 21 2001 Up to three quarters or 150,000 of Namibia's seal pups could starve this season if the weather continues to push the fish they live on away from the shore. Jean-Paul Roux, a biologist for the country's Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, apparently said trade winds from the southern Atlantic, which should cause an upwelling of plankton-rich cold current along the coast, had weakened. As a result, fish stay with the plankton in deeper waters, which forces the seals to swim further to feed. Seal pups are starving to death as cows in search of food fail to return on time for them to be suckled. According to Roux, the mortality rate among the pups was reaching the devastating levels last seen in 1994 and 1995, when almost 320,000 seals starved to death. Cape Peninsula Wildebeest Breeding Again, January 21 2001 The recent birth of two wildebeest calves on the slopes of Table Mountain are the first in at least two years. According to a spokesperson for the Cape Peninsula National Park, the reason for this is that the bulls had been too busy fighting each other to woo the cows. Twenty-three wildebeest, 20 of which were bulls, were removed last year. Proclaimed on May 29, 1998, the Cape Peninsula National Park encompasses the scenic Peninsula mountain chain that stretches from Signal Hill in the north to Cape Point in the south - a distance of some 60km. New "Golf Train Safari", January 21 2001 Rovos Rail has designed a delightful an eight-day golf safari to entertain the most discerning golf player. Intriguing excursions have also been planned at all stops for the entertainment of our non-playing guests. The journey commences from Cape Town Station on Saturday morning, June 9, 2001 and lunch is served as the Pride of Africa winds its way through the scenic wine farms of Worcester and Robertson. On Sunday guests may play in George on the new Fancourt Links course, while Monday's game has been reserved at Knysna's Sparrebosch Golf Course. After a visit to an Ostrich Farm (for non-golfers) on Monday afternoon, the Train departs Oudtshoorn for Port Elizabeth. Tuesday is spent on the Humewood Course or visiting a nearby game reserve. On Wednesday, guests are invited to relax on our gracious Train as you pass through the Karoo heading for Bloemfontein. A visit to the historical village of Graaff-Reinet is planned. Thursday includes a tee-off at the Bloemfontein Golf Club followed by overnight travel to the Pilanesberg Mountains and Sun City. A full day is to be enjoyed in this magnificent resort with its outstanding facilities. Following a leisurely farewell dinner that evening, the Pride of Africa will arrive on Saturday morning at the exclusive station in Pretoria where your memorable journey ends. The golf / train safari costs US $3,075 per person sharing in a Deluxe Suite and US $4,095 per person sharing in the Royal Suite. Malawi Kills Crocodiles, January 21 2001 Malawi defied international wildlife treaties by ordering officials and commercial hunters to begin exterminating Nile crocodiles from its densely populated southern provinces. Malawian Environmental Affairs Minister Harry Thomson said a rise in crocodile numbers in the Chikwawa and Nsanje districts and along the Shire River had resulted in numerous deaths and injuries amongst local villagers. Malawi is a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which prohibits the commercial hunting of Nile crocodiles. With increasing attacks on humans, however, the minister said he had no choice but to cull the reptiles. Kenyan Visa Re-Introduction Temporarily Halted, January 31 2001 The Minister for Tourism, Trade and Industry Hon. Nicholas Biwott this afternoon received a high-powered delegation from the tourism industry, comprising the KTF Chairman Mahmud Janmohamed and representatives from KATO, KAHC, KATA, KAAO, KBHA, KTB and KQ. The Minister, accompanied by both Assistant Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Tourism, issued a statement putting on hold the visa re-imposition for two weeks, pending further consultations with stakeholders. We attach the full text of the Minister’s statement for your information. IMPLEMENTATION OF VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR TOURISTS In view of the need to ensure that the re-instatement of visas does not create inconvenience to tourists and their agents who have already concluded travel arrangements, the Government has agreed to give a fourteen day moratorium on implementation of the visa re-instatement for tourists. During this period all stakeholders will finalize the modalities to ensure that inconvenience to tourists is minimized to keep in line with the Government’s policy of ensuring that the tourism industry continues to play an important role in the development of the economy of Kenya. A working committee will ensure that the implementation of visa re-instatement is done in a sensitive manner. Hon. Nicholas K. Biwott, EGH, MP - Minister for Tourism, Trade and Industry Kenya Reintroduces Entry Visa, January 28 2001 As of 1st February 2001 - all visitors to Kenya will require a US $50 visa to gain entry. This statement was made on January 26, 2001 by the Kenya Government. Kenya's Minister of State Marsden Madoka said Friday that his government had decided to reinstate visa requirements for tourists from some countries who had hitherto been exempted since June 7, 1999. Madoka, who is the minister in charge of internal security, said that the waiver of visas in the past has also created difficulty in determining who is and who is not a tourist for the immigration officers. The minister also said that while visas could be obtained upon arrival in the east African country, tourists had better to get them in advance at Kenya's embassies abroad. As you can imagine the Tourism Industry is vigorously protesting not only the visa reintroduction but also the lack of warning. Zambia Bans Hunting, January 28 2001 The Zambian Government has, with immediate effect, banned the issuing of hunting concessions in the country in an effort to save endangered wildlife. In a statement, the government said the country had experienced widespread abuse of the concession licenses which it said had been used for the "indiscriminate dissemination of wildlife". It said that it regretted that few, if any, of the operators had honored their obligation to remit earnings from their concession proceeds. The statement concluded: "The ban will not only give the Zambian Wildlife Authority an opportunity to reorganize, and help re-establish sustainable bio-diversity in national parks and game management areas, but also help create jobs." Namibia Meningitis Warning "Not a Major Issue", January 28 2001 BRITISH Airways (BA) Travel Clinic's Dr Andrew Jamieson has confirmed that there have been reports of outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis in the north, north-eastern region of Ovambo, Namibia but hastens to add that the "casual visitor" - i.e. the traveler doing the "usual" Namibian itinerary such as Sossusvlei, Skeleton Coast, Windhoek etc. - to the country should not be in any danger of contracting the disease. "However, I would advise self-drive travelers driving up to Rundu or the Kaokoveld to visit their physician or local travel clinic for a vaccination against the disease. This applies especially if the travelers are going to have some contact with the locals." He says the vaccination should be obtained at least seven days before travelling. Early symptoms include a stiff neck, severe headache and fever. The disease is thought to have come from across the Angolan border but Jamieson says it's been "difficult" to obtain exact information from the Namibian health authorities. Zimbabwe Update, January 28 2001 Last week the US television show 60 minutes featured the political situation in Zimbabwe. Since that time we have had numerous inquiries regarding safety in Zimbabwe. Firstly note that the show was taped just after the June elections last year and that guests visiting the National Parks and Victoria Falls are in no danger. If you intend to visit or stay on farms you could be putting yourself at risk. Also note that Ian Proctor, Ultimate Africa managing director, has just returned from Zimbabwe where his family resides. He drove through the countryside extensively, including farm areas, and met only smiling faces… Here is a report received from Colin Bell, the owner of Wilderness Safaris in Johannesburg, who also recently returned from a trip to Zimbabwe: "I had been up at Chikwenya and Ruckomechi in October 2000 and had seen its incredible dry-season game viewing. I wasn’t prepared for what we saw in summer (December). Mana Pools is an incredible park, and in summer it takes on a completely different character. It was not hot either - we had a maximum temperature of about 32 degrees Celsius. There is a short mat of bright green grass wherever you look. This green carpet is framed with towering albida and mahogany trees, and has massive herds of elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, impala etc on the mat....All the animals had their young with them - it’s a superb nursery! On one afternoon we had over 500 different elephants in the Chikwenya plains! I got some of my best photos of Mana Pools this trip, and took as many photos of impala in these 5 days as I had in the last 15 years of safaris. They aggregate into huge herds at this time of year. With all their babies in this wonderful setting, the impala created superb wildlife portraits in the albida forests. I only heard the call of the infamous Angola Pitta (a very rare and very colorful bird!) Only one person in our party saw the bird. Once they have laid their eggs, they stop calling and we were there when they stopped calling. The best time to see Angola Pitta there is from late November ‘til about the 18th December. Even though Zimbabwe has political problems, I still believe that this a great destination. There are no crowds and the quality is superb. If one stays in the north of the country, and one flies from camp to camp, travelers will be completely SAFE and will have the safari of a lifetime! We have ample fuel too!" Matetsi to offer Night Drives, January 28 2001 After four years of negotiating, the Zimbabwe National Parks Board has approved night-time wildlife viewing drives on the Matetsi Private Game Reserve. Matetsi Safari Lodge and the Matetsi Water Lodge are located in the Victoria Falls area bordering on the Hwange National Park and Botswana's Chobe wilderness. The move, which comes into effect immediately, now opens up a variety of nighttime activities for guests which include candlelit dinners in the bush. Jao Camp Improvements, January 28 2001 Workers at Jao Camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta are building a new pole bridge, which will connect the camp to the main island to the west of the camp. Land Rovers will now be able to drive right onto the island. This will make general access to the camp much easier, especially for the night drives. Sandibe Now offering Silent Boat Excursions, January 28 2001 Sandibe’s silent riverboat, the 'Lily', made its debut on the waters of Botswana's Okavango Delta last week. The boat is the only fully electric powered riverboat in Africa. Seating six guests, two-crew can cruise for up to 14 hours at maximum speed of 10 knots, though the normal cruising speed would be at about four knots to enable the crew to negotiate the channels and small lagoons of the Santantadibe River. The disturbance of motorboats to the fragile Delta ecology has long been criticized and a spokesperson for Conservation Corporation Africa said that the company had once again set a new standard in minimizing impact by employing alternative clean power options. In addition to minimal noise, the biggest impact saving is in the transport of diesel fuel and the impact on roads. The saving in potential air pollution and spillage and disposal of old oils and fuel is also highly significant. Earth Lodge Opening Postponed, January 28 2001 Unexpected heavy rainfall has caused a number of minor earth slides to the landscaping has postponed the opening of Earth Lodge in the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. Sabi Sabi's managing director, Patrick Shorten, said the landscaping of the new lodge - which is built into the earth itself said "We are making every effort to ensure that Earth Lodge opens as soon as possible in order to accommodate the many visitors who have expressed interest in staying here," he added. It is now expected that the property will be ready to open in mid-February. Ships Carrying Nuclear Fuel Asked to Steer Clear of South Africa’s Coastline, January 28 2001 South Africa has asked the company transporting a shipment of reprocessed nuclear fuel from Europe to Japan via the Cape to stay at least 370km from the coast. The company reportedly said that though it intended staying outside South Africa's territorial waters (a distance of 12 nautical miles or 22km) the route would be finally decided by the ship's captain. Valli Moosa, South African Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, has given the assurance that the shipment will be closely monitored by the South African government. The two nuclear material carrying ships, Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal, left French and British ports respectively last week and are expected to round the Cape in about three to four weeks' time. Alitalia Suspends Flights to Johannesburg, January 28 2001 All Alitalia Airlines' flights between Milan, Rome and Johannesburg, South Africa will be suspended with effect from March 24, 2001, according to a spokesperson for the airline's general manager, Giancarlo Marra. No reasons have yet been given though the spokesperson said, "We have not yet received the official information behind the decision from our head office in Rome and are waiting for a press release to be issued." The decision will remain in effect for an "indefinite" period of time. Alitalia currently operates five flights a week to Milan and one to Rome and is the only airline out of South Africa to directly service the Italian market. Cholera Worries in South Africa, January 28 2001 There have been some inquiries about cholera in South Africa and whether visitors should be concerned. There is a bit of cholera in the rural Kwazulu-Natal area and some of the poorest villages in the remotest areas (particularly around Eshowe) are at risk. If you are going to be travelling through the poorest areas of Kwazulu-Natal, and are going to be drinking water from the rivers and won’t be boiling it, then you could be at risk. Guest travelling through Ultimate Africa Safaris are not at risk. Rocktail Bay Update, January 28 2001 The turtle season at South Africa’s Rocktail Bay has been the best for many years, and many, many more turtles have been logged as they came ashore to nest this summer. The guests have really appreciated the whole turtle experience and going out with the researchers at night by vehicle has been one of our summer wildlife highlights. The new look camp is now finished, just in time for the new scuba operation. South African President Mbeki paid a surprise visit over the Christmas period and enthralled guests around the dining table. It seems as though he may be coming back later this year again! Rare Mountain Gorillas Increasing Despite Conflict, January 28 2001 Despite the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), conservationists have noted an increase in the population of the highly endangered mountain gorillas. According to a joint press release by the African Wildlife Foundation, the Worldwide Fund for Nature, and Fauna and Flora International, the number of mountain gorillas in the Virunga region of eastern DRC has risen by over 10%. Monitoring data provided by the International Gorilla Conservation Program and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund-International (DFGF-I) indicate that the population has increased from 320 individuals in 1989 to at least 355 currently. However, the media release also warns that despite the positive trends more work was needed to secure the long-term protection of the forests and their gorilla inhabitants. The total world population of about 650 mountain gorillas is concentrated in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The gorillas are divided into two populations, with one living in the Virungas and the other in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of western Uganda, the article states. British Airways Eases London Connection, January 28 2001 Beginning October 2001, British Airways will move their flights to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam from London’s Gatwick Airport back to Heathrow. For most passengers from North America, this welcome move will mean that they no longer have to transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick Airports enroute to their East African destinations. Archaeologists Discover Sunken Treasure off Kenya’s Coast, January 28 2001 Diving in the shadow of a 16th-century fort off Kenya's coast, marine archaeologists last Wednesday said they have found new treasures. After 10 days searching the waters around Mombasa Island, the archaeologists said they have discovered at least four sunken vessels, including a Portuguese frigate destroyed during a battle in the late 1690s, and ceramics created between 3000 B.C. and 10,000 B.C. But they said those finds are just the rewards of a more important accomplishment: A comprehensive survey that takes in the landscape of both the shoreline and the adjacent seabed. "It is the first time we have mapped the (underwater) landscape," said Colin Breen, one of the divers and an archaeologist from the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland. "Prior to this, the focus was on single wrecks. What we are trying to do is map out the whole region." Marine archaeology focuses not only on individual shipwrecks but on the whole environment, analyzing how life has evolved in coastal areas, said Breen. And the Africa's eastern coast - visited for centuries by Asian, Arab, African, and later, European sailors and traders - provides a rich hunting ground. "We are looking to create awareness among archaeologists about the potential of East Africa. Much of African archaeology is either overlooked or ignored," said Breen. Using a mix of centuries-old maps, acoustic sonars and geophysical technology to chart the seabed, the archaeologists have discovered ancient Swahili settlements swallowed up by the rising ocean, Breen said. They have also found two sailing dhows, a 1920s barge that sank while carrying tiles from Calcutta, India, and the Portuguese frigate, he said - as well as ceramics from China, Europe and the Middle East. Since January 15, 2001 twenty-two divers and archaeologists from the University of Ulster, collaborating with the National Museums of Kenya and the British Institute in Eastern Africa, have surveyed the waters and shores around Mombasa, East Africa's largest port. The area's original inhabitants, called the Swahili from the Arabic word "sahel" or coast, traded with Arabs from the Arabian peninsula and the Persian Gulf area. Seeking an all-water route to India, Portuguese sailors landed in Mombasa in 1498 and made it their main base in eastern Africa. In 1593, the Portuguese built Fort Jesus on a bluff overlooking the harbor. A century later, residents appealed to the Sultan of Oman, whose forces began a successful two-year siege of the fort in 1696. The Portuguese lost four ships, one of which the archeologists are 90 percent certain they have discovered. "Without excavation you are never 100 percent sure," Breen said. The ship is buried under a mound of sand that is 46 feet beneath the surface at low tide and looks like a whale on its back, Breen said. The archaeologists do not want to raise the vessel and will instead try to preserve it where it lies. "Archaeology by nature is destructive. This way it's nondestructive," said Breen, describing a trend in archaeology toward preservation. "It's happened on this continent before, things have been extracted and sold off." Raising a ship from its grave costs millions of dollars and makes the wreck costly to preserve. The vessel will last longer if it remains covered, with minimal exposure to oxygen, Breen said. Global Warming Poses Threat to Africa, January 28 2001 The United Nations has warned that Africa may face more natural disasters if the world's main economic powers do not ratify a key protocol on climatic change, known as the Kyoto protocol, as soon as possible. Klaus Toepfer, executive director of the UN Environment Program issued this warning after scientists released a report this week warning that average global temperatures could rise by 5,8% in the 21st century. Toepfer said that Africa faces the most direct consequences with regard to extreme weather conditions such as droughts and storms. He also said developed countries, who are responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, had a moral obligation to tackle the threat of global warming as a matter of urgency. UN climate talks in The Hague in November 2000 aimed at planning ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions had failed and Toepfer appealed to developed countries to resume negotiations. Special Family Safaris, January 28 2001 We will be opening up a number of safaris for families over June, July and December (normal minimum ages are 8 or 12 depending upon time of year). Some of these will be at lodges and some will be camping as follows: In Botwana the "Mopane Safari" will be open to families on the July 14 to July 25, 2002 group departure at US$1,990 per person and the December 23, 2002 to January 3, 2003 group departure will be open to families at US$1,725 per person (excluding flights from the USA). In Botswana the "Jacana Safari" will be open to families on the July 7 to July 19, 2002 group departure at US $4,500 per person (excluding flights from the USA). In Namibia the "Tok-Tokkie Safari" will be open to families on the July 7 to July 18, 2002 group departure at US $3,780 per person and on the December 24, 2002 to January 4, 2003 group departure at US$3,570 per person (excluding flights from the USA). In Zimbabwe the "Rhino Safari" will be open to families on the July 6 to July 18, 2002 group departure at US $3,870 per person (excluding flights from the USA). Ruckomechi Camp in Mana Pools will replace the Mana Pools canoeing as we can’t canoe with children. New Specialist Safaris, January 28 2001 For late 2001 and 2002, Ultimate Africa will offer a series of about 31 new and different special interest safaris throughout southern and central Africa. These will mainly be set departure safaris, which individuals can book onto. Groups can copy these ideas for their own itineraries. The safaris will be led by top specialists in their respective fields. Here are some of the proposed itineraries, with rough prices and dates. All internal flights from the start / end points are included. A lot of these itineraries are scheduled for 2002 but we can run most safaris on a private basis in 2001 (or anytime) for groups of about 8 people this year. The Ultimate Elephant Safari The Tribes and Cultures of Southern Africa The Great Rivers of Africa The Rhinos of Southern Africa Leopards and other Large Cats Africa’s Super Predators and Mammals The Elephant Workshop Wildlife Photo Workshop Wild Dogs The Ultimate Southern Africa Birding Safari Botswana’s Best Birding The Angola Pitta and other Zimbabwe Birding Malawi and Zambia Birding Namibia’s Best Birding The Rock Art of Southern Africa Cycling and Walking in the Cape Winelands The Full Moon Kilimanjaro Machame Route
Climb The Art of Tracking Wildlife The Ultimate Mana Walking (and / or
Canoeing) Safari The Biomes of Southern Africa (and all
their wildlife) A Journey into the Interior - Exploring the
meaning and the metaphor of the Wild The Ultimate Dives of Southern Africa Great fly-fishing in Southern Africa The Southern Skies Return to Weekly Update Archive |
