Blogs from Africa - page 2774

Every single day I am in Kenya is a learning experience. Not only am I learning new things, my ideas and opinions change and grow constantly while I am here. In Limuru, I was helping the center in anyway possible, teaching, playing, building, painting, etc. However, I was faced with many different types of people and situations that made me feel that there isn't much hope beyond a few hearts touched during my time there (and a pretty new school :) ). The government is corrupt, most aid workers are corrupt, and even some orphanages are corrupt. The people here have so many different beliefs and explanations for the situations they face it is so difficult to come in and change there mind. You do what you can do to help, but it is going ... read more

We are now in Luderitz and therefore back on the coast. It was a bumpy 4 hours on gravel roads followed by another hour or so on tarred road before we got here. We did pass through the Namib Rand national park on the way and managed to spot the usual array of animals including springbok and gemsbok/oyrx. I felt the need to take more animal photos (don't ask me why). Later on we saw 3 bat eared foxes, which was good, as we had not seen them before, and they are not normally out in the day. We also saw a huge black snake in the road. Don't know what it was but we decided against hanging about to find out. Luderitz is supposed to be a big city but we are yet to be ... read more

The kingdom of Swaziland is a little jewel in the crown of southern Africa. This small country has a long tradition of kings ruling the country from the Ezulwini valley, and gained independence from Britain in 1968. The original constitution was largely modeled on the English system, however it has subsequently been abolished, and the king now rules Swaziland as an absolute monarch. The famous reed dance is an annual ceremony where the king chooses a new young bride from the naked girls who dance before him. Swaziland is surrounded by South Africa, and the border with Mozambique to the east. A visit to the kingdom provides a relaxed and modern stopover for visitors to southern Africa, where travellers enjoy a warm welcome from the friendly locals. The last journal left off in Maputo, dear reader, ... read more

And we're Day 5 of 43 of the tour! Whee.. Currently, in Arusha, Tanzania.. a town that acts as a base for those who wants to climb kilimanjaro and do the national parks in north tanzania.. Spent US$340 to do the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater option for the past 3 days.. I must say the experience have been great.. Worth or not worth the money? I'd say game parks are expensive in East Africa.. so if you want to experience it.. you have to pay for it.. didn't really think about the question of worth or not worth anymore.. Serengeti is a wide wide plains.. with sceneries that so typicalize (spelling? word?) "Africa".. actually i resent that plains and a single Acacia tree sort of symbolizes Africa.. cos Africa is so much more ... read more

Today we get a half day at work and I am excited. We have been getting up at 6:30 every morning to begin our day and we work until about 4. At Yabonga the Office of the Premire was coming to present donations and they decided that they did not want to go to the township to present (fear and racism rearing its ugly head). They brough in some parcels with food, clothing, etc. The women of yabonga were happy to see the stuff but the ceremony was very akward. White S. Africans in a room of black S. Africans not such a good combination. I was greatful for the experience and happy that they made donations but it was all very political and it seemed a bit phony. Anyway, the day went by fast and ... read more